126 THE CHANGED BURDENS.
beber." Scarcely audible now, for the the details of some sanguinary crime,
drays have "'come to town" to join the As if to demonstrate to the world that
busy throng now hurrying to and fro. the good fortune of mankind is chiefly
Almost unheeded is the beggar's "for attributable to their own diligence, the
the love of God," although their appear- knife-grinder busily turns his flying
ance bespeaks wretchedness and want, wheel and sings to "minha negra." Cof-
The convict street-sweepers, whose clank- fee carriers are trotting along the
ing chains their tale of woe unfold, file wharves ; the rat tat tat of the patrol
past in mournful silence, and soon the drum calls forth the drowsy guard ; the
iron door will shut the sunshine from day has passed from childhood into
out their lonely hearts, whose every youth, and our morning in the tropics is
beat brings back to mind afresh over.
I
��THE CHANGED BURDENS.
��BY MARTHA J. NOTES.
Somewhere a story I have seen Of a goddess brave, or fairy queen, Who bade her suffering subjects bring Their trials, cares, and everything That burdened them with griefs or woes, And make exchange, such as they chose. Then every one with glad acclaim Into the gracious presence came.
All had their burdens. Each his own Adjudged the heaviest ever known ; And here the sick and suffering came, The hapless, blind, deformed and lame, The homeless maid and hopeless swain ; A weary, murmuring, endless train, To bring their griefs, whate'er they were, And change them as they might prefer.
A poor man laid his poorness down And took instead a recreant son, Whose father, searching all about, Selected for himself the gout. The gouty man chose a scolding wife, Whose tongue created endless strife. A homely woman changed her face For an invalid's softer mein and grace.
A hump-back doffed his life-long shame For a deaf mute's straight and manly frame. A weary wife brought all her grief And took the hump-back for relief. A love-lorn maid laid down her woes And straight the cast-off husband chose.
�� �
