Her children cry'd to her alone;

"O, give us food, mother," they said;

'Twould have broke a heart of stone,

To hear the piteous moan they made.

With weeping tears she did reply,

"My heart is overwhelm'd with grief;

To your rich uncle we will hye,

And see if he will yield relief.

"He told your father thus in love,

Before this world he bid adieu,