The Hunch-Back. A Poem

470 IMPROVEMENT ERA from starvation, or at the hands of wild tribes, while in quest of the mythical Quivera. They were not greatly mistaken, for the army that returned to Mexico was only a forlorn remnant of the sadly depleted army. Toward the close of the sixteenth century, the country was again taken possession of by Onate, whose wife was a granddaughter of Cortez and a great-granddaughter of Montezuma, the conquered chief of the Aztecs. [The next article of this series will deal with "Later Spanish and American Occupancy of the Colorado Desert Region."] The Hunch-Back Downcast and sad the hunch-back crept Among the straight and tall; Not one marred body did he see, But all seemed perfect — all. "O Lord," he cried in bitterness, "O why and wherefore I? Each day I'm crucified anew, Though dying do not die." Then to his anguished soul there came The message born of need, A flame of fire, A cautery for weak desire: "Thy body, vestment of a priest may be, That wraps a holy one within, Or rags that hide a beggar Who doth wait for alms. Yet who might challenge fate! And e'en make gods applaud. "Like One, whom prophets said of old Should have of beauty not a trace, Yet God's own glory shone upon his face — That doer of brave deed and high! Which marked him transient from the sky. "Then go thou forth and write upon thy heart: Each hath his place; each hath his part, Each hath his secret sorrow, too. And in the market-place are those Who would be glad to change with you! God alone doth know. Then let thy soul in stature grow — each day Until its garment, grown too small, Is left beside the way." Maud Baggarley.