The Cruel COOPER of Ratcliff.
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NEAR Ratcliff-Cross lived a Cooper there
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Who had a virtuous Wife comely and fair
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He by this prudent Woman had a Son,
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Beside this Youth they Children ner had none.
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Though wise and prudent, yet thi cruel Man
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Did of-imes beat her with a cruel Hand;
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As the did one Day with Grief of Heart.
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The Youth with Tears took his Mothers Part.
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Cries he Father, Im afraid you will
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With Kicks and Cuffs my tender Mother kill.
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Hearing these Words he then his Son did beat.
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And that Night turnd him into the Street.
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Saying if thou comest here any more,
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In break thy Bones, and then lockd the Door;
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In the wide Street this Lad lay all Night,
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And came in i th Morning when it was Light.
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But when this Man looked and saw his Son,
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In a vast Passion he to him did run;
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And with an Adz knockd him on the Crown,
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Which laid the Youth along upon the Ground.
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Being thus served, in Tears he did lament,
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Then up he got, and out of Doors he went,
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Saying if I should any longer stay
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He in his Wrath hell take my Life away.
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And to prevent what Dangers may ensue
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Father and Mother he bids both adieu;
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And having Knowledge of his Fathers Trade,
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Went Cooper Man to Turky it is said.
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He liked the Country so well we do find,
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The Ship came back and left the Lad behind;
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He paced himself with a Native to dwell,
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Who[s]e Family loved him very well.
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Though young in Years he was grown very tall,
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And of a comely Countenance withal;
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The Native Damsels did him much admire,
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And to enjoy him some had vast Desire.
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His Master kept him for his Serving Man,
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And in short Time by Deaths destroying Hand;
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His Master happened to tip away,
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Who being dead, the young Man bore the Sway.
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His Mistress lovd him as she did her Life,
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And in short Time was made his lawful Wife;
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She was prodigious Rich we understand,
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And he had many Slaves at his Command.
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Now will I leave him for a little while,
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With Providence on him and her to smile,
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And in the next Part some Enquiry make,
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What sort of Life his cruel Sire doth take.
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Near Ratcliff-Cros he lived Years tis known,
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And to his Wife he was a cruel one;
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And in Process of Time Death did them part,
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And tis supposed this Man broke her Heart.
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After her Death he could not thrive at all,
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Day after Day he down at Heels did fall;
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And by Degrees this Man was brought so low,
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For Debt himself he was fraid to show.
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The Bailiffs waited for him Day and Night.
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He knowing of the same, kept out of Sight;
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And to prevent his going to a Goal,
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In a Merchant-man he unto Sea did sail.
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Thus he for Debt was forcd to fly from Home,
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And on the raging Seas where Billows foam,
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To their great Grief this Man and twenty more,
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Were caried Prisoners [t]o the Turkish Shoar.
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It happened so as we do understand,
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They were made Slaves unto his Sons Command;
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Full half a Year in Slavery they had been,
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In all which Time his Son he had no seen.
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This Cooper he was aged sixty-two
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Who was the oldest of the whole ships crew,
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Being stiff with Age, his Task could not perform,
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By which he sufferd many a bitter Storm,
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The Task-Master to him was sharp indeed,
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He often whipt him till he made him bleed:
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Upon a Time he lashd him so one Day,
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He could no longer stand, but down did lay,
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Being laid down, Task Master did go,
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And gave the Head Master this to know;
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Crying, Sir, your Slave an aged Man,
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Will not perform his Task do all I can.
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He tells me plainly that his Work is done,
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When hearing this the Head Master his Son,
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Went out among the Slaves, where he found,
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His aged Father lying on the Ground.
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Not knowing him with great Severity
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He lashd his Father very grievously;
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Which made him cry, Oh! Sir, my Flesh is sore,
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Do hold thy Hand, and strike me no more.
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The Task is hard your Servants put on me,
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What I can do, to that I am most free;
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To suffer thus I am not able to live,
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Kill me out-right, and I will you forgive.
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Hearing these Words, his Son did him view,
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And said tell me what Countryman are you?
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His Answer was, I came from Old-England,
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I was a Cooper, Sir, from fair London.
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My Name is Robert Stark, tis known right well,
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I was a Man in great Repute did dwell;
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But as it provd Fortune did frown on me,
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Now tis my Lot your suffering Slave to be.
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Have you no Family? He answerd, no,
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I buried a Wife seven Years ago:
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And I had a Son, a hopeful Child was he,
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Three Years before her Death he went from me.
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I have not heard from him now all this while,
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I was both cruel to my Wife and Child:
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And I do really think now from my Heart,
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Tis for my Cruelty I thus do smart.
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Now hearing this his Son with Grief was filld,
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And Terrs like Water that was finely stilld,
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Run down his Cheeks amain, Tear after Tear,
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To think that he had lashd his Father dear.
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Then he aside his Task-Master did call,
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And said do not abuse this Man at all:
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He is my Father, but dont let him know,
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I am his Son. Then he Home did go.
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And to his Closet he in private went,
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Where he with bitter Cries did sore lament:
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At length by Chance his Wife did him hear,
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Who said what makes you to grieve my Dear?
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His Answer was to grieve great Cause I have.
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For my own Father is become my Slave:
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Not knowing him, I lashd him oer and oer,
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To think of this grieveth me very sore.
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To think the Curse of God should light on me,
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But what I did it was innocently:
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O Wife, what shall I do? my Heart doth bleed,
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Do let my Father come to me with Speed.
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They sent for him, and when he came thero,
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They of his tender Flesh did take great Care:
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His bleeding Wounds annointed were with Oil,
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And the poor Man stood trembling all the while.
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This being done, choice Linnen fine and soft,
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And other ostly things to him were brought.
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And when he in these Garments was arrayd,
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He then with Tears lift up his Eyes and said
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Lord, what am I more than another Slave,
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That I such Favour of my Master have:
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Blest be his Name that thus my Friend doth stand,
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To pitty me thus in a Foreign Land.
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Hearing these Words, his Son could not detain
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His Tears from falling, and to drop amain;
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He said the Man who for you thus hath done,
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Behold he is your dear and only Son.
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Im grievd to think that I provd so severe,
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To lay my Hands upon my Father dear;
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But God I hope will pardon me because
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I did not know that you my Father was.
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Hearing these Words, like one struck in Amaze,
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He with a Blush then on his Son did gaze:
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Saying, you are my Son, alas! alas!
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By this we see what God can bring to pass.
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My Son, my Son, Im glad thy Face to see,
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But what Astonishment is here for me?
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That I who beat my Child quite out of Door.
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Should thus be forcd his Favour to implore.
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Father, the Lord he did did these Things foresee.
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That you should come your Childs Slave to be;
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And God was pleasd these Things to do by you,
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To shew what he can bring proud Mortals to.
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The Lord has placd me here to live and reign,
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To be a Friend to ease thee of thy Pain;
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Ill succour thee whilst Death, and for thy Sake,
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I of my Native Slaves great Care will take.
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He cherishd him oft Times, but on a Day,
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His Wife was pleased then these Words to say;
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Husband, because he cruel was to you,
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I neer shall love your Father that is true.
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I do not care that he should here re[main],
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From whence he came let him return again;
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And unto him we will some Riches give,
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Enough to cherish him whilst he doth live.
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For Quietness Sake he made her this Reply,
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But turnd him round, and wept most bitterly
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To think that he must with his Father part,
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Grief like a Spear struck him unto the Heart.
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Then in short Time his Father left the Shore,
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And in a Merchant Ship he did come oer
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Again to England, and did bring to town,
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As much in Riches as five Thousand Pounds.
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He owd an Hundred Pounds which he paid,
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When being out of Debt, these Words he said;
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First my dear God I will give Thanks to thee,
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Next for my Child my Praers shall be.
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For had it been a[s I dese]rv[d]
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In Slavery, till Death, I had [h]im servd;
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And neer had met one in that distant Place
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Thus to commiserate my wretched Case,
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Now to conclude, young Men let these Lines
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Be well engraven in your Hearts and Minds;
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That is, to serve the Lord, and shun the Devil,
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And like this young Man still do Good for Evil.
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