The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-02-28
(Fcr the Gaseite. ]
FHR DESTRUCTION OF S0DOA.
u kNEosc
BY II. A. DE FRANCE.

summer sun, and shed MS WARM soas 80
|, The cities which were builded there.
| :, that early hour, when first the bros
| Won, 10 carol forth their masin song
latitude and praise unite that God
l ..res for them, nor suffers one 70 tau
hout The dictate Of His heavily will.
:. ,hey sang amid the now'ry grove,
|eaped from twig to twig, or clustered now
4 the branches ofthe lofty trees,
happy scene presented they to man.
:, amid the cities all now slept: -
6r,t born child, the parents Joy and pride,
I, clune around his mothers breathing form;
maiden gentle, both in years and charms
snowy arm along her iv'ry side
golden locks with IN other there she cisspea-
hined at ease upon gorgeous couch;
too Of riper years, mature in mind,
res.irg from his daily labor past,
dreamed he of The morrow that had come,
n he must to his toilsome task attend:
here was age, whose bsnded form and look
kened plain, that soon his weary race
,a almost cease, and he should then return
body 10 the dust, from whence II came,
,pirit 10 that place for all assigned
have this earth TO rest until the Day,
! |, mus, cen regain its pristine form
,,, within the realms Of light, or else
.ndins 20 that axful burning lake
ar., unoue enchable forever die.
further up the sky, the sun now saiied'
.,,rs wore the same still cam mild aapee"
o.d va, seen to dim the blue serene,
o,,d 10 mar the silence there that reigned,
n, the distant hum o countless beings,
forth unto their labor bent their way.
houyh,,.,s they Of that, which soon should come
or vhelm them all, nor leave trace
the beau,eous splendor Of the plain.
ON. though still they teemed about their work,
saw dark black cloud o'ergath'ring last
wrapping in It's murky folds the plain.
ollip M thunder at . distance lowed,
!, they thought, twas rut the summera Storm
oft springs up to purify the air,
ois, the blislered earth with cooling show'rs.
i, blscker grew, complete shut out
gh. OF heavens sky; forth from that cloud
b Of dazzling brightness iilumcd the PLAIN
gle moment: then sullen crash
ling thunder shook the earth around.
quick, successive 'pon the cities al
aiv'rng sheets of red sulphurous light
down, and 'iong the ground il ran,
Fom the quaking earth, burning flame
rose and met the lurid glow Of heev'n.
heavy fall, the cities walls came down.
righ.ed multitude ran forth to meet
Tier, though they sought in vain sone place
they nigh, hide their face from that dire storm,
threatened them entire, with fercest woes.
called upon each other, vainly called;
thought upon h:ms.lrs nor took he hsed
might perish, could he rescued BE-.
he rocks they spake, osbut cover US
hide Us from the face Of God raost just,
now doth punish US for all our sins;"
hrieked, in agony they tore their hair.
b,wled, blasphemed, and cursed their evil lot,
raysd, and howled again. No succor came;
purning thirst, they sought the once cool stream,
und drop = a,suage their torrents there.
rithing now, then wrestling with tina. death,
doth u all await, they silent grew.
les lay in ashes quite consumed;
embng ground upiifted, and engslfed
its mystic womb, the wretched throng;
hg loud wailing shrek, and all was o'ar.
rom an unseen source dark waters rose,
henched with Kissing din, the ruined plain;
ely heaved its grim, discolored waves
ire alost few black cinders there
on its noisome bosom Aoated dull.
ntide, when from the western sky
n poured forth his last sad parting rays
he drcary sea, these ashes Few
IN that now remained Of Sodom there.
/, rang out their cheerful evening soag,
und OF human being met the ear:
nee, solemn stiffness reigned around,
e earth had been dissolved tas first
o,hiny il had come) but chaos dire.
Pes the thick dark sea, there sighed the breeze.
ncholy requiem to those all
hcath its deadened waters ever lie.
fy-Wood, Iowa, January 1850.