Worn-out, the pauper nurse sleeps; The sufferer, forsaken, is crying With no one to moisten his lips,-- No one to mark that he's dying. Who should hear the _catch_ in his breath 'Mid the coughs, curses, ravings, resounding Through the ward o'er the bed of his death, From the close-crowded pallets surrounding? And picture the scenes, to come Perhaps, of another sorrow Nearer your stately home,-- That you will not have to borrow; When hushed is all merry din, And your smiling guests have vanished; When your flowers come blooming in, To be glanced at once and banished; When vain are all the crafts That Mammon serve, and never Tour costliest, coolest draughts Can quench the fire of your fever; When your street is red with tan, And your oft-pulled door-bell muffled, That the peace of a dying man By no faintest sound be ruffled; When love, to give you rest, Doth toil with soothings fruitless; And skill has done its best, And the town's best skill is bootless; When the chaises leave the place, And the helpless, poor patrician Lies looking up in the face Of only the Great Physician,-- God grant it with joy may be That you hear, 'What you did toward others Ye have done it unto Me, In the least of those My brothers!' Lazarus lies at your gate; Our kindly dear old city, Let him no longer wait; Open the doors of your pity!" XI. COMMENT ON "OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE BOSTON PAUPERS". "There is no caste in blood, Which runneth of one hue, nor caste in tears, Which trickled salt with all." Mrs. Alice N. Lincoln, who has given a large amount of time and painstaking interest to the treatment of the paupers, and who deserves more credit than any one else for the present hopeful campaign in their behalf, writes as follows in the _Boston Transcript_ of August 28:-- "Those of your readers who were kind enough to follow in your columns, last winter, the articles for which you courteously made space there concerning the poor of Boston, will, I think, be interested to know what has since been done for the islands, and why so much controversy is aroused by the sermon of Dr. Banks on the paupers. "Early in the spring two new commissioners were appointed. It was hoped that this change in the board would bring about good results, but, in point of fact, matters remained much the same. The appropriation for a new hospital, though made months ago, was not acted upon until this week, when bids for the building were opened." [Illustration: WOMEN'S HOSPITAL WARD AT LONG ISLAND.] [Footnote: This is the best hospital ward on the two islands. Screen shown on the right, behind which is a dying woman.] "On August 5, I had the honor to lay before the commissioners eight requests on behalf of the inmates of the island, as follows:-- 1. More occupation for the able-bodied.