Page:Poor man's counsel, or, The married man's guide.pdf/3

(3) Each morning when thou doſt thy labour begin,

Have God in thy mind, it will keep thee from ſin,

A penny hard earned, ſince it is thy lot,

Will do thee more good than a pound that's ill got,

Then labour to thrive by the ſweet of thy brow,

For that's the beſt way all honeſt men know.

If God give a bleſſing that children you have,

The more you muſt labour for them to ,

And do not murmur and count them a charge:

The better you'll thrive and your ſtock will enlarge,

It will be great comfort thy children to ſee,

If that they obedient and dutiful be.

Let no man entice thee thy money to waſte,

Be careful to ſpend, and lay up what thou haſt,

Whoever ſhall aſk thee he is not thy friend,

To go to the ale-houſe thy money to ſpend;

Avoid ſuch bad courſes which bring thee to want,

And thou ſhalt have plenty when others have ſcant.

Lewd houſes and gaming be ſure that you ſhun,

There's many frequents them and ſo are undone,

By ſuch bad companions if a man is miſled,

May quickly be brought to a morſel of bread,

A cup of good liquor at home with your wife,

It will cheer up your heart and prevent further ſtrife.

Be courteous and kind to neighbours about,

And then they will love thee thou need not doubt,

Avoid all contention with ſtrife and debate,

For that will produce thee an honeſt man's hate,

Be civil to all men as they are to thee,

Then kindly reſpected thou ſhalt ſurely be.

If times do grow hard and money be ſcant,

Then labour for little before that you want,

And thankfully take whatever God ſends,

As times do grow better it will make amends,

A dinner of herbs with content ſerves as well,

As all the rich dainties which far does excel.