My good old Lord Falcon-
bridges generous Gift.
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A Nobleman liv'd near a Village of late,
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Hard-by a poor Thrasher whose Care was great
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He had seven Children, and most of them small,
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And nought but his Labour to keep them withal.
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He never was given to idle or lurk,
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This Nobleman seeing him go daily to Work,
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His Flail, with his Dog, and Bottle of Beer,
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As chearful as those that have Thousands a Year.
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Thus chearful and constant each Morning he went
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To his daily Labour with Joy and Content.
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Both joyful and jolly he'd whistle and sing,
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As blith and as brisk as a Bird in the Spring.
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One Morning this Gentleman taking his Walk,
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He met this poor Man, and freely did talk.
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And asked him many Questions at large
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Concerning his Labour, and likewise his Charge.
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You have many Children I very well know,
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Your Labour is hard, and the Wages are low.
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And still thou art chearful, come tell me true,
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How you maintain them so well as you do.
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I carefully take home what I do earn,
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Now daily Experience this me doth learn,
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Altho' it is possible we may live poor.
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Yet we keep the ravenous Wolf from the Door.
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I reap, I mow, I harrow and sow,
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Sometimes I a hedging and ditching do go.
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No Work comes amiss, I thrash, I plow,
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Thus I earn my Bread by the Sweat of my Plow.
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My Wife she is willing to draw in the Yoke,
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We live like two Lambs, and never prove.
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Each other, but like to the labouring Ant,
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We do our Endeavour to keep us from Scant.
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And when I come home from Labour at Night,
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To my Wife and Children in whom I delight,
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To hear them come round me prattling Noise,
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Now these are the Riches that poor Men enjoys.
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Altho' I am weary as weary may be,
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The Youngest I commonly set on my Knee.
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I find that Content is an entire Feast.
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And never repine at my Lot in the least.
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The Nobleman hearing what he did say,
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Was plers'd to invite him home the next Day.
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His Wife and Children he bid him to bring,
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In Token of Favour he gave him a Ring.
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So thanking his Honour, he took his Leave,
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He went to his Wife, who would hardly believe,
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But that this fine Story himself might raise,
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But seeing the Ring, she was in Amaze.
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Betimes in the Morning the good Wife arose,
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And made them fine with their best Cloaths.
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So the Man and Wife with their Children small
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Did go to dine at this Nobleman's Hall.
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But when they got there, as Stories report,
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All Things were served in plentiful sort.
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And they with the Nobleman then did dine,
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With most kind of Dainties, and best of Wine.
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All things being over, he soon let them know
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What he intended on them to bestow.
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A Farm with forty good Acres of Land,
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And give him the Writings in his own Hand.
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Because you're industrious and kind to your Wife,
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I will make you happy the rest of your Life.
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It shall be for ever to thee and thy Heirs,
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For why I beheld thy industrious Cares.
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No Tongue was able in full to express
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The Depth of their Joy and true Thankfulness.
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With many a Curt'sy and Bow to the Ground.
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But such Noblemen are few to be found.
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