Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-10-27
3s0G9gg~
THE ~GAMEsyEH.


TIE CANISTER.
From he scso.,a Edition Of ."DeaM,s Do;nss."
Loud hnul'i the winter s,rrm-athwart the sky
fusa'd the big ciouds-thc midnight gale was high;
Ger thn proud city sprang the avemsing fash,
Anh tower aud temple tremh!ei TO the crash
y! IN; great thunder peal. Again the light
swift tore tho dark veil irum the brow ui might;
Aud, ce thc far chased darkness, closing round
rs the Game vanish ii, fell still more ~proiound;
y gam the near heard tempest wild aud dread,
9ra&c IN Il Voice that might awake the dead:
\ ct while The lightning burnd-the thunder roard-
AnA even virtue trcmb!ei--and adori-
Aiouc was heard Within the Gamcster's hell,
lac GlGrcSter's curse, the oath, the frantic yell,
! iN'I to one spot, intense, the hurnin. eye
Marx d not She fash; saw but the clangehil die!
Aud, deaf to hcavem's high peal, one demon vice
iOsScSs Il their souls-triumphant avarice.
Ioui hould the winter storm: nisr, wore away
zoo SLOW anh, ''nus '"ds waich'd, and wished ioc day:
ANA there was one poor lomaly, lovely thing,
who sat am! ,hudlcreI as the wild gales wing
Hnsid by, all mrournfully. Her children slept
AS the poar mnuGner gazed, and sish'd and wept!
Why sits that anguish on her faded hrnwo
why dIoops her eye? All, Floris. where art ,,ou:
Flown are thy hours OF dear domestic bliss,
Tine iomd embrace, the husbanis, fathers kiss,
BLESSED tranquil hours to love and virtue given,
Delicious joys, that made thy love Il heaven.
Fiown, and forever; love, fame, virtue sold
For lucre--ior the soriil Iairs; OF gold;
tue craving, burning wish, that will NOT rest;
HE vulture pOssina OF the human breast:
The thirst Tor that which granted or denied,
Stil leaves. stnllaavcs ,hc saul unsa,isie.i,
last as the wave OF Tantalus flows by,
Cheating The lip, and knocking the fond eve,
Yet Mt arlaycd in all their genuine tr;.ii,,
Rose the sweet visions Of his early youth;
Eiore bright. more beautiful, these visions rise,
As cares increase, on our regrctful eyes,.
And when the storms Of life iufuIiate roll,
Innerye the arm and shake til impressive soul.
Then memory, always garruiouS. will tell,
iha glowing story Of our youth ,oo well;
A"it scenes Viii Use upon the penSlve viGw,
Which mcmory's pencil will poultry too tue!
rhUs when .epentancc wlrmd his aching breast,
lie turm'd him, fearful, to those scenes so blcst,
And fresh they came; Il dear, departed thsong,
OfjnYs that wrwng the heart; by contrast strong,
Lost, loved delights, that forced the frequent sigh,
Aud child the life hluod while they charm.ei the eye.
Could he forget, when trst-O, thrilling hour.
lie WOOD his Julia in her native bower
Fotgct the tender walk, the gate, the cot,
Thu imp, isiond vnw-ah, could they be forgot
Sweet 4OOns, sweet erus, when all below, above,
HYas rapture-anl the hours were wIng'i by 1--we:
Bat chief one dear reniambrancn, one more brigh,
ihnn all, though che,iSh'd, rusid upon his sight:
The morn that, bluShing in he. virgin charms,
Gave the wrongd Julia To his eager arms.
All, wruugd--iort though re;nGgse full deeply s;lnr
His bosom, to the daInninI vice he clumg:
Aud She, poor victim, had not power to stay
III waniernr on his will and desperate way;
Nhiin round her, ever, S;ernly, Garcn'y sweep
Views of line future, gloomy, dask aud deep.
Prophetic glances! be has LEFT again
Ills sacred home, to seek the Gamester's den,
All, APPLY term'd a hell, for oft despair
Aud suicide, twin brothers, rcvrl there
Awake, infatuated youth! for Death is nigh,
Guides the dread card, aud shakes the fatefuI die,
Awake! ere yet the monster lay thee low;
vi that thou lowest perish in That blow.
The strong temptation, firmly, nnlly spu.n:
Home, children, wife, may Jet be thine r
To virtue AMI he hapry-but It's o'Er-%
S'tipd Of his al. he may return 40 more.
huind he staniS-the tempirr plies his part,
ASthe head reels, aud sinks the bursting heart.
With fell despair his gla.ing eye1alls roll,
Md all the demon fires his riatdpu't coui.
Ihe bullet speeds, upon ihc blood stand floor
lie lies and play has one pale victim more.