A SONG FOR THE RAGGED SCHOOLS.
Shall they be blameless—when the guilt
Of rude and savage hands is known;
When crime is wrought and blood is spilt—
Shall the poor sinner stand alone!
Of rude and savage hands is known;
When crime is wrought and blood is spilt—
Shall the poor sinner stand alone!
Dare we condemn the hearts we leave
To grope their way in abject gloom;
Yet conscious that we help to weave
The shroud-fold of Corruption's loom?
To grope their way in abject gloom;
Yet conscious that we help to weave
The shroud-fold of Corruption's loom?
Shall we send forth the poor and stark,
All rudderless on stormy seas;
And yet expect their spirit-bark
To ride out every tempest breeze?
All rudderless on stormy seas;
And yet expect their spirit-bark
To ride out every tempest breeze?
Shall we with dim short-sighted eyes,
Look on their forms of kindred clay;
And dare to trample and despise
Our sharers in a "judgment day"?
Look on their forms of kindred clay;
And dare to trample and despise
Our sharers in a "judgment day"?
Oh, narrow, blind, and witless preachers!
Do we expect the "ragged" band
To be among Earth's perfect creatures,
While we refuse the helping hand?
Do we expect the "ragged" band
To be among Earth's perfect creatures,
While we refuse the helping hand?
To work, to work! with hope and joy,
Let us be doing what we can;
Better build schoolrooms for "the boy,"
Than cells and gibbets for "the man."
Let us be doing what we can;
Better build schoolrooms for "the boy,"
Than cells and gibbets for "the man."
To work, to work! ye rich and wise,
Let "ragged" children claim your care,
Till those who yield Crime's jackal cries
Have learn'd the tones of peace and prayer.
Let "ragged" children claim your care,
Till those who yield Crime's jackal cries
Have learn'd the tones of peace and prayer.
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