Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-02-15
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80, $50 THE WORKINGMAN'S BURDEN. -
aSSssss aSsssss:I -
ssssrt..., The debts OF the civilized nations now@
up total OF So, 900 900, ,OOO-I~
--s,n ss. most OF il occurred in wars New York
- Herald -
Sr was sultry summer afternoon, -
%tAnd Just between the country and theSSl
~ town, -
pon hill where am wont to roam, S
&AAnd listen to the birds and note thek@1
- flowers -
(I sought a shaded nook and laid meg
down. -
.~Whilc was lying there upon the grass, -
tAnd listening to n wood birds happysi
song, -
fell asleep and dreamed n dream in which ~
heard deep, prolonged and awfulS
if the world were rackcd with dread.s~
ui pain. ~
.NAt once sat erect and looked to
From whom and why that startlingS
sonnd of woe -
pit the singing birds and droningSS
bees, S
seemed at first that was all alone; -
once again heard that awful groan, -
$50 Deep so full of pain, my heart stoodS~
still. -
then il was on right and left of me ~
dim outlines, as when the morningkS
~ dawns, ~
backs all bent, their faces woc.bc-l
gone,
being goaded by favored few, -
a>s%'I saw the faithful wurkmcn of the world. ~
- And as looked the vision palmer grcw,S
3D. IA nd in addition to their daily toll -
aS@%%Yn mines and mills and shops and on thekS
80 farms, ~
- saw that on the shoulders of them all -
- Was bound a burden Of such magnitude
80 That they beneath its great and grow-S
.assSt ing weight, -
aSZsse-5,Wcrc staggering as if about to fall, S
sSs&SAnd pleading peousy for some relief. ~
&C. wished to know the nature of the load,
- And leaning forward for a closer view, ~
era o. saw it was the debts of all the world
qs,s->> Bound thus upon the faithful workng2
nv. men,
'e2.sSf fWho, in addition to their own support, -
ISsaa:~; Are hv a soulid few compelled to pay ~
ssss1,A ~ debt of billions most of it for wars. ~
-; And some with faces sadder than the rest, ,S
80 c ompaincd that they were forced tosS
80 give their sons -
ssSNWhom death had claimed on bloody
,eas. ~aas battlefield,
ss1as.1t Or in some dismal icvcr-Strcken camp,
11And now, b,leil. must bear this hurdenS
49, too.
asnss5tt was a dreadful scene and as looked ~
go saw one like unto the Son of Man, ~
took His place beside the strickenke
- throng,
49,. 49, And, STOPPING first, He spoke a kindly
aMss~1ro those who seemed about to faint andS
go fall ~
20 And then His eyes ablaze and face frm@N
M @s To those who fat ten on the fruit Ot war,
He stcrnlv said: Let them accursed he -
nSs,>}Who dare, for sake of pelf or power WIS.,
a.. fame, ~
eS&AThat hcll-born, cru, hing burden to in-N
~ crease
sSSAnd then the vision faded from my sight;h~
%SBut asst fainter grew strained my eyes,l@
%(NAnd trying stillto see the throng, awoke.
instead a distant dingy shop, -
ss%3Whcrein the forms of men, begrmed andSS
bent, ~
SSWere sweltering DER their work, mdaS
- smoke and dust,
SAnd in the valley, just below the hill,
weary farmers trudged behind theirs
. pows. %
looked into tie shop, the on then farms, ~
someone seemed to speak and say~
- to me: ~
'Tis than dream thou hast hadk
to-day" e. ALFRED Coil.
.QQQQQQQQQQQQ%
If company worth $780, 900, capitalis
T IS, 900, 900, what difference does it make
e rest of US? Oh, none at all, only we ha
furnish the dividends for the 81 soc, 900
ater; that's all.-Ft. Scott Lantern.
The United States pays out more money