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An honest man was Farmer Jones, and true;

He did by all as all by him should do;

Grave, cautious, careful, fond of gain was he,

Yet famed for rustic hospitality:

Left with his children in a widow’d state,

The quiet man submitted to his fate;

Though prudent matrons waited for his call,

With cool forbearance he avoided all;

Though each profess’d a pure maternal joy,