All audio files can be found on our catalog page: https://librivox.org/eight-hours-by-george-a-baker-jr/
Each week a poem is chosen to be recorded by as many LibriVox volunteers as possible!This week's poem is a narrative of a working girl and her situation in society.
George A. Baker was a native of New York City. He was a journalist, lawyer and author of novels and poetry, His works include Bad Habits of a Good Society (1876). (Summary by David Lawrence)
This week's poem can be found here.
Project Code: 7wiaCG9k
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Begin your reading with the abbreviated LibriVox disclaimer:
Leave 0.5 to 1 second of silence at the beginning.
Then read the poem:Eight Hours by George A. Baker, Jr., read for librivox.org by [your name].
[Add, if you wish, date, and/or your location.]
At the end of your reading, leave a space and then say:"Sign the petition!" "Write my name!"
"She said, ask me!" oh, she's fooling;
Where do you think a girl like me
Could find the time for so much schooling?
Why, I've been here since I was eight or so
That's ten years now and it seems like longer;
The hours are from eight till six you see
It wears one out I once was stronger.
"A bad cough!" oh, that's nothing, sir;
It comes from the dust, and bending over.
It hurts me sometimes no, not now.
"This!" why, a flower, a bit of clover.
I picked it up as I came to work
It grew in the grass in some one's airy,
Where it stood, and nodded all alone
Like a little green-cloaked, white-capped fairy.
"Fond of flowers!" I like them yes
Though, goodness knows, I don't see many
I'd have to buy them they cost so much
And I never can spare a single penny.
"Go to the park!" how can I, sir?
The only day that I have is Sunday;
And then there's always so much to do
That before I know it, almost, it's Monday.
Like it sir, like it! why, when I think
Of the woods, and the brook with the cattle drinking
I was country-bred, sir my heart swells so
That I there, there, what's the use of thinking!
If I could write, sir "make a cross,
And let you write my name below it"
No, please; I'm ashamed I can't, sometimes,
I don't want all the girls to know it.
And what's the use of it, anyway?
They'll just say shortly, with careless faces,
"If you're not suited, you'd better leave"
There's plenty of girls to fill our places.
They're kind enough to their own, no doubt
Our head just worships his own young daughter,
Just my age, sir she's gone away
To spend the Summer across the water.
But us oh, well, we're only "hands,"
Do you think to please us they'll bear losses?
No, not a cent's worth ah, you'll see
I'm a working girl, sir, and I know bosses.
Leave 5 seconds of silence at the end.End of poem. This recording is in the public domain.
Filename: eighthours_bakerjr_your initials in lowercase_128kb.mp3 (e.g. eighthours_bakerjr_klh_128kb.mp3)
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MC to select: aradlaw
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