The Kentish WONDER:  
BEING A true Relation how a poor distressed Widow, in the Wild of Kent, was by the Providence of the Almighty, miraculously preserved in her Necessity, so that she and seven small Children lived seven Weeks upon a  sixpenny Loaf of Bread, and yet it never decreased; to the great Wonder of all that hear it, and the Praise of the Almighty, who never forsakes them who put their trust in him.  
To the Tune of, Aim not too high.  
 

YOu faithful Christians wheresoever you be,  
Trust still in God and you shall surely see,  
In faithful service he doth take delight,  
And you shall never be forsaken quite.   

And you that do desire the truth to hear,  
Mind well my ditty, and to me give ear,  
A woeful story I'll to you relate,  
Of a poor Widow's sad and dismal fate:   

Her Husband dead, she in great want did fall,  
And little had to keep herself withal;  
Seven Babes, poor Soul, she had to keep beside,  
And knew not how she should for them provide.   

She diligently laboured night and day,  
Her Charge to keep, and some small depts to pay;  
And oftentimes for bread her goods did pawn,  
Till at the last, poor Creature, all was gone.   

Her Children dear to her did cry for bread,  
Who nothing had to put into her head;  
And as her Children for relief did cry,  
She sent up prayers unto the God on high:   

O God, quoth she, most righteous, good and just,  
Regard my cry, that in thee put my trust,  
Look down on me with a most gracious eye,  
That now with want am ready for to die.   

Thou to Elias gracious were't indeed,  
And in his want sent ravens him to feed;  
Take pity then upon my Children small,  
And send me food to feed them there withal.   

We in the scriptures oftentimes do read,  
How with five loaves thou didst five thousand feed,  
And when of hunger they were quite bereft,  
Of scraps and fragments were twelve baskets left.   

I know, quoth she, thy power is still the same,  
And still will call upon thy mighty name,  
In hopes that thou at last will prove my Friend,  
And so, poor Soul, she did her prayers end.   

Oh Mother dear, her Children then did say,  
Give us some bread, we have had none to day;  
I am half starved says one, and I said t'other,  
Thus did they cry unto their careful Mother.   

She hearing this, unto her Children said,  
At night, my Babes, you shall be filled with bread;  
And with these words she did her Babes content,  
So she, poor Wretch, unto the market went.   

Her very coat she from her back did sell  
For five poor shillings, as is known full well;  
But mark how this poor Soul was strangely crossed,  
Her purse was cut, and all her money lost.   

Which being missed, she cried and made great moan,  
And to the Passengers she made it known,  
Who little minded her so filled with grief,  
And nothing would allow to her relief.   

Unto her Husband's Brother then she went,  
And her condition there did much lament,  
Desiring him to trust her, and did say,  
That she would pay him the next market-day.   

Of this her expectation she did fail,  
For prayers nor tears with him would then prevail,  
He said that he had but small store of grain,  
Which would not serve till corn did come again.   

This dogged answer cut her to the heart,  
And mournfully from him she did departed,  
The thoughts of her poor Babes did pier●● he● soul,  
And her condition she did much condole   

These pretty Babes did keep a might●…●  
Which of them all should have most b●●●●…  
But she fell shore of butter, bread an● 〈◊〉  
And none could get their hungers to 〈◊〉   

But mar● how Providence did still pr●●●●●  
And by mere Chance her wants they 〈◊〉  
A Baker's Boy, as homeward she re●●●●●●  
Gave her a loaf which was a little b●●●●…   

And joyfully she did the same receive,  
The Baker's Boy she many thanks di● 〈◊〉  
And homewards then she went imme  
Who did rejoice their Mother for to 〈◊〉   

She kissed them all, and with a chearf 〈◊〉  
Did bid her Children for to read there 〈◊〉  
And when, my Children dear, you ha●● 〈◊〉  
Most lovingly we will to supper go.   

Some apples than she laid unto the fir●  
Which she, poor Soul, long time had 〈◊〉  
Of which they from she biggest to the 〈…〉  
With their dear Mother then did ma●● 〈◊〉   

Your Souls, they then instead of ale 〈…〉  
Were all contented with some water 〈…〉  
And were rejoiced at this feast so great  
For they before had little for to eat.   

Behold how God these thankful Souls  
When they had supped the loaf was ne'er 〈…〉  
For seven week's space upon this loaf 〈…〉  
And yet perceived no lessening of their 〈◊〉   

And e'er the Cutpurse had her money 〈◊〉  
This thieving Rogue did break his ne●●  
Her Husband's Brother that refused to 〈…〉  
Was punished by heavenly power most 〈◊〉   

For, in one night, as several People say  
His corn was by the floods all washed aw●●  
And Gentlemen that did this Wonder se●  
Relieved this Window's wants most plen●●●●●●   

Goods People all do now behold and see,  
Who trust in God they shall relieved be,  
Tho' they but little have to live upon  
He'll send them more when their 〈…〉