Connecticut western news., 1915-07-29
1.-The Woman's Toll"

Editor News: Mrs. Margaret Scribner
Frost : lecture was largely attended ut
the club house. Lakeville She was
invited To speak on sutll age 10y the
Salisbury League and both ants and
suffragists Ir, sent Pronounced her one
of the Dlnst effective speakers they had
ever heard. size appeals. as the league
president Mrs. Cooper, r. embarked, TO
the educated woman and satisfies the
most critical and fusudivus. The
Salisbury and Lakcville suilraVists ure
TO be congratulated on having n presi-
dent who believes in keeping the lamp
trimmed and burning for the suifral
victory that is coming, bee IL ever 81
delayed. We hope Mrs. Frost Will be
invited TO speak in Canaan. Given be.
low is the poem with which Mrs. Frost
closed with dramatic effect her splen-
did lecture. Il. II.
God sat on His throne and looked down
on war;
And he said to each warrior soul,
As il scared on its way TO His mercy
seat
To surpliant kneel at His radiant feet,
Have ye taken the woman toll?
"Or ever We gathered in high debate
And judged We would score with blood
Did yc reckon the price that she paid,
perforce,
The price that We took as matter of
course,
That your purpose might hold good
did We think of the woman of early
days,
Who was held fo~ her charms, or toll,
The bearer of burdens, the clattel, the
slave
Who knew not the pitiful peace of the
grave
Since her value ran high as spoil?
"Have We seen the lean tongues Of the
roottree flames,
Or the beast at the loose-hung door,
That the hands of the woman must
hold at bay.
Till, little by little, the shelter gives
way
While the lords of the earth wage war;
"Yea, famine and pestilence, carnage,
lust
She gives tribute to each and all
And an anguish of mind that is hard
repressed
Lest she fail at the last Have we laid
/ her to rest
With the flag for her funeral pall2
"If, wearied with waiting, she some-
times strikes,
In war she has made her own
Der shield is uncrimsoned; for cause
/ less just
The seats of the mighty have bitten
| the dust,
And the dead as the grass are sown.
"The worker, the tender, she builds
the home,
She is creature of peace always:
Her bread it is ashes, her drink is
gore
She hath not voice in the making of
war,
But in every age she pays.
"Ye grant her no place in your council
ring,
For she carries not arms, nor fights;
But mother and wife, she is Keeper Of
Life
We pillage her charge for the roll call
of strife,
Ye have stolen her guardian rights"
Then the Lord God summoned His
Soldier Son,
Christ Jesus. the Unafraid,
Who challenged the world with each
wondrous word,
Who fought to the death with the
spirits strong sword,
Unconquered and undismayed.
He said to him: search thou in every
land,
And walk thou on earth today,
Through hell.gates of war where the
foemen meet,
In battlefield. hospital, village and
street,
And heed we'll what the women say.
"Then come thou to me by the even
tide,
With word from the women of earth;
To bring forth life they must close
with death
Each rides by herself, in the dark, on
a breath
And God knows that they know Lies
worth.
God turned to the warriors: wait
the count:
For / say to you, every soul,
The thing that We took was not yours
TO take;
To the Lord High God We your answer
must make;
Ye shall pay for the woman's toll. "
CANAAN VALLEY