THE FOOL
Mary Eleanor Roberts in the Independent
There’s a fool runs the mission, that place on the pike,
For darkies, and dagoes, and bums, and the like,
And if I had his job, why I’d go on a strike.
With coal at eight dollars, and working alone,
All smiling, and eager, and thin as a bone,
“For the Lord,” so he says, “will take care of His own!”
And the ghost of a coat, and a stitch in his side,
And his eyes bright and starved, and his boots gaping wide—
I got tired of waiting for Thee to provide.
So I sent him a check; just to shame, it might be
Such a God by an out and out sinner like me;
But he fell on his knees and gave thanks unto Thee!