Vii

Why is it that whene'er a faithful few combine To cast allegiance off, play truant, nor repine, Agree to bear the worst, forego the best in store For us who, left behind, do duty as of yore,-- Why is it that, disgraced, they seem to relish life the more? --Seem as they said, "We know a secret passing praise Or blame of such as you! Remain! we go our ways With something you o'erlooked, forgot or chose to sweep Clean out of door: our pearl picked from your rubbish-heap. You care not for your loss, we calculate our gain. All 's right. Are you content? Why, so let things remain! To the wood then, to the wild: free life, full liberty!" And when they rendezvous beneath the inclement sky, House by the hedge, reduced to brute-companionship, --Misguided ones who gave society the slip, And find too late how boon a parent they despised, What ministration spurned, how sweet and civilized--- Then, left alone at last with self-sought wretchedness, No interloper else!--why is it, can we guess?-- At somebody's expense, goes up so frank a laugh? As though they held the corn, and left us only chaff From garners crammed and closed. And we indeed are clever If we get grain as good, by threshing straw forever!