Her husband then she call'd for out of hand, Her weeping friends around her bed do stand; Her husband came, she said to him, "My dear, The time is short I have to tarry here. "Be careful of my darling child, your son, See that in virtuous paths he strives to run; That I in Heaven may see him once again, And there in endless joys with him remain. "For my child's sake, O marry not, my dear, For if you do I shall not rest, I fear; Let no step-mother my dear child abuse, Whom I so tenderly have used. "My jointure, which is fifty pounds a year, I leave it to my child I love so dear; Be you a tender father to my son; Think on my words when I am dead and gone." He said, "My dear, your words I'll keep in mind, I to my child will be a father kind, To wrong my child, I wrong myself you know, I love my child too well to serve him so." Then for her child she straight did call, While the tears down her cheeks did fall, And kissing of him with lips like clay, The child did to its dying mother say: "Mammy, what makes you kiss me so and cry? I hope you'll be better by-and-bye." "I hope I shall, my dear," to him she cry'd, Then turn'd herself and instantly she dy'd. II. His wife scarce two months in the grave was laid, Ere he forgot the promises he made, Which makes this proverb true we find, That out of sight, is quickly out of mind. For to a rich and wealthy widow old, He went a courting days and nights, we're told: No rest or quiet would he let her have, Till her consent to wed with him she gave. She told him, ere with him she would engage, She had a daughter fair ten years of age; And therefore, for her only daughter's sake, She was resolved a widow's will to make. He gave his consent the will to make, And in great joy and triumph they were wed; But during of the time these things were done, He quite forgot his former wife and son. His new wife she was very cross and proud, And this poor child must never be allow'd With them to dine, but at her chair must stand, Just like a footboy to obey command. Her daughter, she must at the table sit, And pick and cut the best of meat; Besides a waiting maid, too, miss must have, While the poor boy is made a drudge to slave. Altho' he was neglected, so we find, Yet fortune unto him did prove so kind; His own dear mother's brother died, we hear, And left this boy two hundred pounds a year. His father was the interest for to have, That he might keep this boy both fine and brave; But if he died before to age he came, His father then was to enjoy the same. His step-mother found things were order'd so, She was resolv'd to work his overthrow: Said she when he is put aside and gone, What's left him will quickly be my own. III.