Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/293

 "civilized"; and through them, apparently, the Amorite law was enforced in opposition to the old justice.

Hence the prophets were very bitter against these tools of the ruling class. Hosea writes: "Thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy gibborim; therefore shall a tumult arise against thy people; and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed." Amos, the shepherd, says that when Jehovah shall punish the land, the gibborim shall fall: "Flight shall perish from the swift neither shall the gibbor deliver himself; neither shall he stand that handeth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself;  and he that is courageous among the gibborim shall flee away naked in that day, saith Jehovah."

"Gunmen" in West Virginia

("When the Leaves Come Out")

(Written during the terrible strike of 1911-12)

The hills are very bare and cold and lonely; I wonder what the future months will bring. The strike is on—our strength would win, if only— O, Buddy, how I'm longing for the spring!

They've got us down—their martial lines enfold us; They've thrown us out to feel the winter's sting, And yet, by God, those curs can never hold us, Nor could the dogs of hell do such a thing!