In those thrice happy days the neighb'ring towns,
With useful food were always well supply'd;
And never fear'd monopolizers' frowns,
Nor saw the wealthy farmer's pomp and pride.
To labour hard there was encouragement,
And he who daily work'd on neighb'ring farms,
Sometime at morn, or else at ev'ning spent,
On his own lot, which had peculiar charms.
Or else his children, and his careful wife,
Perform'd the labour on their little share; Improving still, they liv'd a happy life,
Tho' they from duty could few moments spare. Their cow, their sheep, their pigs, and poultry too, Requir'd attendance more or less each day;
And what was necessary each would do,
As slothfulness they knew would never pay.
They cherish'd then an independent mind,
And scorn'd the slothful, base, inglorious man,
Who in his heart could rarely ever find,
Good will to follow an industrious plan.
If overtook by sickness, or mischance,
While in their breast this noble spirit reign'd; They'd not in haste the pauper list enhance,
Nor meanly crouch, tho' sometimes sorely pain❜d.
When by misfortune they were made to groan,
They'd live most hardly many a tedious day,
And rather work their fingers to the bone,
Than for relief unto a parish pray.
But policy unwise as brought such ills,
On cottagers, and on the farmers small;
That much these thoughts of independence chills,
And for a remedy does loudly call.
The former honest pride is nearly lost,
That virtuous spirit broke and almost gone,
And now the man by rude misfortune crost;
Will to the parish quickly make his moan.
Yea, many can't with all their toil and care,
And tho' their lab'ring hours are never brief;
Their infant family maintain and rear,
Without applying oft for some relief.
And as this still increases day by day,
The poor rates still must heavier become; And those grow fewer who the same must pay, As many now must leave their former home. Thus ills on ills each day accumulate,
And lay us under the necessity,
Of feeling yet a worse, a heavier fate,
Unless there's soon apply'd some remedy.
When some tall gallant ship rich freighted rides,
Over the waves by gentle breezes borne ;
No foaming billows washing o'er her sides,
Nor by the winds her sails full swelling torn.
The seamen bold, who when the tempests roar
Their duty to perform will never fail,
Contented wait to view some foreign shore,
And every prosperous breeze they kindly hail. Some view the heav'nly orbs, and sky serene,
Or tempt the finny face with guileful bait;
Some to their rest retire the decks between,
And for their call to duty peaceful wait.
But while so pleasant all without appears,
The water through some channel finds its way;
But yet not so as to alarm their fears,
Or to alloy their joys for many a day.
But when at length it gains upon them fast,
And threatens them with an untimely grave;
Will they then not exert themselves at last,
And make some sacrifice their lives to save?
Supinely looking on they will not stand,
Nor yet, by fear unmov'd, will any cry,
Unto the pump I will not put my hand,
"For it will find its level," by and by.
So England's sons in former glorious days,
When farms were small, could rest in perfect
peace;
As they could then with mod'rate labour raise,
Enough of food, for all the British race,
But as the leak which long unheeded past,
While sailing gently on before the gale,
Threat'ned with ruin, ship and crew at last,
Except exertion great could them avail;
So these woe working schemes England has
brought
To ruin's verge, to dreadful misery;
Tho' half a cent'ry past no person thought,
That such its fatal consequence would be.
Ye men of property who have the pow'r,
To rescue from this direful woe and pain;
Ꭰ
Come forth, and save us in this dang'rous hour,
And bid us see prosperity again!
If you the mariners will imitate,
In such a case as I've describ'd above; Then put the small farms in their former state, And you our saviours from this dearth will prove.
Happy condition of rustics a century back.– The small farm-house, &c. described.The farmers healthy, happy labour; gratitude; return home; and universal piety. -A simile.-The awful change made by monopolizing farms;— the small houses destroyed, &c.-Miserable condition of the peasant and family.—The poor impelled by necessity to make a working and market day of the Sabbath; therefore ignorance and wickedness likely to increase.-Bad effects of engrossing farms on marriage; population, &c.-Too much harshness towards erring females, sometimes produces dreadful consequences.-A tale.
|