“What ails thee, what ails thee, thou miserly elf,
“To be hoarding and hugging thy rascally pelf?
“See where old father care strews his thorns in thy bed,
“And terrible death waves his dart o’er thy head.
“Let thy cash buy the blessing and pray’r of the poor,
“And let them intercede when death comes to thy door;
“They perhaps may appease that importunate pow’r,
“When thy coffers can’t buy the reprieve of an hour.
“Foolish man, don’t you know ev’ry grain of your gold
“May give food to the hungry and warmth to the cold?
“A purchase in this world shall soon pass away,
“But a treasure in Heaven will never decay.
“Now tell me what pleasure you reap from your hoard,
“And I’ll tell you what rapture your dross might afford;
“Amid numberless joys I will name only these—
“Gay days, happy nights and a conscience at ease.
“Do you think, sordid wretch, when you turn a deaf ear
“To the suit of the orphan that God does not hear?
“Do you hope to escape from the searcher of hearts,
“When the tear of the widow no pity imparts?
“When the ag’d and infirm vainly put up their pray’r
“For that mite, which your mass without missing could spare,
“The angel of vengeance your crime will enroll
“Amongst those of the demons, who murder the soul.
“Give a shilling to-day, and the joy you’ll derive,
“To-morrow shall swell your small tribute to five;
“Progressive delight ev’ry hour shall encrease,
“And at length a few guineas shall purchace your peace.
“If you spurn my advice, you’re a blockhead and dunce,
“You cannot serve God and your Idol at once;
“Who traffics with Mammon will find in the end,
“He has made a bad bargain, and lost a good friend.”
De Lancaster had always a kind word upon his lips for his old blind minstrel, and having told him that he had added another leaf to his laurel, went down to his family assembled in the breakfast room with all that charity in his heart, which the ditty had recommended.
When the story of the soldier had been heard by Mr. Philip De Lancaster, he coolly observed, that it was a trick to extort money; he would not take the soldier’s word for a farthing, and did not believe young Owen capable of any thing cruel or uncharitable.