Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-03-18
For the Palladium
INTEMPERA NC f /.


INTEMP TRANCE.
In morning life, I saw beings stand
Before the altar, by Hymen reared,
To consecrate mans purest bliss, il well,
Or his lasting wo, il ill directed.
Oae Narcissa namd, the other Alfred.
In her combn'd grace, beauty, Ioveness,
With virtue crown'd, lent heavenly charm.
He an accomplished scholar, deep read in lore
Long TREASURED up, and books Of later date.
He many friends possessed; the wise aud great
To be inform'd, his presence often sought
And in aught save one defect, with evil
Darkly charged, which too soon alas is iold,
Despite Of hope, he from vice was free
As they stood before the sacred altar,
Aud vow'd eternal love in solemn promise,
That they should ever drink from sorrows spring,
In the beholder's mind. found no repose.
Thus strong in friendship hound, they the stream
or lfe with the fall spread sail, catch the breeze,
The balmy breeze Of fortune, LAUNCHED their bark
With Joy they did embark. and gently blown,
They smoothly gded on by adverse winds,
Or swelling waves OF rising storms unharm'd
Beside a gently rolling stream, that stole
Meand'rin2 by, upon a rising mound.
They built goodiy seat, richly deckd
In gorgeous sp.endor. with giittering gold,
Or costly pearl, but plain in ev'fy part,
Yet neat, and furnished well around,
In all tina. could TO peace, or comfort yield
Around their dwelling, the and myrtle
Bloom'd in vernal rays, and lent a sweet perfume
70 ev'ry passing breeze, that sigh'd between
Tho spreadingtboughs of waving bowers round.
Here amidst prospects fair for future bliss,
The morn of their career, unmard, began,
The JOY Of one for both, securd delight.
When good, or i'll PES OF either hand,
1t soon was equal shar'd, with eager haste;
Which dried the flowing tear, and sorrow
To rejoicing ,urnd. Thus from biting care,
And disappointment free, they pass'd, in peace,
The spring Of their fret PLEDGED, mutual love
Meanwhile, TWO blooming children learned to call
Them father, and mother-concordant sounds
When heard, they touchd with new delight,
The ties of friendship
Alfred, l said, from vice was Free in aught
Save one, only fault, which sore TO tell,
Yet must be told. From eacy youth, ne quafed
The sparkling juice. which ancient wisdom said,
When right enjoy'd, "Makes glad the heart of man"
Bu, he, too deeply drank, and many fear'd,
In future time, would drink his utter ruin.
Narcissa, she join'd her fate with his,
Was well apprsed--instructive lessons heard,
OF all lhe gloomy train, intemperance leads.
Yet ondly hop'd-and many hopes, her friends
Did entertain, when bound in welded love
lie, would temperate prove. How vain their hopes,
For days eono-nny future song reveals.
Fieot years elapsed, ere aush, of evil birth.
Disturbed the balance of their mutual JOY;
Unless perchance, in deep suspense, night,
a lonely night, at home, Narcissa passd.
Whilst he, the PLEDGED partner, in joy, grief,
With friends of other monld did spend tho hours
Around the evil board, by vice erected
To celebrate, in shame, the orphans tears,
Or wound, with mortal blast, the widows heart
When satiate with evil absence, he;
Half repenting, turned seek his home.
There arriv'd, he found anxious welcome.
With many vows, that deep contfition seem'd.
For past offence, mos: FOUL he pledged his faith,
In days to come, to shun the pois'nous cup
Narcssas hope again Ii, up its flame,
Bu, shown i'll darker shades of night.
Full oft his pledge was broken, renewd again,
And still with holder rend, was broken quite.
By slow, yet sure degree, he gave his home
For longer stays, to plunge in vicious through
His peers in vice. by long tuition train'd.
When timely warnings came from caut'ning friends,
He willing seem'd. 10 justify his course.
With threat'ning oaths, of dread import, he bade
Them their accounts stood fair, nor waste
Their idle breath in vain. uncald, unsought.
No longer curb'd by moral reins. 10 lead,
You might have him now-deluded man
He that was endow'd in youth beyond his share,
With reasons sacred hcam--whose mind could solve
Most hidden mysteries, comprehend
Impenetrab bic TRUTHS to other minds;
With philosophic see rci, scan profoundest space,
Thi. man you might have devoid of light
From reasons lamp, to guide his eEtIn@ step
You might have heard him curse HIMSELF his God,
His own existence, wife and children curse.
And drive them from their home 1T midnigh, hour,
When bowling winds, and biting frost forbade
Advance, to seek retrea: from pending wrath
Tho sequel soon is told, in shor,es, phrase
Best suiting the result to tender ear.
His large estate in flee. succession pnss'd
To other hands-his long arrear unpaid
No bankrupt law shield, friendly hand
His creditors. enre gid for much default,
The wretched man they seik'd, and bound
In fetter strong, and into prison cast
Their gloomy charge. Mds, gronns of fellow wretch,
And clanking chains awoke, he trembling woke,
In horrid painting dress'd, he saw his shame;
And saw that all on earth, TO him, was lost
Was lost beyond repair. With murderous hand,
In last despair, he checked his dark career.
Narcissa's hope had set, to rise no more
Forever set; and she that bloomed SO fair,
Distracted, wild, a maniac rav'd
Abandoned now, the orphan children fed
On aims, a scan,y fare, in sickness died,
Lor Left a trace to tell, a fathers shame,
Or mothers MoRTiM
Jacksonburg, Ia, Jan. lSt3.
PRESENTNENT OF THE GRAND JUF