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labourer who said in the House of Lords that any agricultural labourer 

 was worth 250 a year ; and one of our friends an agricultural labourer 

 put this very nicely into verse : 



From early morn till late at night 



We work at arduous toil ; 

 We plough and sow, and reap and mow, 



To earn wealth from the soil. 



We're told in spite of all we do 



Our labour does not pay ; 

 So we must work for sweated wage 



Our masters always say. 



" When thieves fall out," the honest man 



Sometimes gets back his own ; 

 When labour's scarce, and truth leaks out, 



Some startling facts are shown. 



A noble duke now says we're " worth 



" Two hundred and fifty pounds 

 " A year " as workers on the land 



How grand such figures sounds. 



This works out at FIVE POUNDS A WEEK, 



'Tis true ; but yet we're poor 

 We have to be content with ONE, 



Whilst someone else takes FOUR. 



This unfair distribution means : 



The wealth we workers earn 

 Oft gives the power to other men 



To make us poor folk mourn. 



It seems to me a better way 

 * Would be for all who delves 

 To hand the idler just ONE POUND, 

 And keep FOUR for ourselves. 



The way such can be done is plain : 



Each labourer must unite 

 In one great Union firm, and strong, 



And ready for the fight. 



Then, brother, come ! fall into line 



To fight 'gainst being poor. 

 Come on ! increase that POUND a week 



Until it gets to FOUR. 



