Page:Alice Miller (1917) Women are people (Internet Archive).djvu/60

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WOMEN ARE PEOPLE!


Independence Day

A Patriotic Hymn for Girls

Come, little girls, and let me teach
The truths of Independence Day,
Lest patriotic song and speech
Should lead your little minds astray,
Lest you should fancy you would be
Extolled for wishing to be free.

You've learnt whence governments derive
Their powers—their just powers, rather;
And how your fathers had to strive
(But never imitate your father),
And how we've all enjoyed since then
Democracy—at least for men.

Learn now that each familiar phrase
Does not refer to such as you,
And when you sing your country's lays
Amend them thus, to make them true:
"Let freedom reign"—o'er all our brothers;
"Sweet land of liberty"—for others.

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