Page:Poems Curwen.djvu/254

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Her pretty eyes were smarting with
 The wind and driving sleet.

At length they reached a dreadful slum,
 And there, to Mab's disgust,
She saw a little half-naked child
 Pick up a dirty crust
Out of the gutter—this it ate;—
 And then Mab's sobs were hushed,

As down, down, down, some reeking steps
 To a cellar damp and dim
The goblin went, and her little feet
 Went pattering after him;
When, hark! a child's sweet silvery voice
 Singing a Christmas hymn.

There, on a pallet made of rags,
 A childish form was lying:
No covering for her shrunken limbs,
 Though the little one was dying;
No food, no fire, and yet she sang,
 And Mab, amazed, ceased crying.

Then down the steps a woman came,
 Her wan, white face all gleaming
With joy, although a-down her cheeks
 Salt rivulets were streaming.
"Look, dear, what mammy's got," she cried,
 Her sunken eyes bright beaming.