Charles Follen Adams

“ Haggard and pale is the father's face, Where lingering sickness has left its trace; While the careworn look on the mother's brow Tells of the sorrow upon her now. Hungry and faint from the lack of food, With scanty clothing, no coal nor wood ”

“ While the squire's darkey, with cheerful grin, Food and clothing brings quickly in. "Lord bless you, ma'am! why, who'd a knowed That folks lived up in this 'ere abode? "'Tain't fit for a barn, 'n', ez I'm a sinner, I'll take you all to my house to dinner. "I'll find you work when you're strong and well, 'N' a better place than this 'ere to dwell—" And the squire paused, while a tear arose, And dropped unseen on his ruby nose, As the baby boy, with a happy look, A rosy apple from Sambo took. ”

“ The children, nestled upon the bed, A fragment of carpet over them spread, Are blind to their parents' mute despair; And the little girl, with a pitying air, Says, "What do poor children do, I wonder, With no warm carpet to cuddle under ”