Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-19
The Kings Temptation.
sr MRS. rHro.osrA rnoLLorE.

Know We what deeds are doing
In the home of the ancient crecdf
Il arken and pray, that from ghosty guile.
From the poor mans curse, and the church-man'
smile a &fab
God save our land at necdl gBgM
Thus spake the King in his Council
Our village priests lack bread
The word they scatter, the loaf they halvc;
Give life TO the poor If the pastor starve,
How may the flock be fed?"
AMI the best In his realm made answer
"Convents we've many TO spare
Bloated imposthumcs of soth and sin
TATE thou the treasure that rusts therein,
For the poor mans priest to share"
Tnen was the Kings heart gladdened,
Z And the people shouted aloud: - @ :
For they love the pastor who shares their toll,
And they grudge their tribute of wine and oil,
To the lazy locust cloud.
The Pope sat droning and dreaming,
Till be heard the peoples cry.
Then he started awake with an angry stare,
And his red-robed prelates sat wondering there
As the mighty voice went BY.
He clutched at his triple sceptre,
And muttered with lifted hand
"Thou that dividest the things of God
Low shalt thou grovel and kiss the rod,
When the curse shall blight thy land"
"The bride shall pine at the altar
And the corpse shall rot by the grave:
r he babe unsgned, and the dying unshriven,
8 ia cry against him who forbids them Heaven,
And steals what his fathers gave.
Dream'st thou the Papal thunder
Can never crash forth again.
Lay but hand on the sacred fold
And thou shalt rue the sway we hold
Der the terrors and sins Of mcnp
Yet spake the King in his Council
"Mv spirit is no mans thrail
Shall focks and pastors hunger and die,
Scared by the ghost Of an aged liei
Give knowledge and bread to al!'
Slow through the guided palace
Came the clatter of sandalled feet
And little child in its meek, wan grace,
And quiet matron, with wrinked face,
Lay cold in the shrouding sheet
Slow through the gilded palace
Came the shadow Of cowl and gown:
Aud mother went from her babes atplay,
Aud young man passed in bis pride away
As the death-waye sucked them down.
whereso the quarry Is stricken
The carrion yultures fly,
Cruel and cowardly, gaunt and keen
Although in the morning not one to be seem
Ere noon they backen the sky.
Visit the sick and the mourncr--
SO preacheth the sacred text
And FOL to the King in his lovelcss home,
With cold sleek visage the comforters come,
Who for this world sell the next
The hand Of the Lord Is mighty
They whispered in saintly tone.
Take thou thy teaching with patient uust
And the King bowed down his head to the dust
And uttered fearless moan.
"The Ark Of the Lord is holy, aN
Read thou thy lesson and know
That he who touches the ark shall die
And the King broke forth in wrathful cry;
And answered with eyes glow.
SECT We behind me tempters
Who trade in weakness and tears;
Bore il the burden, and hard the fight;
Yet will 1 stand for my peoples right
And battle with priesily fears
Rather I'd pawn my kingdom
So leave her spirit unsod;
Rather I'D waste hor with fire and sword
Than bend her neck to the noisome horde
Who barter their God for gold
Truth il the light Of nations
And light was ever your foe.
How long will We strive with the march Of timer
when teach the bigot 10 blush for crime
Or the slave for the tyrant's blown
So spake the King in his anger;
And the people shouted applause.
But the Pope sat under bis plumed fan
Coming and shaping the ancient ban,
And CRASHED at the righteous cause.
These be the deeds now doing
In the home Of the papal creed.
Pray, brothers, pray, that from Rhostly guile,
From the poor mans curse and the churchman's
smile,
God save our land at need