Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-20
POETRY.
THE CANISTER.

F,ou, f6e second edition 81 "DeGihS D0'nSs.
oud bow,,d the wi inter- storm-athwart the sky
Husb,J the big clouds the midnight gale was hish
O'er the proud city sprsng tn aveng'ng Hash'
And tower and temple trembled TO the CRASH
OF the great thunder peal. Again the hight
Swift tore the dark veil from the brow ofnghti
And. ere the far chased darkness, closing round
Az the fame VANISHED, fell still more profound;
Again the near-hearl tempest, Wild and dread
Snake in a voice that might awake the dead >,
Yet, while the lightning ourn'd-the tnunaer roar
And even virtue trembled-and adored--
Alone WAS heard within the Gamester's hell,
The camester's curse--the oath-the frantic yell!
Fix,l TO one SPOT intense. the burning eye
Mark'd NOT the Aash-saw but the changeful de
Anil deafto heavens high peal, one demon wee
Possessed their souls-triumphsnt avar'ce'
Loud how'd the winter storm night wore away
Too slow and thousands watchd, and wish'd for day
And there was one poor, lonely, lovely thng'
who sat and shudder'd as the wild gales wing
Rusl ,J by-all mournfully. Her children slept
AZ tSr moor mourner gaz 'd--and sighed--and wept!
WHY sits that anguish on her faded brow!
WHY droops her eyer All, Floris, where art thouF
Flown are thy hours of dear domestic BLISS
The fond em5race-the Observation-Disclosures
Bless'd, tranquifhours to love and virtue gwen
Delc;ous lows that made thy home heaven!
Fiowu-and for Observation-Disclosures
For lucre---for the sordd thirst OF gold
The craving burning wish, that Will not resi-;
The yulture passion Of the human breast;
The thirst for that which---granted or demed---
Still leaves---s, lcsves---the soul unsatsfed'
Just as the wave of T'antslus Ao~s BY,
Cheating the lip, and hooking the fond eye!
Yet oft array'd in all their genuine truth,
Rose the sweet visions Of his early youth:
More bright--more beautiful those visions rise,
As cares increase, on our regretfu' eyes!
Ard when the storms of life inf'iriate roll,
Unnerve the arm, and shake tn impasslve soul,
Then Memory, always garrulous, will tell,
The glowing story Of our youth too well;
And scenes will rise upon the pensve view,
EhIss 2sgaszs ssss will ss;ssss Si Sss
And fresh they csme-s dear, departed throng,
OF joys that wrung the heart; by contrast strong;
Lost. loved delights, that forced the frequent sigh,
And child the Efeblood while they charmd the eye!
Could he forget when 6rst-O thrilling hour!
He wood his Julia in her native boweri
Forget the tender walk-the gate-the cot
The mpassion'd vsw--ah, could they be forgot
Sweet noons-sweet eves-when all-below-aboVe,
Was rapture and the hours were wing'd by love:
But chief one lie ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS more bright
Than all, though CHERISHED rushed upon his sight
The morn that, blushing in her virgin charms,
Gave the wrong'd Julia to his eager arms
All, wrongd d. for though remorse full deeply stung
His bosom to the damning vice he chung;
And she, poor victim, had not power to stay
The wanderer on his wild and desperate way
w nie round her. ever, sternly- -herceiy--sweep
Views Of the future---g -dark--and deep!
Prophetic glancesi he has leh again
His sacred home. to seek the eamester's den!
An, aptlv termd a hell, for oft Despair
And Suicide, twin brothers, revel there!
Awake, infatuate youth, for Death is nigh,
Guides the dread card and shakes the fateful die!
Awake, ere vet the monster lay thee low,
All that thou lowest perish in that blow!
The strong temptation-frmiv-no
Home -children--wife-msy yet be thine;--retu
To virtue, and be happy;- bur, tits Ger
Striped Of his Sll--he may return no more!
Ruin'd he stands-,he tempter plies his psrt-
As the head reels, and sinks the bursting heart!
With fell despair his glsrng eye-balls roll,
And all the demon fires his nadden'd soul
The bullet speeds--upon the blood-stsin'd floor
lie lies and Play has one pale-rictin more,
n. T. G.