Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-10-03
THE INERRIATE RECLAIMED.
by A DAUGHTER OF TEMPERANCE.

THE INEBRIATE RECLAIMED.
by DAUGHTER OF TEMPERANCE.
The last mail brought us the following poetic
thoughts iu blank verse, from fair and no doubt
young and beautiful lady contributor in Illinois.
The theme is indeed very worthy one and from
the strength and originality of the thoughts, ap-
piled TO the condition of The inebriate, the lesson
of holy admontion which the effusion contains
will not be lost. We welcome the lines to our
colums, as we should our fair correspondent to
California.
To his polluted lips the quivering cup he raised,
And quaffed the crimson food
Then reeling backward fell
gazed into his burning eye,
And saw the fiery demon there
Had lit his flaming torch =
For he was mad
My heart grew faint;
For had known him when prattling babe.
Ere his pure heart was sulied by the paths Of sn
And wondered much
That the sweet child / had loved
The prattling child, so pure, so beautiful
So like an angel, [gazcd I!
Could be the loathsome spectacle on which
Ny heart grew sick
For | had seen the envous mother
Stroke her sleeping infants brow,
And smooth his glossy curs?
And had heard the trembling voice,
With deep devotion and emotion strong,
To Heavens great King
Breathe out her fervent prayer
That her sweet babe, her darling child
The light and life of all her earthly Joy
Might be the staff of her declining days.
And had heard her pray
That he, her treasured one
The cruel paths Of vice might shun,
And walk the narrow road
To light and truth
And had marked her supplications,
And heard her tender teachings.
And yainly hoped they might be needed
Butno they fell upon his ears as sounding brass.
And strong he grew in all the sciences of hell
lie gazed upon me. O, that horrd gaze
What was there in his eye
To kindle up that hcllish fire?
Who held the strong man thus enchaned?
Was it the fatal cup?
And had the accursed draught
Hurled reason from her throne?
Upon the earth he PROSTATE lay!
Before his eye floatcd visions dark
And round him glide the urid forms
And bowling imps of hell
And now vision wan and pale,
With fearful eye and altering step,
Looms up before his darkencd sight!
Not from the black abodcS Of sin it came,
To chde the lost and erring,
But from region pure.
The gentle hand that soothed his Youthful brow.
The fearful eye that wept an erring son,
Had sought her cary rest,
And found home in Heaven
And from those regions pure her spirit came
And hovered DER her hayward child
lie eroans, he shrcks he cries
Would my resolve endure,
The fascinating cup I'd shun
"But no within the liquid glass
The tempter turks : the serpent coils!
And | am mad again quatl-
Again reel again sink to earth
oh for a refuge from the tempters snare,
For am sick Of folly ~
"Thon take the pledge and make the stern
Roll back the turbid waves resolve !!
That lave thy darkrned soul!
Enlist with me, and love will strengthen thee
Purity will cleanse, Fidelity sustain
While Temperance is our guiding star;
Health, hope aud JOY may yet be thine,
With naught thy happiness to mar
He gazed entranccd
To happiness he was cstranged,
And peace had long deserted him.
lie summoned all his strength
Our armor bright he Girdtd on,
As if to battle with the foe
And firm he stands
HARRIErTE L. ADAMS.
ARMINGToN. July 22, 1897.