LET MA VOTE

(Spoken at U. S. Arsenal Park on July the Fourth, 1912.)

Ma can sew and Ma can bake—

Every sort of thing can make

Out of thread and wool and yarns,

And, besides, 'tis she who darns

All the rents in all our clothes,

And the holes made by our toes—

But our Ma she cannot vote

Any more than Bill, our goat.

Ma it is who keeps us neat

From our head down to our feet;

Watches o'er us night and day

When we work or when we play;

Nurses us when we are ill,

Saving Pa a doctor's bill—

But our Ma has naught to say

Who will rule this U. S. A.

Ma helps Pa, too, with his work.

For the good soul ne'er will shirk

From whatever's to be done—

Our brave Ma will never run.

But will always do her best,

And she rarely takes a rest,

Like our Pa, with pipe alight,

When he comes from work at night.

Ma has taught us kids to read—

In all things our Ma we need.

The good "Queen of Home" is Ma,

Though U. S. thinks more of Pa,

Since he gives him power to rule

O'er affairs of state and school;

While concerning laws Ma may

Ne'er a word have right to say.

All you boys must truly love

Your good mother far above

Anyone upon this earth,

For 'twas she who gave you birth;

And you noble, youthful knights,

Should not wish for any rights

That your mother does not share—

Which is only right and fair.

Won't you work for more just laws,

With an equal franchise clause,

So ere one more Fourth has passed

Ma will win her rights at last,

And may help to rule this land,

Which for equal rights will stand?

Rah! Rah! Rah! Three cheers for Ma

When she'll vote next year with Pa!