From home, in grief, he rambled one day, And to a lawyer went without delay; His will he made, and left his son his store, Then went and hang'd himself before his door. The lawyer finding what he had done, Did straightway send a letter to his son, For him to return home with all speed, And money sent to ransom him, indeed. The letter by good fortune he receiv'd, His ransom paid, and quickly was reliev'd; He got a ship and home with speed he came; None but the lawyer yet knew of the same. He soon came home, to the great surprize Of his base mother, who, with flattering lies, Would fain excuse herself, but all in vain; To law with her he went, and did obtain-- The cause, and five hundred pounds beside, Because by her he basely was deny'd, Which vex'd her sore, and almost broke her heart, To think she with her ill-got gain must part. Her darling daughter being left alone, Despised by all, but pitied by none, She sold off what she had, and went away, And never has been heard of since that day. To step-mothers let this a warning be, Never to use poor children cruelly; For Heav'n will help the widow in distress, And be a Father to the fatherless. Let parents all beg of the Lord to see, Their children brought up to maturity, 'Till for themselves they're able to provide; Lord send that they may be their careful guide! THE BONNY SCOTCH LAD, AND HIS BONNET SO BLUE. At Kingston upon Hull, a town in Yorkshire,[140] I lived in splendour, and free from love's care; I roll'd in riches and had sweethearts not a few, I'm wounded by a bonny lad, and his bonnet so blue. There came a troop of soldiers, and soon you shall hear, From Scotland to Woolwich, abroad for to steer; There is one among them I wish I'd ne'er knew, He's a bonny Scotch lad, and his bonnet so blue. His cheeks are like the roses, his eyes like the sloes, He is handsome and proper, and kills where he goes, He is handsome and proper, and comely for to view, He's a bonny Scotch lad, and his bonnet so blue. When I go to my bed I can find no rest, The thoughts of my true love still runs in my breast; The thoughts of my true love still runs in my view, He's a bonny Scotch lad, and his bonnet so blue. Early in the morning, when I rose from my bed, I call'd upon Sally, that is my waiting maid, To dress me as fine as her two hands could do; I'll away and see the lad, and his bonnet so blue! She was instantly dress'd, and parade did attend, Where she stood impatient to hear her love nam'd; Charles Stuart they do call him, my love did renew, Once a prince of that name wore a bonnet so blue. My love he pass'd by me with his gun in his hand, I strove to speak to him, but all was in vain; I strove to speak to him, but away quite he flew, My heart it went with him, and his bonnet so blue.