O, lady fair, in your Castle of Ease, You are happy and well content; But what would you do were you one of these Who toil and suffer and starve and freeze, To fatten the monster — Rent? Yet God rules ever and Right some day Must have its way.

— ELLA WHEELER WILCOX, In the Land of Hard Times.

IN THE LAND OF HARD TIMES.

From the Palace of Ease my lady set out, Her carriage wheels shone in the light; Her fields lay fertile and green about. And she wonders how any blind soul could doubt That God rules over in might, And she marvels greatly how sin and shame Into this fair world came.

There gazed from a window across the way A creature pallid and gaunt; Her cheeks were hollow, her face was gray; And hard, deep lines by her hard mouth lay. For she dwelt in the House of Want. And a look like a curse came into her eye As my lady rode by.

She hated the world that had used her ill; She was bitter with discontent; She was weary of toil in the dull tread-mill Where she wasted her life in the effort to fill The mouth of that monster. Rent. She hated the owners of acres broad, And she doubted God.

Oh, woman, weary of toil and pain, No wonder your heart is gall. God gave His people a wide domain. He gave us the seasons, the sun and the rain, And room and food for us all. It is man, the author of selfish crimes, Who brings hard times.

Oh, Lady Fair, in your Castle of F.ase, You are happy and well content; But what would you do were you one of these Who toil and suffer and starve and freeze, To fatten the monster, Rent? Yet God rules ever, and right some day Must have its way.

—Ella Wheeler Wilcox.