Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1829-06-10
POM9RYe
THE CANISTER.

LIE GA1lEc LII.
/ From tie second edition of Deaths Doings. " ]
Loud howd the winter storm--athwart the shy
Rush'd the big couds-rhe midnight gale wa:
high;
Ger tho proud city sprang III avenging fash,
And tour and temple trembled to the crash
Of the great thunder peal Again the light
Swift tore the dark veil from the brow OF night;
And ere the Purchased darkness, closing round
AS the flame vanish d, fell still more profound;
Again the near heard tempest, wild and Dread
Spake in a voice that might awake the dead!
Yet, while the lightning bum'd--t thunder
roar'd-
And even virtue trembled-and ador'd-
Alone WINS heard within the Gamester's hall,
The Gameser's curse--the oath--lhe frantic yell!
Fx'd TO one spot, Intense, the burning eye
Mark d not the hash-Saw hut the chabgeful die!
Aud, deaf TO heavens high ped, one demon voice
Possessed their sous-triumphant ayarice!
Loud howl'd the winter storm: night wore away
Too slow, and thousands watch d and wish d for
DAY:
And there was one poor lonely, lovely thing,
Who sat and shudder'd as the wild gales wing
Rush. by, all moumtulIy. Her children slept
As tho poor mourner gaz 'd--and sighd-& wept!
Why sits that anguish on her faded browl
Why droops her oyel All, FloriS, where ART thoul
Flown are thy hours of dear domestic bliss
The fond embnce--tho husband s--father' 5 kiss;
Bless d. tranquil hours TO love and virtue given,
Delicious Joys that made thy love heaven
FIown--dnd foreyc ye--fame--vrtue--sold
For lucre--tor the sordid thirst OF gold;
The craving, burning wish, that will not rest
The vuture passion of the human breast;
The thirst for that whlch--granted or denied
Still leaves-stlll leaves--the soul unsat5ied
Just rs the wave of Tantalus flows by,
Cheating the lip, and mockmg the fond eye
Yet oft array'd in all their genuine truth,
Rose the sweet visions Of his early youth;
More bright--more beautiful these visions rise,
As cares increase, on our regretiul eyes
And when the storms Of life inluriato roll
UDncrve the arm, and shake til impressive soul,
Then Memory, always garrulous will tell,
The glowing story OF our youth too well;
And scenes viii rise upon the pensive Wow,
Which mcmoy's pencil will PORTRAY too true;
Thus hen Repentance warn'd his aching breast;
lie iurnd h,n, fearful, to these scenes 50 blest,
Aud fresh they camc-a dear, departed tnrong.
Ofjoys that Wnng the heart; 10y contrast strong;
Lost love delights, that forced the frequent sigh,
Aud chill the Likelihood while they charm d the
cyei
Could he forget when first--Gh thrilling hour!
10 WOO bis Julia IN her native bowerl
Forget tho tender walk--;hc gatc--the COT
The impassion'd gow-ah, could they be forgotl
Sweet noous-sweet cyes--whcn aI--bclow-
above,
Was rapture--and the hours were wing d by lovel
But chief one dear ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS more bright
Than all, tho cherish rushed upon his sight
The morn that, bushing in her virgin charms,
Gave the wrong'd Julia to his eager arms
All. wrong d--for though remorse full deeply siune
His bosom, 10 the danning vice he cIung
And she, poor victim, had not power to stay
The wanderer on his wild and desperate way
While round her. ever, stemly-fercey- sweep
Views Of the -gioomy-dark-an deep!
Prophetic giances!--he has left again
| His sacred home, to seek the gamcster's den!
An. APPLY tern'd hell, for Oft Despair
And Suicide twin brothers, reyel there!
Awake. niituate youth, for Death is nigh,
Guides the dread card, and shakes the iatelul die
Awake, ere vet the monster lay the low,
/ All that thou lONest perish in that blow!
/ The strong Observation-Disclosures ly--spurn:
-chlldyen--witc--may yet be- tmue;--returr
10 virtue, and be happy;-but, tbs Ger
Stripped Of his all-he may return no morc
Ruln'd he stands-the tempter plays his part
As the head reels, and sinks the bursting heart!
With fell despair bis glancug eye-bali roll,
/ And all the demon fires his madden soul;
The bullet spceds-upon the bood-sia.ned floor
tie lics----aud Play has one pale victim morel
n. i. c.