Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-10-01
The Wage Of Competition is Poverty

We've got to pinch a little more,
To make things come out even;
SO let's be saven as we can;
There hain't no use in grieven;
But sometimes l get awful blue,
Pm goin nigh distracted
This pinchen, saven sort O. life
Is CROWN more protracted.
And I'm GROWN less like Jim
We're both a CROWN thinner
don't feel much like workin, Jane,
When there's no meat for dinner.
faint your fault? Who said it wuz?
You're mighty good at cookin,
when yer anything to cook
1t ain at that I'm lookin.
" You know that mortgage is conir
due,
The interest 1 can't pay.
| didn't think 4 year ago,
That things 'ud be this way.
amt blamen you at all,
For it is my own doin,
And when | see your haggard face.
know I've caused your ruin.
+" You've been a faithful, savin wife:
You never onst have grumbled;
But | have seen yer GROWN thin,
And knowed your pride wuz hum
bled.
You've been so patient like and good
You've worked and pinched ant
saved. ...p...
And never lost your temper onst
When | have cussed and raved.
81 know sometimes I'm oreful cross,
But I'm just nigh bout crazy;
You're good natured all the time,
And never one bit lazy;
And that's just why | feel so bad;
That's just why I'm a grieven,
l know twill nigh bout break you
heart,
When we're the old home leavin.
"The home yer allus loved so we'll,
The home yer father give us!
If he was Twin and he knew,
He never would forgive us.
| Not US, but me. | hain't forgot
How strong you did oppose it.
1t amt your fault, in no wise, Jane,
And l don't keer who knows it.
sit cost me lots o. sleep at nights,
And there's lots more ahead.
Some nights | toss and roll about,
Till | most break the bed;
Some nights | never shet my eyes
| never sleep a wink:
| get them oreful wide awakes'
And think and think and think.
"But after all my thinkin, Jane,
can't devise plan,
To pay that awful mortgage off,
And I'm like crazy man.
Then what if should lose my mind,
In other words my reason
And be put in the mad house, Jane,
Or wuss, locked up IN prison.
II know our home is got ter go,
And | can't git another.
| thought till lately could git
The cash of John, my brother;
But he put his money in bank,
And soon the old bank bursted.
1t proved to be den of thieves
That brother John had trustee.
- SO | don't know what to do
guess we'll soon be Begin;
| tailed to get that tother job,
Fer which been peggin.
There amt job no whers around,
That promises a penny.
Some people say theirs lots o work,
But hanged if see any.
"Well, jim, it haint no use to fret,
Fer frettin wont make dollars.
| guess we've got our lesson learned,
Altho' we've been dull scholars.
Experience can teach us tho
It's far the Test of teachers
It's teachin somethin' new each day
70 us dull, stupid creatures.
81 know place where we can GO,
And while we live have plenty:
| 1t proves a safe and pleasant way,
! To nineteen out o twenty.
| Let's join the colony on the Sound,
! And stop this awful worry.
! Let's make our plans to that effect,
And get there in hurry.
You know we both know how t
work,
We understand our calling;
| But what's the use to keep at work,
When wages keep fallin?
! The more we work the less we have.
And here's hoE I'm a feelin:-
The ones that have the most TO eat,
Are maxim it by stealth.
They're stealth from the TOLL
poor;
Then stealth from the wives,
Who work from day to dav,
And toll away their lives!
Who have to dress iR calico,
And can't git much o. that;
Who can't afford Sunday wrap,
Ner buy Sunday hat.
:. been a thinkin bout these things
been a readin lots,
In that Their paper tibet git,
| From John and Mary Potts.
| read how people work and live.
Like one big healthy family;
Why we can't go and help EN- work,
Is more than | can see.