The Poor Man put to a Pinch:
OR,
A DECLARATION of these hard Times.
The Times are bad, we all do see,
Pray God mend it now, if it may be;
Both in Countrey and in Town,
Trading is very sore gone down;
Which makes great Poverty to be,
In City, and in Countrey:
And there's little Money to be had,
The Times are grown so very bad.
To the Tune of, The Description of this Age, or, Aim not to high.
|
POor people are over-charged sore with grief,
|
And the Aged sort, alass! they are the Chief;
|
And many others that has a Charge to maintain,
|
God comfort those that has so little gain.
|
For Trading's down, and there's little to be got,
|
A Poor Man scarcely can get Meat to th' Pot,
|
Or Bread to serve his Children in their need;
|
To see them want, would make ones Heart to bleed.
|
There are many Shop-keepers about the City,
|
Has nothing to doe; Alass! the more's the pity.
|
What will this World come to! Can any tell?
|
It is the Lord that can make all things well.
|
There are many lusty people walks up and down,
|
There's no Imployment they can have in Town;
|
Which makes so many to be so void of Grace,
|
That they fall to Wickedness, and so do transgress.
|
Pray God again we may see these times to mend,
|
And every one to be carefull to the end;
|
It is our Sins that causeth all the same,
|
Let us fear God, and praise his Holy Name.
|
If a Poor Man has a Charge of Children small,
|
If he has no work to relieve them therewithall,
|
It is a Grief for Parents to endure,
|
To see their Children starved with hunger sore.
|
Pray God that Trading may be good again,
|
And every one that hears now, say Amen;
|
That Poor nor Rich may have cause for to complain,
|
Let us serve God, and we shall see good Times again.
|
But, Alass! alass! the Poor has all the smart,
|
There's many are pinched to the very heart:
|
Poor Peoples wants has been so very sore
|
In many a place, I say amongst the Poor.
|
But if Work and Trading do come in again,
|
There will be some help for all sorts of Men:
|
If Rich Men would but imploy the Poor, I say,
|
To Labour for their Living, to give them pay.
|
But alass, these Times we see is nothing, so
|
They have enough themselves, they feel not the Poor mans Woe.
|
The House-Mouse little understands the same,
|
What the Field-Mouse endures in Cold and Rain.
|
Remember what our Savior Christ did tell,
|
To Love one another, and all things will be well:
|
But that thing is wanting in this Nation sore,
|
Which makes such Misery amongst the Poor.
|
But yet, good People, let us be content,
|
And Praise the Lord that hath all things to us sent;
|
He in good time for us will take a care,
|
When he is pleased we shall have better share.
|
The Times again I hope will better be,
|
Amongst us all, we then may live to see:
|
In the mean time let's have a special care,
|
That by no means we fall into despair.
|
Now to all People that do's live but poor,
|
God in his Goodness with encrease their store:
|
He evermore will stand the Poor Man's friend,
|
If we but serve the Lord unto the end.
|
Now at the last, let's ever mind that thing,
|
For to fear God, and honour our good King;
|
That God may keep this Nation still in Peace,
|
Then Trading and Plenty will with us increase.
|
|
|
|
|
|