Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-07-20
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From the Louisville Journal.
THE INE5RIATE'S WIFE.
RY MARY A. REEVES.

lis the still mldnlght Oh The lonely hours,
How slowly DO they pass, each on It's wing
4 drop from the sad fountain of my life
Bearing away Oh bat for you my babes,
My helpless, gu:ltless ones [ should so long
To lay me down in the low grave to rest;
Nay, nay, even were ye not, l still mast live
Because he lives. Say, heart Of mine, dost thou
Turn from him in this derksome hour, dost thou
Forget the dark tempter with his burning breath
BHghteu happiness, and made our home
So drear and desolatea No, thou dost not
SUI thou dost love him, though he casteth now
Thy warm affection from him. and doth tread
Beneath his feet thy proffered tenderness.
Hark how the night wind shrieks! il finds lis way
Into this cherries hovel, gladdened not
By FIRE or lamp it clasps in its arr2s
Oficy coldness, and its breath | feel
Like frost upon my cheek; Moan not, my babe,
Thy mothers breaking heart pillow thee
And her weak arms will shelter thee from cold
Ny boys how peacefully they sleep upon
Their low, hard bed. Oh when I look on them
Sorrow and gladness struggle in my breast
Each for prominence they are 50 bright
So beautiful, so noble; all the pride
and all the love within my mother heart
Wake as look upon them yet, oh yet
I trenble, and maddening fear doth fill
sly wild md weary soul. Could believe
That they would follow in their fathers steps,
I would lift up my heart and pray, "Oh God,
Take. take them home" Bu; no. so much Of woe
On one poor, quiveEing heart can never fl.
Why comes he not! I long, and vet fear
go hear his coming footsteps, for know
That curse and cruel blow and ribald song
VIII greet my aching heart when he is near.
Oh! once it was not so, once with light
And Joyous heart at eventde sprang
To meet his steps, and tender words his lips
Pour forth upon me, and his kind caress
Told that my presence unte him was sweet.
Oh! was happy tLen, he was my life,
Ny happiness, my idol! Left not
My chiIdhoods home. my parents, all I loved
sn all this earth for him Did not give
Myself unto him, heart and mind and soul?
D5 I not love him utterly, with wild,
Deep. fsrvent, passionate lovel Did not cast
4ly lie and happiness into his arms,
And swear TO be forever all his own
And now despair and agony intense
Heave their Wild bIlo7ys round me; Oh die.
maddeu! Heart and soul and brain grow wild
and phrenzied with this crushing. burning woe!
And what has made me thus so desolate,
And bligdted my hopes, and quenched the lamp
oimy pure happiness, and sent me down
From honor, peace, and aff,gence and JOY,
20 grief and shame and PenuTy and woe?
Twas thou, Intemperance. red wine-cup thou;
Thy Poisouspell was woven round the soul
"a my belovd VINO knew not of his chains
Until they clarked against bis heart, and told
How bitter was his bondage, how completed.
And he, the noble one, has sunk TO earth,
Debased, despised degraded, Stunned by all,
save me alone. Oh fell destroyer, thee
From my deep soul l curse; and We who bid
The tempting poison iiow, l curse We all
Oh God, roy God call on Thee to be
Aiy friend and my avenger! Q pour out
Mercy uPo- the wanderers, lead them back
Again 10 peace and virtue! Ay! and fling
Thy wreath upon the tempters. Or avenge'
My heart! my brain! am not mad These words
They are most wild and bitter; have l lost
iae meekness. patience. pity of ny heart
Oh God, my God forgive, pray forgivel
Galhpolis, o MAY. 1854