Young Forms of Man's Life-Chain

1

Can it be true, what yet is true,
That e'er a mother, most untrue,
With life-supplying breast, yet threw
Her suckling babe away, to rue
Slow death in chilly wind and dew?

2

Is it not true, and is it rare,
That e'er a man, with food to spare,
Should leave his child, he heeds not where,
For any one or none to rear,
Or starve, in sin, for want of care?