Page:Beautiful old ballad, of the babes in the wood.pdf/2





Now ponder well, ye parents dear, the words which I shall write, A dismal story you shall hear, brought forth in time to light.

A merchant of no small account, In England dwelt of late, Who did in riches far surmount most mea of his estate.

Yet sickness came and he must die, no help his life could save, In anguish his wife did lie, death sent them to the grave.

No love between this pair was lost, They both were mild and kind, Together they gave up the ghost, and left two babes behind.

The one a fine and pretty boy, not passing six years old A girl the next, the mother's joy, and cast in beauty's mould.

The father left this little son, as it doth plain appear,