Freedom From Toil; H.P.B. Jenkins

FREEDOM FROM TOIL Or-THE EMERGENCE OF A LEISURE CLASS tg JJ. P. B. Jentin~ ~ The sun was standing overhead When Kaspar woke at last; And as he put the kettle on To break his morning fast, Came Peterkin and Wilhelmine To watch the panoramic screen. They saw a string of country towns Where certain streets and squares Were lined with folks who sprawled at ease In cozy rocking chairs, While men with badges on their caps Were heaping dollars on their laps. "Is that some kind of money game?" The little children cried. "It's welfare payments," Kaspar said In tones of honest pride. "It frees the folks on welfare rolls From hunger, toil, or begging bowls." Mr. Jenkins is an economist at Fayetteville, Arkansas. His verses, "with apology to the muse of Robert Southey," appear regularly in The Freeman. 187 188 H. P. B. JENKINS "Are all those paper dollars real?" Gasped little Wilhelmine. "They're really dollars," Kaspar said, "Though getting very lean.

They're taken from the skimpy pay Of folks still working every day." "Why all the chairs," asked Peterkin; "Can't people stand in line?" " 'Twould smack of work," Old Kaspar said, "And therefore undermine Their right to sit and just relax While others work to pay the tax." "Are all those kids," asked Wilhelmine, "Allowed to work in school?" "We'll hold that question," Kaspar smiled, "Until the judges rule. Perhaps they'll be allowed to lurk While other kids do all the work."