The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest / The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

by Unknown

And the tallow burned all day,

And we stitch’d and stitch’d away

In the thick smoke of our breath.

Poor worn-out slops were we,

With hearts as heavy as lead;

But “Patience! she’s coming!” said he;

“Courage, boys! wait and see!

Freedom’s ahead!” ...

But Tom was little and weak,

The hard hours shook him;