Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-04-10
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For the Register.
THE DRUNKARD'S WIFE.
Twas midnight. The silver moe
BY ELLEN.

he tcemIng mllIlOhS slept, WhHe onward
dreamed
The slumbering world. Lonely and sad, sat
And gazed upon the quiet scene. My infant days
Came up in mem'rys halls, and swiftly passed.
The sunny hours of happy girlhood followed
In the pasl's dark train. My childhood sports,
My gided dreams of future joy, all rose be-
fore me
With their painted FORMS THE panorama
or the past moved slowly on. | sat in
Halls of knowledge, and at wisdom's fountain
Stacked my thirst. My teacher where
And sadder than the wall of winter
Memory answered GONE. Around me clustered
Those whose golden curls were swayed by
summers
Breeze, and whose bright checks the morning
Zephyrs loved to kiss. Some whose sweet tones
Like music fell, and gathered widfowers
By the mossy lake, have faded like those fow
ers,
And sleep beneath the dells they loved to roam.
The rest are scattered here and there, along
The ''wide, wide world" saw youth
With massive brow, and flashing eye come
Proudly on. His step was buoyant, generous
His heart and kind his wor S. The tide of
health
Bounded along his veins, while with
Colossal grandeur rose the column of his mind
Gifted and eloquent, he swayed
Assemblies large, and melted jurors
BY his magic tones, gave to him my heart,
And loved him with deathess love.
stood before the altar at his side,
bride of eighteen years He pledged himself
To guard with sacred care his bride TO watch
When fever scorched the brow, and wipe
The gathering death damps from her brow,
Should she proceed him TO the spirit land.
A year passed brightly on no sorrow
Cast it's shadow DER my heart, but
Fringed with happiness the future slept
In blisslul hope. hushed my trembling
Babe TO sleep, with songs of gladness,
And with smiles Of love.
Life how changeful is thy scenery
The landscapes lit with sunshine now are pas
sed.
The waters Of life's ocean which had rested
Calm here heaye their pillows angrily,
And loudly roar. The storm of sorrow gathers,
And my path grows dark.
Twas evening.
IN mansion grand moved amid
The gathered throng. The beauty, wealth,
And learning of the land were there,
To wreath with laurels bright, beauteous
Bride, and bind hopes garland round her
Waxen brow My husband stood beneath
The splendid lamps, that lit the scene,
While with him were the bridal pair.
"Come Henry, come and drink my fair
Brides health" spake he upon whose arm,
She proudly leaned. Pale grew the cheek of
him
| ever loved for never had he slipped
The sparkling glass. Oh had he answered
mo, l aeper yet hare touched the Vine-cup red'
How well for him for me. saw him
Trembling place it to his lips and drain
The cup THE DEED WAS DONE. A change
Came DER him from that hour. Day after day
He came with staggering step, and cursed
The wife he loved. Night after night
He revelled with the bar.room throng till
Midnight came then raving mad he came again.
No longer did he kiss his boy, his idol once,
Or cheer my heart with words of love.
The frown of anger rested where the smile
had played,
And curses only fell upon my ear.
Deirium dragged him on till wild
With Rum, he drove me from my home,
Homeless and lone. My boy clung fondly
To his mothers arm, and gazed appalled,
Upon the awful scene. The winlry winds
Blew cold, and tossed my hair back from
,Iy wasted cheek. The snow fell fast
And bleakness reigned supreme. l knelt
Upon the virgin snow and prayed while
From nv eyes the freezing tear-drops fell
Father amid the wint'ry tempest wild,
In pity look upon my cherished child -
When DER my form the valleys clods are
spread,
And she who prays is numbered Win Tue uedu
Defend my child
Oh thou whose power and love no limits know,
Who weeps DER fallen man, that power n0tc
show;
Oh save my husband, lift again his form,
And if perish mid the wintry storm,
Raise him from wo.
hasted to my darkened home once more,
Upon a couch he lay in slumber deep.
low, deep groan Of pain fell on my ear
And to his side sprang. ] smoothed his brow
Brushed back his raven locks, and kissed
In love his bioated cheek. He woke
And wildly gazed around his bed. On me
iHE DRuSKARD's WIFE, his eye was fixed.