Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-07-09
Ho! Farmers Boy and Workingman

but
After your days work be done.
And now-sit down on the doorstep
or on that hard -bottomed chair-or on that
log-or on that box just by US.
This is the weather to ripen tho wheat
into start the grain along-to call the
corn up about the ears.
And a good time to NOW. 1t is such
fun to swing the scythe all day. Out
while the dew glints like diamonds, and
the bits of grass stick to the wet scythe-
blade. At work while the sun is rising
overhead--while the jug or pail of drink
is warming under the heat which laughs
at shady places-at work till noon. And
then the dinner. A good boiled dinner
such as the farmers wife knows how to
prepare.
You had it hot to-day. So has she, been
at work over hot stove The breakfast
dishes-the milk-the churning-the
preparation for dinner-the hot work over
a fire lest dinner be not ready when the
men come.
And the men come in from the field.
How good the basin of cold water feels as
drink from the north side of the well
And the dinncr-its relish The men
talk about the work-the taxes-the news
papers--the niggcr--thc President-the
dog-thc cucumber bugs, and 50 on down
the scale, in order. The good wife, the
girls all listcn-too tired and cooked to
eat.
Now for the grindstonc The fork and
rakc--the wagon-the painting train-the
hot work Of the afternoon.
The wife clears off the table-saves the
peccs-ooks at the milk in the cellar
sweeps the house-mcnds clothcs--pre-
pares supper, and after it is over begins
her " regular work"
And all you men arc tired. So we will
not ask you to read-but will talk with
you. Perhaps you are Republican. We
will not long dctain you for the tax col:
lcctor will scold us if we bother you, and
his master, the bondholder, will damn"
us for attracting your attention. and call
us disloyal, as we are to disloya" Gov
crnment
1t is hard work to make money. 1t is
hard work to pay the store bil!--to pay
for the pork, the scythc the axe, the plow,
the dray, the tanning s-mill, the new har-
ness, the taior's bill, the wagon maker
and mcndcr. Bu. you can pay all these
men il YOU work.
Then You pay the
School tax
Church tax
Poor tax
Road taX---
Bridge tax
District tax
Town tax
County tax
Bounty tax balance
State tax
National tax
Interest tax
Revenue tax
Income tax
Production tax
Penalty tax
And show your receipt therefor!
This is just one years work. Not much
:or willing man, who is rich, but quite
an item if you are not. A nice little
gantlct to run-but you must run it with
out a whine, or you'll be Repudiator.
You pay taxes on
Your farm
Your shop
Your team
Your poor old horse
Your COW
Your pigs
Your cattle
Your chickens
Your bed
Your table
Your coffin
On your wagon
Your harness
Your kit of tools
Your old watch
Your Furniture
Your provisions
Your earnings
Have you little or much, you pay taxes.
You fought to fill pockets Of thieves
with wealth.
You pay taxes!
You fought to liberate and make the
negro at last your equal. You fought to
do what God Himself could not do
You pay taxes!
You fought to restore the Union. And
how nicely it was restored
You pay taxes
You fought to put down an arstocracy
at the South that raised each year more
than the entire agricultural and mechani-
cal productions Of the North.
You pay taxes!
Takes on dolls and toys-but your chill
dren have but few of these things!
Taxes on fre.crackers-bu why this
mockery of nations birthday?
Taxes on carriages-but you need not
ride to the grave in hearse.
Taxes on marble-but pine head
board will do at your grave!
Taxes on soap-but why need the
dirty, greasy mechanics or farmers use
soap-thc bondholdcrs sneer at them the
same