Transcribed from the c1830 Augustus Applegath and EdwardCowper edition , email cc074@pglaf.org
THE
SABBATH BREAKER RECLAIMED;
OR,
A PLEASING HISTORY
OF
THOMAS BROWN.
LONDON:
Printed by Augustus Applegath andEdward Cowper,
Duke-street, Stamford-street;
Sold by F. Collins, 14, Newgate-street; and Evans and Sons,
42, Long-lane, Smithfield.
Price One Penny.
p. 2HISTORYOF THOMAS BROWN.
On a fine Sabbathmorn, in the sweet month of May,
When the hawthorn in blossom was seen;
When perfumes filled the air, and all nature look’d gay,
And the fields wore a livery of green:—
Thomas said to his wife, the morning isfine,
Then let us walk out at our leisure;
I have worked all the week, recreation we’ll seek,
And the fields will afford us much pleasure.
Said his wife, “all our clothes are bothdirty and torn,
Which will set decent people a talking;
I shall feel much ashamed, and we both shall be blamed
By those we may meet as we’rewalking.”
The birds and the cattle, says Thomas, youknow,
Dress all days alike, void of care;
Let us follow their plan, be as blithe as we can,
And not make things worse than they are.
“They can’t well be worse, for athome or abroad,
We’ve nothing for dinner to-day;
Our money’s all gone, and credit we’ve none,
So e’en let us do as you say.”
p.3They lock’d up their house, and their children theytook,
Unhappy at home or abroad;
And away they all went, (’twas a Sabbath mispent)
For the chance of the fields or the road.
Not long they had walked, when a neighbour theymet,
And they tried his attention to shun;
But he saw them so plain, to escape him was vain,
And thus to discourse he begun:
“Where have you been wandering about,Thomas Brown,
In your jacket so out of repair?”
A rambling I’ve been, o’er the meadows so green,
And I work in the jacket I wear.
“But do you not hear the church bell,Thomas Brown?
Oh! why not the Sabbath regard!”
We a living must seek and we work all the week:
If we can’t enjoy Sunday ’tis hard!
“But what could your work do for you,Thomas Brown,
Were you not by your Maker befriended?”
Why that I don’t know,—if to church we should go,
Perhaps matters would not be much mended.
“What I say I intend for your good,Thomas Brown,
And your friend