She with the devil then did straight think, And to her husband gave a sleepy drink, And as in the garden he sleeping lay, These treacherous words to the boy did say: "Go watch your father as he sleeping lies, And if you see him wake and go to rise, Come in and tell me, make all haste you can." And so she did this harmless boy trapan. The child, with watching long, did fall asleep; Then softly to his father she did creep, From off his finger she a ring did take. On purpose of this boy a thief to make. For as this harmless child there sleeping lay, She in his pocket did the ring convey; Then with great joy unto the house did come, And said, I hope his business I have done. The boy soon after wak'd and rubb'd his eyes, But seeing his father going for to rise, To tell his mother he did straightway run; Meanwhile his father into doors did come. And missing of his ring, to her did say, "My dear, why did you take my ring, I pray?" She said, "I took it not, upon my life; You may believe me as I am your wife. "But if you'd know what's of the ring become, I'd have you to examine well your son; As in the garden you did sweetly dose, I saw him fumbling then about your cloathes." He went to search his son, the ring he found, Then hand and foot this harmless child he bound, And lashed him till the blood did run, While she, hard-hearted wretch, look'd on. She said, "Send this wicked rogue to sea, Least that he should disgrace our family; I'll get a master for him soon," she cry'd, "For he no longer shall with me abide." He gave consent, and she a master got, And he was sent away, hard was his lot, Where we will leave him for to sail the main, And turn unto this cruel wretch again. IV. But God, who sees our actions here below, He would not let this wretch unpunish'd go; For this boy's mother to them did appear One night, as they in bed together were. The apparition told them of the ring, And how she serv'd the boy in everything; Then sadly shook the bed wherein they lay, And instantly it vanish'd quite away. The squire he was very much surpriz'd, And finding that his wife had told him lies To make him send this harmless boy away, He fell to grief and sad despair, they say. To add unto his grief, we understand, A letter from him came to hand; He at Jamaica was, the letter told, And to a captain there was basely sold. And as they sailing were upon the main, They by a Spanish privateer was ta'en; The ship condemn'd and all made slaves, This is my wretched case, dear sir, he says. His father, hearing this, he swoon'd away, And calling of his wife both night and day, Saying, "Cursed wretch, what have you done, To make a father thus abuse his son?"