The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-03-21
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receive suitable compensation LOT lhell
services. Those who prof; BY their toll
we understand, are the cause Of theiI
misfortunes. From the "sh6ps" of the
sailors surely nine such fellows can moi
make one many they are allowed only a
shilling for making shirt, which occu-
pies day, or day and half! The
miscreants But we must not allow our
indignation for the cause, and our SYM
palhy for the effect, to detaip the reader
from the "Song of the Shirt" which
Russell, or the Hutchinsons, should set 10
music and sing at all their concerts. This
would do more for poor suffering human.
ily than thousand homiies, or all the
arguments of the press.-New Mirror.
SONG OF THE SHIRT.
With fingers weary and worn,
With eyelids heavy and red,
A woman sat, in unwomanly rags,
Plying her needle and thread
Stitch stitch stitch
In poverty, hunger, and dirt,
And still with voice Of doorous pitch,
She sang the "Song of the Shirt"
"Work! work! work!
While the cock is growing aloof!
And work work-work,
Till the stars shine through the roof!
lis o. 70 be slave
Along with the barbarous Turk
Where woman has never soul 10 save,
If this is Christian work
"Work work work
Till The brain begins to swim,
Work woodwork,
Till the eyes are heavy and dim!
Seam, and gusset, and band,
Band, and gusset, and seam,
Till over the buttons fall asleep,
And sew them on in dream!
ooh! men, with sisters dear!
Oh men, with mothers and wives!
1t is not linen you're wearing out,
BIT human creatures lives
itch-stitch-stitch,
In poverty, hunger, and dirt
Sewing at once, with a double thread,
A shroud as well as shirt.
"But why do talk of Death
That phantom of grisly bone,
hardly fear his terrible shape,
1t seems so like my own
1t seems so like my own
because OF the laStS keep,
o, God that bread should be so dear,
And flesh and blood so cheap.
"Work- woodwork,
My labor never flags;
And what are lis wages2 A bed of straw,
A crust of bread-and rags,
That SHATTERED roof-and this naked floor
A table-a broken chair
And a wall SO blank, my shadow thank
For sometimes falling there.
Work work-work:
From weary chime TO chime
Work = Woodwork,
As prisoners work for crime.
Band, and gusset, and seam,
Seam, and gusset, and band,
Till the heart is sick, and the brain benumb'd,
AS well as the weary hand.
"Work- woodwork:
In the dull December light,
And work. Woodwork,
When the weather is warm and bright
While underneath the caves
The brooding swallows cling,
As if 10 show me their sunny backs,
And twit me with the spriug. .
"Oh, but to breathe the breath
OF the cowslip and primrose sweet
With the sky above my head
And the grass beneath my feet,
For only one short hour
To feel as used TO feel,
Before knew the woes Of want,
And the walk that costs meal.
"Oh, but for one short hour
A respite however brief;
No blessed leisure for Love or Hope,
But only time for Grief.
A little weeping would ease my heart,
But in their briny bed
NV tears must stop, for every drop
flinders needle and thread.
With fingers weary and worn,
With eyelids heavy and red;
A woman sat, in unwomanly rags,
Plving her needle and thread
h--stilch--stitch- -.......
In poverty, hunger, and dirt.
And still with voice of dolorous pitch
Would that its tone could reach the rich
She sang this "Song of the Shirt"
JOHN Brown FRANCIS former Gov
ernor Of Rhode Island, has been elected
by the Legislature of that State, 10 fill tn
vacancy ia the United States Senate, oc
casioned by the resignation Of the Hon
Wa. Sprague.
LOOK OUT FOR YoUR RECEIPTs.-Te
dollar bills, counterfeits, of the Yate
county bank issues, are in extensive Gil
culation Watch this "!queer' sharp
~ Y. Sunday Times.