Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/The Orphans

The Orphans.

My chaise the village inn did gain. Just as the setting sun's last rayTipped with refulgent gold the vane Of the old church across the way.

Across the way I silent sped, The time till supper to beguileIn moralising o'er the dead That mouldered round the ancient pile.

There many a humble green grave showed Where want, and pain, and toil did rest;And many a flattering stone I viewed O'er those who once had wealth possest.

A faded beech its shadow brown Threw o'er a grave where sorrow slept,On which, though scarce with grass o'ergrown, Two ragged children sat and wept.

A piece of bread between them lay, Which neither seemed inclined to take;And yet they looked so much a prey To want, the sight made my heart ache.

"My little children, let me know Why you in such distress appear,And why you wasteful from you throw That bread which many a one might cheer?"

The little boy, in accents sweet, Replied, while tears each other chased:"Lady, we've not enough to eat— Ah! if we had we should not waste.

But sister Mary's naughty grown, And will not eat, whate'er I say;Though sure I am the bread's her own, For she has tasted none to-day."—

"Indeed," the wan, starved Mary said, "Till Henry eat I'll eat no more;For yesterday I got some bread, He's had none since the day before."—

My heart did swell, my bosom heave, I felt as though deprived of speech;Silent I sat upon the grave, And clasped the clay-cold hand of each.

With looks of woe too sadly true, With looks that spoke a grateful heart,The shivering boy then nearer drew, And did his simple tale impart:

"Before my father went away, Enticed by bad men o'er the sea,Sister and I did nought but play— We lived beside yon great ash-tree.

But then poor mother did so cry, And looked so changed, I cannot tell;She told us that she soon would die, And bade us love each other well.

She said that, when the war was o'er, Perhaps we might our father see;But if we never saw him more, That God our Father then would be!

She kissed us both, and then she died, And we no more a mother have:Here many a day we've sat and cried Together at poor mother's grave.

But when my father came not here, I thought if we could find the sea,We should be sure to meet him there, And once again might happy be.

We hand in hand went many a mile, And asked our way of all we met;And some did sigh, and some did smile, And we of some did victuals get.

But when we reached the sea, and found 'Twas one great water round us spread,We thought that father must be drowned, And cried, and wished we both were dead.

So we returned to mother's grave, And only long with her to be;For Goody, when this bread she gave, Said father died beyond the sea.

Then since no parent we have here, We'll go and search for God around;Lady, pray can you tell us where That God, our Father, may he found?

He lives in heaven, mother said, And Goody says that mother's there;So, if she knows we want His aid, I think perhaps she'll send Him here."—

I clasped the prattlers to my breast, And cried, "Come both and live with me;I'll clothe you, feed you, give you rest, And will a second mother be.

And God shall be your Father still; 'Twas He in mercy sent me here,To teach you to obey His will, Your steps to guide, your hearts to cheer."