80 SELECT POETRY

THE COMPLAINTS OF THE POOR.

“‘ AND wherefore do the poor complain P”
The rich man asked of me ;—
* Come walk abroad with me,” I said,
* And I will answer thee.”

’Twas evening, and the frozen streets
Were cheerless to behold ;

And we were wrapped and coated well,
And yet we were a-cold.

We met an old, bare-headed man,
His locks were few and white;

I asked him what he did abroad
In that cold winter’s night.

Twas bitter keen, indeed, he said,
But at home no fire had he,

And therefore he had come abroad
To ask for charity.

We met a young barefooted child,
And she begged loud and bold ;

I asked her what she did abroad
When the wind it blew so cold.

She said her father was at home,
And he lay sick in bed;

And therefore was it she was sent
Abroad to beg for bread.

We saw a woman sitting down
Upon a stone to rest ;

She had a baby at her back
And another at her breast,