What could this pore Doctor do, bein treated thus,
When the darling Baby woke, cryin for its nuss?
Off he drove to a female friend, vich she was both kind
and mild,

And igsplained to her the circumstance of this year little

child.

That kind lady took the child instantly in her lap,
And made it very comforable by giving it some pap;

And when she took its close off, what d' you think she

found?

A couple of ten pun notes sewn up, in its little gownd!

Also, in its little close, was a note which did conwey,
That this little baby's parents lived in a handsome way:
And for its Headucation they reglarly would pay,
And sirtingly like gentlefolks would claim the child one

day,

If the Christian people who'd charge of it would say,
Per adwertisement in the Times, where the baby lay.

Pity of this bayby many people took,

It had such pooty ways and such a pooty look;

And there came a lady forrard (I wish that I could see Any kind lady as would do as much for me;

And I wish with all my art, some night in my night gownd,

I could find a note stitched for ten or twenty pound) There came a lady forrard, that most honorable did say, She'd adopt this little baby, which her parents cast away.

While the Doctor pondered on this hoffer fair,
Comes a letter from Devonshire, from a party there,
Hordering the Doctor, at its Mar's desire,

To send the little Infant back to Devonshire.

Lost in apoplexity, this pore meddicle man,

Like a sensable gentleman, to the Justice ran;

Which his name was Mr. Hammill, a honorable beak, That takes his seat in Worship Street four times a week.

"O Justice! " says the Doctor, "instrugt me what to do, I've come up from the country, to throw myself on you; My patients have no doctor to tend them in their ills, (There they are in Suffolk without their draffts and pills!)

Of this

I've come up from the country, to know how I'll dispose little baby, and the twenty pun note, and the clothes,

pore

And I want to go back to Suffolk, dear Justice, if you

please,

And my patients wants their Doctor, and their Doctor wants his feez."

Up spoke Mr. Hammill, sittin at his desk,
"This year application does me much perplesk;
What I do adwise you, is to leave this babby
In the Parish where it was left, by its mother shabby."

The Doctor from his Worship sadly did depart·

He might have left the baby, but he hadn't got the heart, To go for to leave that Hinnocent, has the laws allows, To the tender mussies of the Union House.

Mother, who left this little one on a stranger's knee,
Think how cruel you have been, and how good was he!
Think, if you've been guilty, innocent was she;
And do not take unkindly this little word of me :
Heaven be merciful to us all, sinners as we be !

THE END OF THE PLAY.

THE play is done; the curtain drops,
Slow falling to the prompter's bell:
A moment yet the actor stops,

And looks around, to say farewell.

It is an irksome word and task;

And, when he's laughed and said his say,
He shows, as he removes the mask,

A face that's any thing but gay.

One word, ere yet the evening ends,
Let's chose it with a parting rhyme,
And pledge a hand to all young friends,*
As fits the merry Christmas time.

* These verses were printed at the end of a Christmas Book (1848–9), “Dr.

Birch and his young Friends."

On life's wide scene you, too, have parts,
That Fate ere long shall bid you play ;
Good night! with honest gentle hearts
A kindly greeting go alway!

Good night! - I'd say, the griefs, the joys, Just hinted in this mimic page,

The triumphs and defeats of boys,

Are but repeated in our age.

I'd say, your woes were not less keen,

Your hopes more vain than those of men;

Your pangs or pleasures of fifteen

At forty-five played o'er again.

I'd say, we suffer and we strive,

Not less nor more as men than boys; With grizzled beards at forty-five,

As erst at twelve in corduroys.

And if, in time of sacred youth,

We learned at home to love and pray, Pray Heaven that early Love and Truth May never wholly pass away.

And in the world, as in the school,
I'd say, how fate may change and shift;