The Life and Death of Tom Careless to which is added, The History of Will Worthy & Nancy Wilmot

This pair of moral tales in lively, rhyming verse offers a stark warning about wasted opportunities, careless pleasures, and the awakening of conscience. Tom Careless is a cheerful, quick-witted carpenter whose jokes and drinking companions make him popular, but whose careless habits leave little room for wisdom or thought beyond the present moment. When a sudden fever brings him face to face with death, his former merriment gives way to terror, remorse, and an urgent appeal to others to abandon sin.

The second story follows Will Worthy, a spirited young man celebrated for his skill at rustic games and admired at country fairs. He falls deeply in love with Nancy Wilmot, and their wedding day begins amid delight, dancing, and communal celebration. Yet as the newlyweds dance together on the village green, joy turns abruptly to grief, setting Will on a path of serious reflection about the fragile nature of earthly happiness and the need for deeper spiritual hope.