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I Sam Tippett have thought it might not
be [amifs] to leave the following lines behind me
I was Born in the year of our Lord in 1711
In the Parrish of Bitton, in the Hamlet of [Oland]
My Father died when I was young, My Mother
kept me to [scool] tho with some [dificelty], For
I was of a light turn of mind and giving very
much to play with other Boys which made
my Mother pretty sharp with me, Tho at some
times I should have [sarious] thoughts and think what
will become of me when I die and shou'd wish
I had never been Born or died when I had been
at my Mothers [Brest], Then I thought I shou'd
went to Heaven, But who knows, what will
become of me now, I have been such a bad
Boy, I [tould] so many lies, and said nasty words
and many of the like thoughts wou'd come into
my mind, Then I shou'd think to be better
and not do so no more, And often wish I had
one o two little Boys of my mind to go to
Church and to be good and to live a Religious
life, And did often times wish I had liv'd
in the days of our Saviour, and think how
I wou'd have lov'd Him and follow'd him
had it been even to death, so that when
I did Read of His death and sufferings I shou'd
melt into Tears, so that I was fors't to give
over Reading, although it was the only
place that I did love to Read in; But once above
all the rest as I was Rocking the Cradle looking in