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A STRICTLY moral man have I been ever, | |
And never injured anybodynever. | |
I lent my friend a sum he could not pay; | |
I jogged his memory in a friendly way, | |
Then took the law of him th affair to end; | 5 |
The law to prison sent my worthy friend. | |
He died therenot a farthing for poor me! | |
I am not angry, though Ive cause to be; | |
His debt that very moment I forgave, | |
And shed sad tears of sorrow oer his grave. | 10 |
A strictly moral man have I been ever, | |
And never injured anybodynever. | |
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I sent a serf of mine to learn the dressing | |
Of meat. He learned ita good cooks a blessing | |
But strangely did neglect his occupation, | 15 |
And gained a taste not suited to his station: | |
He liked to read, to reason, to discuss. | |
I, tired of scolding, without further fuss | |
Had the rogue floggedall for the love of him. | |
He went and drowned himselfwhat a strange whim! | 20 |
A strictly moral man have I been ever, | |
And never injured anybodynever. | |
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My silly daughter fell in love, one day, | |
And with a tutor wished to run away. | |
I threatened curses, and pronounced my ban; | 25 |
She yielded, and espoused a rich old man. | |
Their house was splendid, brimming oer with wealth, | |
But suddenly the poor child lost her health, | |
And in a year consumption wrought her doom; | |
She left us mourning oer her early tomb. | 30 |
A strictly moral man have I been ever, | |
And never injured anybodynever. | |
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