The Undutiful Daughter of Devonshire:
OR, The careful Kind indulgent Fathers Entreaties for her to forsake her Lover a Spend-thrift, and to Embrace a Farmers hopeful Son.
The Tune is, How can I be Merry or Glad.
Licensed according to Order.
BEhold I am an Aged Man,
who have one Youthful Daughter dear;
And yet let me take what care I can,
she'll not to my Counsel once give ear.
I love her as I do my Life,
for her I take a Constant Care;
Therefore I'd not have her ma [...]e a Wife,
for him that should bring her to Dispair.
Having one Daughter, and no more,
she should a Loving Father find;
I'll give her both Gold and Silver store,
if she would but marry to my mind.
But she has set her Love on one,
who is a Man of mean degree:
And tho I have School'd her still alone,
she'll not in the least be rul'd by me.
He is a Spend-thrift Gaming Blade,
that Roams abroad both far and near;
And therfore as I have often said,
there's nothing but ruine does appear.
I tell her this with melting Eyes,
and beg of her to take good heed;
Yet she does my Counsel still despise,
which causes my Aged heart to bleed.
I tell her of the Pains and Care,
which I have took for what I have;
And therefore I think it is not fair,
to Spend it upon a Crafty Knave.
In Taverns will he Rant and Roar,
and e'ry lew'd Companion feast;
And when he has quite Consum'd her store,
he'll never regard her in the least.
She knows that he delights to Game,
and does of folly take his fill;
Yet this will not in the least reclaim,
her obstinate Disobdient will.
Alas! she is my Darting dear,
this day alive I have no more;
Therefore I would have her flourish here,
and live as her Mother has done before.
She is I find so stubborn grown.
that what have she will not Prize;
For I declare I will hold my own,
she Values not that in the least she cryes.
Nay, was he but an honest Man,
in whom I might some hope behold;
I'd never deny him for I can
give with her three Hundred Pounds in Gold.
'Tis true, three Hundred Pounds, they may
be thought a portion mean and small
Yet I think it too much to throw away
on one that will Piss it against the Wall.
Besides when I this world shall leave,
her Lot will then full larger be:
The rest of my Treasure she'll then receive,
for why I can give it to none but she[?].
Again I'll to my Daughter go,
where like a Father and a Friend.
I'll Court her to let this Spend-thrift go,
why should she with sorrow my heart offend.
And if she does my Counsel take,
I have a Farmers Son in store
Who will a kind loving Husband make,
and does her fair beautiful Charms adore.
Printed for P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J. Blare and [...]