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One eve beside the alehouse fire
He sat as it befell,
When in there came a labouring man
Whom Jaspar knew full well.
He sat as it befell,
When in there came a labouring man
Whom Jaspar knew full well.
He sat him down by Jaspar's side
A melancholy man,
For spite of honest toil, the world
Went hard with Jonathan.
A melancholy man,
For spite of honest toil, the world
Went hard with Jonathan.
His toil a little earn'd, and he
With little was content,
But sickness on his wife had fallen
And all he had was spent.
With little was content,
But sickness on his wife had fallen
And all he had was spent.
Then with his wife and little ones
He shared the scanty meal,
And saw their looks of wretchedness,
And felt what wretches feel.
He shared the scanty meal,
And saw their looks of wretchedness,
And felt what wretches feel.
