Page:Northern ditty, or, The citizen outwitted by a country damsel.pdf/7



'M now deprived of the light,

which I did once enjoy,

Once had the bleſſings of the fight,

but now, but now a poor blind boy.

My tender babes that's young in years,

doth make my heart to bleed,

It makes my dark'med eyes ſhed tears

to hear them call for bread.

My loving wife with whom I liv'd,

theſe thirty years and more,

Becauſe for her I can't provide,

it vexes me full ſore.

The tender infant on her breaſt,

not to nine months arriv'd,

Though often ſcanty in her feaſt,

yet likely is to thrive.

A little boy, and girl alſo,

when they began to walk,

With joy doth make my hear o'erflow.

to hear their pratt'ling talk.

Once on a day I never thought,

this poor mean way to take,

Since to extremity I'm brought,

muſt aſk for heaven's ſake.

Good Chriſtians buy my little book,

ſhow but this ſmall regard,

On my diſtreſſed cafe, but look,

and Heaven will you reward,