n appear,
The Lord's decree we all must hear;
May every soul that's tried above,
From Christ obtain our maker's love.
Oh! God I hear the dreadful call,
Prepare, prepare, ye felons all;
Oh! let me take a last imbrace,
I'm summoned, all appear in haste.

_THE_
CONVICT'S
Farewell,
&c. &c. &c.

BY J PARKERSON, JUNR.

Farewell ye partner of my woes, farewell!
The finest language can but faintly tell,
What I now feel in writing the adieu,
What you must suffer when I'm far from you.
There was a time when happiness my lot,
I liv'd serenely in my little cot;
No wicked thoughts did then disturb my rest,
My children round me, by a father prest;
No father now methinks I hear them say,
He's gone from us, he's hurried far away.
Nightly I've view'd them in my flurri'd dreams,
Seen their wet eyes and heard their dreadful screams;
Methought my wife came to my lonely cell,
To say adieu, to bid a long farewell;
Soon I awoke and to increase my pains,
I felt my legs encompass'd round with chains;
Then then, I cried, oh drunkenness thou cause,
Of this distress, and make me break those laws
That wise men made for every man to keep,
By them deluded, plung'd in crimes so deep.
First step to ruin was a love of dice,
With cards the great promoter of our vice;
I wish those men who do with such things play,
Would ever cast them from their hands away;
I wish all Magistrates would search around,
And punish Publicans where they are found:
They caus'd me first my Master to neglect,
And after lost me honest men's respect;
They also led me from a virtuous wife,
And mostly caused my sad disgrace and strife.
View Public Houses every wealthy Squire,
And force by ten the spendthrift to retire;
By such a plan the labouring poor would rise,
Soon as the sun adorns the heavenly skies:
I've stated what have brought me to this end,
And what has lost me every earthly friend;
Except a wife--oh God protect and bless,
Her and our offspring now in great distress.
Young men be cautious how you spend your time,
A bad acquaintance hurries on a crime;
Sometimes an artful female tries her power,
To trap the giddy in a thoughtless hour;
When she has work'd the captive to her will,
She gladly sees you taking sorrow's pill;
Cause you to leave a virtuous homely wife,