Poetry: The Baby Sprinkling

A starvation cnthcmfor thc royal chnstening. Bring forth the babe in pomp and lace, While thousands slarve and curse the Hght! But what oí that?- on royal face Shame knows no blush, however slight. Bring forth the babe; a nation's moans Will ring sweet inusic in his ear, For well we know a people's groans To royal ears were always dear. Bring forth the babe; down courtiers, down! And bow your lacquey knees in dust, Before a child's besloliber'd gown - [Our children can not find a crust!] When. Christ wae born. no scrvile throng Around the Saviour's manger met; No flatterers raised their fulsome song, - But what was Christ to Albert's pet? ■God, who has heard the widow's moan; God who hast heard the orphan's cry;But none round thee of famine diel Tliings Iike this babe of royal birth, Who boast their princely rigkt divine,' Are but thy parodies on earth - Their's is oppressiOn - mercy thine. Uring forth tlie babe! From foreign lands Fresh kingly vampires flock to greet The new ne in its nurse's hands, [For royal mothers give no teaq] Bring forth the toy of princely whim, -And let yourprayersmount night and day; For ought we not to prayfor him, Who'll prcy on us enougfa some day? Ol vho would grudge to squandergoid On such a glorious babe as this? What though our babes be starved andcold? They have no claim on earcMy bliss. X)urs are no mongrel Germán breed, But English bom, and English bred; Then Iet them live and die in need, While the plump Coburg thing is led.'Christen the babe. Archbishop proud, Strange servant of the lowly Christ, Thousands are to your purse allowed - ■ For fdm the smallest loaf sufficed. Though lioly water's scanty now, My lord, you may dismiss your fears; Take, to baptise the infant s brow, A 8tarving people'e bitter tears!