“I hurried out to learn the cause; but, overwhelmed with fright,
The children never ceased to shriek, and from my frenzied sight
I missed the youngest of my babes, the darling of my care,
But something caught my searching eyes, slow sailing through the air.
“Oh! what an awful spectacle to meet a father’s eye!
His infant made a vulture’s prey, with terror to descry!
And know, with agonizing breast, and with a maniac rave,
That earthly power could not avail, that innocent to save!
“My infant stretched his little hands imploringly to me,
And struggled with the ravenous bird, all vainly to get free,