Ladies.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 47, 17 February 1894, Page 11

Ladies.

CROSSING THE DOWN-TOWN FERRIES. A New Yoke; Sketch. Crossing the down-town ferries, 1 challenge a braver sight Than the throng* of working people Homeward faring at night. Never a drum before them, Never a banner above, But they march to soundless music Under the flag of love. There are men with grimy faces And. coats that are out of date, Women whose pallid lips and cheeks Tell the dreary struggle with fate. But oh ! the cheery courage And the eyes with light aglow As over the down-town ferries These toilers come and go! They are working for wife and babies, For a mother bent and gray, Or a sister bound to a weary couch, With enly the strength to pray. Working for honest wages To pay for the bread they eat. Or to buy the children's school-books, And shoes for the children’s feet. Crossing the down-town ferries Daily at set of the sun, You may meet the crowd of toilers Whose long day's work i* done. You know what a shout of greeting They’ll hear when they lift the latch— A shout the angels listen for, And pause in their songs to catch. Who does riot thrill with pleasure As the brave procession comes, Needing no rally of bugles, Nor beat of strenuous drums ? Though a host may press anear them Who neither toil nor spin, Not theirs to wear the laurels The lowlier labourers win, . —Maegaeet E. Sangstee.