Mother Doorstep

'Wanted Kind Person to take charge of baby Boy (or Girl),' etc. - Any newspaper, any day.

'Early this morning the body of an infant was found on a doorstep in -- Street,' etc. - Any newspaper, every other day.

Unto the Person kind there came

A young girl bearing her fruit of shame:

She fell and it had to pay the price

Innocent Lamb of Sacrifice!

Lovingly then the Person smiled,

Gazing upon the face of the child;

Smiled like an ogress - 'Don't despond!

I am of children all too fond.'

Then said the mother, speaking low,

Kissing the babe she had born in woe:

'Treat him tenderly-nurse him well.'

Hotly the tears on the baby fell.

Taking the mother's coin with a leer

Ogress remarked: 'Don't cry, my dear,

Motherly persons to me are known,

One is named Wood and another Stone.

'Either of them will your baby keep

Hushing him into a soft, long sleep,

Crooning a lonesome lullaby song;

They have been used to children long.'

Cold and yet kind was the nurse's breast;

Cold fell the rain on the babe at rest;

Pale was his face as an immortelle,

Old Mother Doorstep had nursed him well.