The Afflicted Parents, &c.
YOU tender parents all both far and near,
And also you that have got children dear,
Come buy this little book a guard to be,
To such as do run on in vanity.
In Gloucester city now is living there,
A gentleman who had two children dear,
The one a daughter, beautiful and fair,
The other a son whom he did love most dear.
The girl was of a temper meek and mild,
The boy to wicked courses was inclin'd,
For in his infant years he'd curse and swear,
Which fill'd his parents heart with grief and fear.
The girl was ten years younger than the son,
Seeing her brother thus in sin to run,
Though she was but an infant then in years,
Thus to her brother she did speak in tears:
Dear brother darling of my father's heart,
Hear what a child to you shall now impart,
If you run on in such a course of sin,
My tender parents to the grave you'll bring.
Each day above the heavenly God doth hear,
Your whole delight is to curse and swear;
Your father's substance you do daily waste,
For to maintain your actions most unchaste,
My soul doth mourn to see my mother's tears,
My fathers heart it is opprest with cares,
They both together weep lament and cry,
Lest some untimely death you come to die.
