VAGRANT.
My crime! - This sick’ning child to feed.
I seized the food, your witness saw;
I knew your laws forbade the deed,
But yielded to a stronger law.
Know’st thou, to Nature’s great command
All human laws are frail and weak?
Nay! frown not - stay his eager hand,
And hear me, or my heart will break.
In this, th’ adopted babe I hold