The Ava soldier bred to dangers, The Cochinese who lives on strangers, "So great the infection soft"-have caught it, And cry-" Poor Fiam! who'd have thought it ?” Though all unravel-no one blames The small hypocrisies of names When Grief's so great we're really dumb for 't, And all the Paul Prys of the city Indulge their vice, and style it—" Pity !" -But on a couch all uncarest And yet no rude or vulgar grace " You might in their repose descry, As if they felt the rude world round And knew that some strange spell had hung A blot upon a brother's name, Yet made the tie to which they clung No less their shelter than their shame! And now all's hush'd!--a certain still awes The motley crowd; they gaze on each With a quick-meaning eye-but speech Lies stifled with a numbing fear! A single voice appals the ear, And tells-but with a whispered breath'How easy is an infant's death. ' And that we only do fulfil laws 'Given by Nature—to deny 'Life to the wretched things that mock 'Nature herself!". Then suddenly There ran a chill electric shock Thro' every woman there whose breast The gossip ceased; and you might mark As snows that in some deep ravine Lie motionless and dumb, Till at a signal from the beam— Some charm'd voice from the sun-they seem Thus, when that signal cry arose, Strait from the warmed and melting snows And wild and thrilling through the crowd, And weird, and ghast, and desolate He rose the crowd on either side Fell back; sound answered not his stride. No breath, from that hush'd crowd was heard : The mother stretched her arms, but she His heart was to the new-born yearning. And in those eyes, as in a mirror, But, with a fixed and gentle look And trembling clasp, the father took His children :— -to her side he came And breathed-yet scarcely breathed—her name. But not another word he said, That whisper had exorcised Dread. Lo! on her breast the Twins!-and there They clung, and sought for food, And, every moment, you might see With folded arms and tearful smile There stands the touched and silent Father; |