Credulity

What Consternation fills the Hall! Young Master Frank is miss’d; All Day for him they seek and call Nor through the Night desist.

Repeatedly had Frank been warned The Gipsies’ Camp to shun, For Truth and Cleanliness they scorned And left good Deeds undone.

Alas for Frank! the Gipsy Queen Had met him by the Stile, With Tales of Fortune she’d foreseen She did the Youth beguile.

“I’ll crown you King, and you shall ride In golden Coach,” said she, “You’ll ne’er repent if you decide To follow Gipsy Lee.”

The foolish boy went off to roam In search of Wealth and Fame, And all forgot were Friends and Home To his eternal Shame.

And now with limping Feet he toils Behind the Caravans, With Tinker’s Tools his Hand he soils And sells both Pots and Pans.

His Parents fond their Son with Tears Distractedly deplore: They sought him o’er the World for Years, But saw him nevermore.