Another shivering night he sat;

A lad came in—"Please, Mister,"—"What?"

"This piece of rope." He said not nay,

But curs'd him as he went his way.

And once again there ventured nigh

A child, who fled with frightened cry,

As at her head a rusty key—

The gift she craved—he flung with glee.


The sands of life were nearly run;