James Parkerson

“ I shall thro’ life her absence oft deplore,
Till recollection from my memory flies.
The humble cottagers their Mistress bore,
To her cold home each face bedew’d with tears;
She to her mansion to return no more,
For death has silenc’d all her hopes and fears.
Oh! had you seen my good and worthy sire,
In sorrow’s garment his last duty pay;
To her whose virtues did esteem acquire,
Or ease the troubles of a luckless day.
Two sorrowing sons increas’d the gloomy day,
Who will while life remain her loss deplore ”

“ Each turnkey is a civil man,
And will oblige you if they can;
Yet faithful to their trust they are,
And will do nothing that’s unfair.
On City prison now I dwell,
The captives like their keeper well;
They say he’s kind to every man,
And ease their troubles all he can.
p. 10to the memory
of an
AFFECTIONATE PARENT. My pen cannot describe or tears convey,
The pangs I felt when late I bad farewell;
I view’d in death’s embrace a parent lay,
And heard the passing of the mournful bell.
Nine month’s disease its ravages had made,
E’er death reliev’d her from all sufferings here ”

“ Meekness thro’ life had mark’d her for her care,
While resignation claim’d her for her own;
Sometimes her mind wou’d cheerful still appear,
And strive to stifle pain’s afflicting groan.
Oh God! she cried, thy mercy let me crave,
Till life’s short span is taken quite away ”