Classic Poem

" THE Rights of Man! " O watchword brave! O glorious battle cry,
Beneath whose stirring clarion-call brave men have dared to die!
Thy triumphs still come down to us on fame's undying page,
Thy champions are the great and good of every clime and age.

" The Rights of Woman! " Sacred call! born later, yet aglow
With all that fired the hero heart in the dear long ago!
Sublime in patience, sounding clear above all jarring din,
" Our cause is just and shall prevail, 't is righteous and shall win. "

These for themselves: but who shall speak for those whose mouths are dumb?
The poor, brave brutes, with patient eyes, and feet that go and come
To do our bidding; toiling on without reward or fee,
Wearing their very lives away, poor things, for you and me!

Behold them! how they groan and sweat, beneath the heavy load,
Each sinew taxed, each muscle strained; while, sauntering up the road,
The lazy teamster walks abreast, — a brute himself, or worse, —
Urging the poor, spent creatures on, with whip and thong and curse.

The brave, dumb things! no voice have they to say, " Why do ye so?
Am I not man's most faithful slave; his friend and not his foe?
Give me one kind, caressing word, undo this heavy load,
Nor torture me along the way with whip and thong and goad. "

" No voice? " said I; nay, every blow, each stinging, cutting stroke
Is eloquent of pain and wrong, as though an angel spoke.
Thank God, at length the plea prevails, our A NGELL takes the word,
And brave hearts rally at the call as by a trumpet stirred!

Dear friends! fair women, sweet with all your nameless charms and wiles,
Bright, laughing maidens, flitting by in innocence and smiles,
Gay children, grave and bearded men, we pray you all give ear;
Dear friends, kind friends, we turn to you for sympathy and cheer.

Uphold us in our noble work, nor let us speak in vain
For those too helpless to protest, too patient to complain;
Be pitiful, be generous, to help us in our need,
And He who notes the sparrow's fall shall surely bless the deed.