THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN.

NZ Truth, Issue 57, 21 July 1906, Page 1

THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN.

NORTON SPEAKS FOR THE BABES.

Speaking, m the Legislative Assembly, N.S.W., last week, John Norton advocated a State Foundling Home, and urged the Government- to take upon their shoulders the work that was now being, done by the Waitara Foundling Home and. other institutions. He paid a high tribute of praise to the Waitara Home and Kincumber Orphanage, and regretted that the Government could not. see their way clear to subsidise those institutions.

List to the cry of the children ! The fatherless one are unfed, Hark to the cry of the orphan's, little ones crying for bread ; Up to the Heavens it.go.eth, ba>by mouths crying to God, Up from the slums and the by-ways, where losers m life's battle plod. : • Up from the alley and slum, The wails of the orphaned, ones come. , < ' There where the girl who has fallen bends 'neath her burden of shame ; Little babes whimper and ciy " \ ' Up to the .Saviour on high , Should we not shoulder the burden, do the good work m His name ? We cry to people, of Europe,- offering land to the world, Hoping that rovers will seek us here m the South Seas impearled, Hoping that trekkers. will find us, men. on a home-hunting quest, Yet we look on when the bastard dies on the fallen girl's breast, We have no pity for her,The cries of the child do not stir ; . Compassion and pity within us, we gLve her no helping hand; But loud to the world we roar, . ■ Come out toour own. sunny shore, •Come, for we want the people to populate the land. v It is here we sit while, the Brown men throw looks of hate our way As they wait for the coming moment, for the near approaching day ; We pray for the big strong right arms, the hands' that can swing a sword, Yet the cries of the uncared children are heard by a watchful Lord. ' They rise from th? mean by-street . Where crime arid poverty meet, 1 Up from the barren back rooms where the poor child mothers sleep.' We never list to the cry, ' Let the starving child die, Let the shame-crushed, stricken mother sit with her dead and weep. She has sinned/ and the big. world cares not for her children born, m shame, She sinned for she bore a youngster that hadn't a father's name ; We call for the big world's rovers, but we never ask if they Know whether their fathers and mothers e'er had a wedding day., T •■ , 'Tis little we. know or care „ .If a.pairson breathed a prayer ' \ Or joined their hands m wedlock before the babe was born ; ' For the bastard grown a man Can fight as a strong man can; But the child, and the shame-faced mother the grim world treats with scorn. ' ■• #■■'■*■ . ' * ' * * r. • " * * List to the cry of' the .children ! The, fatherless ones are unfed ; * Hark to the cry of the orphans, little ones crying tar bread j Up to the Heavens it goeth, baby mouths crying to God : Up from the slums and the by-ways where losers m life's battle plod. Up from the alley and slumThe wails of the orphaned ones come ; , Tfoare where the girl who has fallen bends 'neath her burden- of shame, . , Little babes whimper and cry ' % • Up to the Saviour on high, • ■ Should we not shoulder the burden, d 0 the good work m His name?