4
It is a pity such a youth as you,
Should be debarr d his pastime to persue,
But always be confin'd to go to school,
It is enough to make a child a fool.
Be rul'd by me and go to balls and plays,
And take some pleasure in your youthful days,
Ne'er spend your time as you till now have done,
For if you do you'll into sorrow run,
Money at your command you still shall have,
And all things in life that you desire or crave,
You nothing here shall want while you on earth,
So ne'er take thought of what comes after death
The child reply'd I can't think who you be,
That now has given such bad advice to me,
Verily you do not think there is a God,
Your expressions to me they are so very odd.
What pleasure can I take more than I do,
The Gospel of the Lord I will persue,
To serve my maker is my whole delight,
And slaive to walk within the paths of light.
At last he happened to cast down his eyes,
And Satan's cloven feet at last he spy's,
At which he was not daunted in the least,
But to reprove him, backward did rehearse.
