CHILDREN IN SLAVERY.

When children play the livelong day,

Like birds and butterflies,

As free and gay sport life away,

And know not care nor sighs;

Then earth and air seem fresh and fair,

All peace below, above;

Life's flowers are there, and everywhere

Is innocence and love.

When children pray with fear all day,

A blight must be at hand;

Then joys decay, and birds of prey

Are hovering o'er the land.

When young hearts weep as they go to sleep,

Then all the world seems sad;

The flesh must creep, and woes are deep,

When children are not glad.