Jr. Horatio Alger Nothing to Eat

Annotation

Though famine prevails not at all in the city;Though none of starvation have died in the street;Yet many there are now exciting our pity,Who're daily complaining of nothing to eat.The every-day cry and the every-day fare,That's every day heard where the Livewells are dining,Is nothing to eat, or else nothing to wear,Which naked and starving rich Merdles are whining.There's Kitty Malone-Mrs. Merdle 'tis now-Was ever on earth here before such a sinner;Protesting, excusing and swearing a vow,She'd nothing worth eating to give us for dinner.Why Kitty, if starving for want of a meal,And hadn't a cent in the world to buy meat,You wouldn't exclaim with a more pious zeal,"I'm dying of hunger-we've nothing to eat!!" (Excerpt)