Poetry · Chapter
Lines explained
A poem advocating for a refuge for the honest poor in Oxford County, expressing shame at the past practice of jailing or forcing them to beg, and envisioning a farm where they will be safe from cold and hunger.
What happens
A poem advocating for a refuge for the honest poor in Oxford County, expressing shame at the past practice of jailing or forcing them to beg, and envisioning a farm where they will be safe from cold and hunger.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the boy’s childish joy and naive belief that he can see Ameri…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Moral Lessons and Domestic Virtue
The poem promotes a moral imperative to care for the honest poor, framing it as a domestic and community virtue.
Key passages
“Disgrace no more we will bewail, That honest poor are sent to jail Or allowed to beg from door to door, When they are old, sick and footsore;”
We will no longer lament the disgrace of honest poor people being jailed or forced to beg when they are elderly, ill, and weary.
Expresses a shift from shame to action regarding the mistreatment of the poor.
“They will have retuge on the farm, Where cold and hunger will not harm.”
They will find shelter on the farm, where they will be protected from cold and starvation.
Envisions a farm as a safe haven for the poor.
