An Old Offender.
A culprit, from the stony prison brought,1
Stands at the solemn stern judicial bar ;2
A thief of many seasons ; traced and caught,3
The plunder in his gripe. With mouth ajar,4
He strives to look untouched by evil thought,5
But his eye steals around for friends afar.6
“ Who owns the boy ?” No answer. “ Eight years
old ?”7
old ?”7
“ His tenth offence, sir.” “ Well, what has he
done?”8
done?”8
“ Cut off this watch, these seals.” “ He’s very bold :9
Where is his daily living earned, or won ? ”10
“ In the streets, both night and day, sir, hot or cold.”11
“ Where are the poor child’s parents ?” “ He has
none.”12
none.”12
None—none ! No parent ! Like the cuckoo’s young,13
Cast on the lap of chance, for life, for bread ;14
Amongst the starved and sinful roughly flung ;15
By felons taught ; by nightly plunder fed !16
Help, angels ! who his birth-day carol sung,17
Teach him, or take him quickly to the dead.18
“ Help !” through the regions of the echoing sky,19
Through earth, and all its zones and circles, rings.20
Ah, learn ! When tears are forced from Pity’s eye,21
To every gentle orb a moisture clings :22
When Worth for human misery breathes a sigh,23
In answering music, know, an angel sings.24