The Life and Death of Tom Careless / to which is added, The History of Will Worthy & Nancy Wilmot

Transcribed from the nineteenth century J. and C. Evans edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
The History of Will Worthy & Nancy Wilmot ;
GIVING
An Account of the sudden Death of Nancy Wilmot, as she was dancing with Will Worthy on the Green, on the evening of the day they were Married; the serious reflections made by Will on that awful event, and the happy consequences that followed.
LONDON: Printed and sold by J. and C. Evans Long lane.
PRICE ONE PENNY.
Good people all I pray give ear Unto the tale I tell; ’Tis form’d to gratify your mind, And to instruct you well.
To caution men of riper years, And to admonish youth; Fiction may fill th’ improving page, And use the voice of truth.
Tom Careless was a merry lad; (And who will mirth despise?) But he like many other wits, More merry was than wise.
Tom was a working carpenter, Yet while he plied his trade, His tongue mov’d faster than his hands, And less was done than said.
He told his tale, he crack’d his joke, He was a perfect droll; And of each jovial drinking set, Was both the life and soul.