THE TRUTH AND JOHN BILLINGTON (POEM)
Robbins, Leonard H.
The Truth and John Billington By LEONARD H. ROBBINS JOHN BILLINGTON was a leader of thought in a city proud and great, And Billington's busy goose-quill was a pillar in the State, And Billington's...
...That the servants would sell to the master and thrive on the master's want...
...You have sent me thither a thousand times...
...said he...
...Look well," the Spirit commanded, and Billington answered flat, "A threadbare subject, my shadowy friend...
...And over the picture, In letters of fire, "Want" was the word he read, And Billington scowled to the Spirit...
...He saw a dying child...
...Again he looked, and he saw the death In a driven workman's face, While a hungry man stood waiting near to enter the empty place, He turned once more to the Spirit of Truth, and "Bother your show...
...be true while there yet is time...
...the Spirit in anguish cried, "must history make it clear That yours Is the hand that sows the seed of the pestilence you fear...
...one howling wintry night...
...Where is a story in that...
...And men have gone to the stake for me, and scorched in the cannon's breath, And women have writhed in the torture and welcomed the arms of death That the Truth might live to serve the world—and then, when the fight seemed won, I gave the standard to you to guard—to you, John Billington...
...God pity your stubborn blindness, man, and forgive you the chance you miss...
...A son bowed down and sullen, bearing the brand of & thief, And a father hopeless and helpless, too sodden with rum for grief...
...He saw a young girl, sunk in shame, and a mother who never smiled...
...Then Billington spoke of property rights and of customs hoar and old, And argued his dread of a flag blood-red that would rise if the Truth were told...
...And Billington lifted a startled head and stared at the Thing in White...
...J.) Evening News...
...To the devil with you...
...Is there never a story in this, That Greed would garner the harvest, leaving the owner gaunt...
...For this is the cry of a thousand souls that down to the Pit have trod— Who keeps the Truth from the people stands in the way of God...
...You shall hearken well to the tale i tell...
...Though you waved me away with your pen to-day, you shall listen now, forsooth...
...A phantom picture flashed in air at the foot of Billington's bed...
...For ages long I have striven and toiled to free mankind from wrong, I have pleaded and prayed for human aid to save the weak from the strong, I have starved and fought and watched and wrought that the light mieht enter in To end the sway of falsehood and banish the curse of sin...
...Look again," spoke the Spirit of Truth, and spread before his eyes A smiling land of abundance that stretched to the circling skies, A land o'erheaped with richness, a kingdom of corn and wine...
...lie gasped, in a sleepy dread...
...I trusted you with my work to do, I gave you a charge to keep, I placed in your hand a shepherd's staff to comfort my hunted sheep, But now you turn it against me, and the Truth must go untold While you devote your stewardship to the will of the power of gold, To the pleasure of those who burden the poor, to the greed that fosters crime, O! turn you again, John Billington...
...A Spirit stood by Billington's bed...
...But Billington slowly shook his head with a look disconsolate, For his was a mighty goose-quill, a pillar strong in the State, And his was a fame that had borne his name to the country's furthest «nda...
...I am the Spirit of Truth...
...What business of mine...
...A thousand times you have turned me away—you shall hear me out to-night...
...Scenes like this are common enough...
...The Truth and John Billington By LEONARD H. ROBBINS JOHN BILLINGTON was a leader of thought in a city proud and great, And Billington's busy goose-quill was a pillar in the State, And Billington's fame had borne his name to the country's furthest ends...
...1 am tired of the trip," it said: "a thousand times you have heard me pray for half a chance and the light...
...What do they mean to me...
...A powerful man was Billington—with powerful men for friends...
...He saw a boss with ugly eyes threaten a woman there Whose hollow cheek foretold too well the end of her struggle and care...
...A powerful man was Billington, with powerful men for friends...
...He looked and saw where, overtime, women and children toiled Till worthless human hands grew weak and precious goods were spoiled...
...Away with you...
...Where bounty waited, enough for all, in forest and field and mine But cunning and craft had seized the wealth with greedy talon and claw And set it aside for their private gain, and fenced it round with the Law...
...Newark (N...
...And Billington gazed with mild amaze, and his eyes grew big in his head, He looked at a home of poverty...
...he said...
...O fool...
...Away with your dead traditions...
Vol. 2 • April 1910 • No. 16
