It was of an honest labourer
As I've heard people say
He goes out in the morning
And he works hard all the day
And he's got seven children
And most of them are small
He has nothing but hard labour
To maintain them all

A gentlemen, one evening
Walking out to take the air
He met with this poor labouring man
And solemnly declared
I think you are that thresherman
Yes sir, said he, that's true
How do you get your living
Just as well as you do?

Sometimes I do reap
And sometimes I do mow
And other times to hedging
And to ditching I do go
There is nothing comes amiss to me
From the harrow to the plough
That's how I get my living
By the sweat of my brow

When I go home at night
Just as tired as I be
I take my youngest child
And I dance him on my knee
The others come around me
With their prittle-prattling toys
And that's the only comfort
A working man enjoys

"My wife and I are willing
And we both join in one yoke
We live like two turtle doves
And not one word provoke
Although the times are very hard
And we are very poor
We can scarcely keep the raving wolf
Away from the door"

Well done, you honest labourer
You speak well of your wife
I hope you will live happy
All the days of your life
Here's forty acres of good land
Which I will give to thee
Which will help to maintain your wife
And little family