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Address of Albert R. Parsons.
FREEDOM.
Toil and pray! The world cries cold;
Speed thy prayer, for time is gold.
At thy door Need's subtle tread;
Pray in haste! for time is bread.
Speed thy prayer, for time is gold.
At thy door Need's subtle tread;
Pray in haste! for time is bread.
And thou plow'st and thou hew'st,
And thou rivet'st and sewest,
And thou harvestest in vain;
Speak! O, man; what is thy gain?
And thou rivet'st and sewest,
And thou harvestest in vain;
Speak! O, man; what is thy gain?
Fly'st the shuttle day and night,
Heav'st the ores of earth to light,
Fill'st with treasures plenty's horn;
Brim'st it o'er with wine and corn.
Heav'st the ores of earth to light,
Fill'st with treasures plenty's horn;
Brim'st it o'er with wine and corn.
But who hath thy meal prepared,
Festive garments with thee shared;
And where is thy cheerful hearth,
Thy good shield in battle dearth?
Festive garments with thee shared;
And where is thy cheerful hearth,
Thy good shield in battle dearth?
Thy creations round thee see
Ali thy work, but naught for thee!
Yea, of all the chains alone thy hand forged,
These are thine own:
Ali thy work, but naught for thee!
Yea, of all the chains alone thy hand forged,
These are thine own:
Chains that round the body cling,
Chains that lame the spirit's wing,
Chains that infants' feet, indeed,
Clog! O, workman! Lol Thy meed.
Chains that lame the spirit's wing,
Chains that infants' feet, indeed,
Clog! O, workman! Lol Thy meed.
What you rear and bring to light,
Profits by the idle wight,
What ye weave of divers hue,
'Tis a curse—your only due.
Profits by the idle wight,
What ye weave of divers hue,
'Tis a curse—your only due.
What ye build, no room insures,
Not a sheltering roof.to yours,
And by haughty ones are trod—
Ye, whose toil their feet hath shod.
Not a sheltering roof.to yours,
And by haughty ones are trod—
Ye, whose toil their feet hath shod.
Human bees! Has nature's thrift
Given thee naught hut honey's gift?
See! the drones are on the wing.
Have you lost the will to sting?
Given thee naught hut honey's gift?
See! the drones are on the wing.
Have you lost the will to sting?
Man of labor, up, arise!
Know the might that in thee lies,
Wheel and shaft are set at rest
At thy powerful arm's behest.
Know the might that in thee lies,
Wheel and shaft are set at rest
At thy powerful arm's behest.
Thine oppressor's hand recoils
When thou, weary of thy toll,
Shun’st thy plough thy task begun,
When thou speak'st: Enough is done!
When thou, weary of thy toll,
Shun’st thy plough thy task begun,
When thou speak'st: Enough is done!
Break this two fold yoke in twain;
Break thy want's enslaving chain;
Break thy slavery's want and dread;
Bread is freedom, freedom bread.
Break thy want's enslaving chain;
Break thy slavery's want and dread;
Bread is freedom, freedom bread.
