Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems by the late Thomas Haynes Bayly; Edited by his Widow. With A Memoir of the Author. In Two Volumes |
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 | Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems |  |
158
THE EXHIBITED DWARF.
I
I lay without my father's door, a wretched dwarfish boy;I did not dare to lift the latch, I heard the voice of joy.
Too well I knew, when I was near, my father never smiled;
And she who bore me turn'd away, abhorring her poor child.
II
A stranger saw me, and he bribed my parents with his gold!Oh! deeper shame awaited me—the dwarfish boy was sold!
They never loved me, never claim'd the love I could have felt!
And yet, with bitter tears, I left the cottage where they dwelt.
III
The stranger seem'd more kind to me, he spoke of brighter days;He lured each slumb'ring talent forth, and gave unwonted praise;
Unused to smiles, how ardently I panted for applause!
And daily he instructed me—too soon I learned the cause.
IV
I stood upon his native shore; the secret was explain'd;I was a vile, degraded slave, in mind and body chain'd!
Condemn'd to face, day after day, the rabble's ruffian gaze;
To shrink before their merriment, or blush before their praise!
V
In anguish I must still perform the oft-repeated task;And courteously reply to all frivolity may ask.
And bear inhuman scrutiny, and hear the hateful jest!
And sing the song—then crawl away to tears instead of rest.
159
VI
I know I am diminutive, ay, loathsome, if you will;But say, ye hard hearts! am I not a human being still?
With feelings, sensitive as yours perhaps, I have been born!
I could not wound a fellow man, in mockery, or scorn!
VII
But some there are, who seem to shrink away from me at first,And then speak kindly; to my heart that trial is the worst!
Oh, then I long to kneel to them, imploring them to save
A hopeless wretch, who only asks an honourable grave!
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |