Final answer:
In "Cry of the Children," the children assume God will not hear their prayers because they have been silenced.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem "Cry of the Children," the children assume God will not hear their prayers because they have been silenced.
The poem depicts the suffering and exploitation of child laborers during the Victorian era. The children's voices have been suppressed and their spirits broken by the harsh conditions they face, which is symbolized by their assumption that God will not hear their prayers.
The lines "Mind not the old man beseeching the young man, Let not the child's voice be heard" highlight the children's silence and their belief that their cries for help will go unanswered.