in ANSWER to the
fable of the Widow and her Cat,

AN Honeſt Shepherd on the Wolds,
That had the Care of many Folds;
Well ſtock'd with Fleecy pregnant Dams,
The wanton Kid, and ſporting Lambs,
Which there in Nightly Perils lay
Of being to Ravening Wolves a Prey.
A Dog this watchful Shepherd kept
To guard his Flocks when e'er he ſlept
A Cur he was of Courage ſtout,
That conſtantly was on the Scour,
And Patroul'd all the Camp about.
No Wolf could ſtir, no Fox come nigh,
But he was ſtrait upon full Cry ;
That 'ſtead of Prey for which they came,
They prov'd no more than Whitefoot's Game,
Who chac'd 'em to the Neighbouring Copſe,
Then back return'd and lick'd his Chops.
Whitefoot grown Famous (as 'twas juſt)
For being faithful to his Truſt,
Met the Reward in ſome Degrees
Was due unto his Services.
But at the length poor Whitefoot fell
Into Diſgrace-----How, few tan tell.
Some ſay he had regard for Pelf,
And pilfer'd Mutton by himſelf.
Howe'er it were, Complaints there came,
Reflecting fore on Whitefoofs Fame.
The Shepherds of the Neighb'ring Vales
Poſſeſs'd his Maſter with ſtrange Tales,
And in a Body all Addreſs'd
To have him not alone Diſplac'd;
But that ſtrict Juſtice might be done,
By Law, to every Mother's Son,
They choſe a Tree, and all agreed
To have poor Whitefoot Hang'd with ſpeed;
The Swain who heard with ſome Regret
What was like to be Whitefoot's Fate,
Cry'd, Hold Sirs,-----You proceed too faſt,
And ne'er conſider what is paſt :
If as been to me a Truſty Cur,
And I Ingratitude abhor;
'Tis true be may have gone aſtray,
But ſhall his Well-Deeds nothing weigh.
No, no, you now too haſty run,
I'll ſave him for the GOOD h'as done.
CONCLUSION.
The Application each may gueſs,
As they diſlike, or like the Caſe.

LONDON : Printed in the Year, M DCC XII.