Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-05-17
THE DRUNKARD's STORY.

meditation
On the world and its vexations, crosses, difficult
ties, troubles,
On the changes of existence, on ambition and
its bubbles,
When saw toward me coming, slow meander-
ing on the side walk,
First tccurbstone, then to doorstep, in zigzag
crooked wide walk,
such wretched, ragged fellow, stepped in mis-
cry and liquor,
That l lodged behind lamp-post, so the man
might pass me quicker.
But as around him lodging, tried on the rothcr
side to place me,
BY a sudden lurch to leeward, right about he
wheeled to face me-
And, with gravity Of yisage, and an air OF
mock decorum,
Said-"Y You're friendly and | know it, and
want another jorum
TO he drunk is TO be happy TO be happy am
willing,
And III get entirely jolly if you'll lend your
friend a shilling.
ooh, you needn'tturn your nose up,uoT explode
with indignation,
Nor commence q prosy lecture on my moral
degradation
I'm a little bit in liquor, admit; but that's ne
matter
I have no resource but spirits, tlronging mem
Dries TO scatter.
Yes, am wrctchcd drunkard-I an sunk past
sounding distance,
In n gulf Of shame and horror-am blot upon
existence;
But when once am in liquor, then show Of
joy comes to me;
Then loose the curse of memory, with its fear
full pangs and gloomy.
"Ah once had friends and kinsiolk was
held in estimation
BY my neighbors and my townsmen as a pillar
Of the nation III
Yes, a staunch and trusty pillar, one whom pco-
pie always call so,
For had my hundred thousand, and a splen-
did mansion also.
And had possessions grcatcr--wite and chill
drcn--neycr fairer
Ellen, patient, lovely, loying-wiy, with whom
might compare herr
George, my boy, my darling participation,
blue-eyed like her mother
These made up my happy househoId-could the
world find such another
ooh, you think you have all firmness, that my
steps you neer will follow;
That your feet will never founder in the mire
wherein wallow
So thought my sncering neishbor; had some
prophet as victim
70 the brandy bottle doomed me, ten to one but
had kicked him.
What a slave to base Indulgence clothed in
tatters spurned and spat at
Such a coat as this upon me crowned by such
hat as that hat
I'd have laughed at all such nonsense: yet you
see my situation;
And us am now, goa may be, though you drink
IN moderation.
"Modcration, ugh what folly ask the whirl
wind to be quiet
Speak Of peace unto the tempest but in drink
ing never try it.
Rouse of appetite the lion, and though Friends
and guards attend you,
From his lair the beast will leap out when you
least expect, and rend you.
was moderate in drinking, but my chain Of
limit Enlightened,
Feeding on its constant practice, day by day th'
habit strengthened,
Fortune fled me- friends abandoned, darkene'
all the skies above me;
Save poor Ellen and her children there was n
ono left 10 love me-
ooh, those years Of maddest rcycl when goo'
fellows sat beside me,
When with glozing words they fed me, whei
with hattery they piled me,
Till sank me deeper deeper, in vast obys
unhoy
Never needing that my darlngs faded certainly
though slowly,
Do You blame me that mady seek my Leth
draught in lquor1
What care that it may bring me to my doletl
end the quicker
All my friends with wealth departed; none ar
left to mourn my dying;
In the pauper's grave unheeded are my wife an
children lying
"Men may talk about romanccs-if they want
sharp sensation,
Let them get the real story Of drunkard's des
radiation;
OF the pangs that sober moments brings wit
agony to fill BIN,
And the nearer gets a novel that will interest an
thrill him.
Had time or had you patience, Of such terrb
things I'd tell you,
That although you might despise me, yet to pit
twould compel you.
But I'd thank you for that shilling-while lh
/ would be merry;
whsa die there's one more pauper for the s.
Der folk TO bury"
Longer still no doubt his story had l stayed
listen to it,
But gave the wretch his shilling though 'tw
doubtless wrong to do it,
Leaving him to seek the gin-shop, there to dro~
his troubles thinking.
While l wondered would ever, through II
moderate way Of drinking,
Sink so low in my debasement as the Wretc
from whom I'd parted,
Make my children suffer hunger, and my wi
die broken hearted
And, although his maudlin sermon seemed
my case TO be wasted,
Yet that day the glass Of sherry to my dim
went untasted.