Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/75

 the worse their lot becomes; and I will show you the graves, and find witnesses to the histories of brave and noble and industrious poor men whose lives were lives of toil, and poverty, and whose deaths were tragedies.

And all these things are due to sin—but it is to the sin of the smug hypocrites who grow rich upon the robbery and the ruin of their fellow-creatures.

Work and Pray

(German poet, 1817-1875; took part in the attempt at revolution in Baden in 1848)

Pray and work! proclaims the world; Briefly pray, for Time is gold. On the door there knocketh dread— Briefly pray, for Time is bread.

And ye plow and plant to grow. And ye rivet and ye sow. And ye hammer and ye spin— Say, my people, what ye win.

Weave at loom both day and night, Mine the coal to mountain height; Fill right full the harvest horn— Full to brim with wine and corn.

Yet where is thy meal prepared? Yet where is thy rest-hour shared? Yet where is thy warm hearth-fire? Where is thy sharp sword of ire?