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.