Five years they lived to labour, weep, and pray,
When Death, in mercy, took them both away.
Uncles and aunts received this lively child,
Grieved at his fate, and at his follies smiled;
But, when the child to boy’s estate grew on, 490
The smile was vanish’d, and the pity gone.
Slight was the burden, but in time increased,
Until at length both love and pity ceased.
Then Tom was idle; he would find his way
To his aunt’s stores, and make her sweets his prey;