I was born in the fields; taken from thence at an early age, I was made to assume my present form, and sold as a slave into the family of a wealthy merchant. While I was young, and comely, my life was comparatively easy; the modest Lucy would take me by the hand, and with her I would roam over the richly-carpeted mansion; and many a service I have rendered her. One morning, quite early, before the rest of the family were up, Lucy was standing by the window; I was leaning against her shoulder, when she uttered a slight scream. I jumped, and came near falling, but she caught hold of me, and pointing towards the window, showed me the cause of her terror. One well-aimed blow of mine felled the intruder to the earth, and the footman coming in just then, gave him the finishing touch. But, alas! my days of pleasant servitude were drawing near a close. Lucy became dissatisfied with me, and in a fit of pique, handed me over to the cook, by whom I was hustled hither and thither, wherever her fancy dictated. She was a careless woman, and one day, while I was doing all I could to serve her, she actually pushed me into the fire! Snatching me out as quickly as possible, she plunged me into a bucket of cold water; but I was disfigured and crippled for life, and disabled from further service. The cook at length declared she would no longer give me house-room, and one bitter cold night, turned me out into the street, without a stitch of clothing. I have never murmured when called upon to work; yet here I lie, neglected, unheeded, and uncared for.
But why should I complain? am I the only one shunned and forsaken, when no longer able to minister to the wants or pleasures of the world?
[15]
Among the snakes, I reck of one,
Not born of earthly breed,
And with this serpent vieth none,
In terror or in speed.
It darts upon its helpless prey
With roar both loud and high;
In one destruction borne away,
Rider and steed must die.
In highest place it loves to bide,
No door may bar its path,
And scaly armor’s iron pride
Will but attract its wrath.
The firmest earth it plows amain,
How tough soe’er it be—
As brittle reeds are snapt in twain
’Twill rend the mightiest tree.
Yet hath this monster, grim and fierce,
Ne’er twice with prey been fed,
But once its fiery tooth can pierce—
It slayeth—and is dead.