Thus over her life she ponders,
Scorning, rebellious in vain,
Till impelled by social custom
She resumes her mask again;
Her world must not find her sighing—
She brilliantly plays her part,
And bravely the queen of pleasure
Smiles still with an aching heart.
Nearby, but a few blocks distant
From plenty's palatial homes,
There is a contrasting picture
Of strenuous life in the slums;
A pale girl toils in a garret,
From dawn till the sunset's glow,
And the sweat-shop wolf is prowling
For aye in the street below.
Stitch, stitch all day without ceasing,
Knowing no rest or delay.
Humanity pleads for mercy—
* * * * *
—Margaret Scott Hall.
1994
OUR WANTS.
We are ruined, not by what we really want
But by what we think we want;
Therefore never go abroad in search of your wants;
If they be real wants,
They will come home in search of you;
For he that buys what he does not want,
Will often want what he cannot buy.
—Colton.
1995
The Source of Wants.—It is not from nature, but from education and habits, that our wants are chiefly derived.