The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-25
cANro 1.-THE LONG YEARS.

Now al bis passions long restrained, burst forth
The Evil in him, which, but yesterday,
He could have trampled down-nay, which he
thought
Re had con pletely conquered. now rose M
Wlth giant strength. CENTRALIZED no more, and said
! am Thy master, for no longer now
The Good contests my sway"
Twas bitterly
Away was strsighIwsy hurried t. a lie
OF SID 80 dark that not ray of good
tie gloom could e'er iumine. Oft in vain
her mage prayed him pause. Yet with it came
No. Hope so nothing rocked he of the prayer.
Then for long months upon the weary bed
OF pain he tossed, and DER him lowered shades
From Deaths dark shore, yet still he thought of
naught
Save hat great disappointment. Then, one day,
As with returning life came new desires,
And The determination that that life
Should be a triumph OVer s-lf, there came
another blow, more cruel than before.
That heart and life which she had promised him,
And hun alone forever, was bestowed
Upon man whom. when they parted last
Shed scarcely known of. But year had passed,
Yet had the wounds of separation healed,
And che, with an Implying hand, fors'er
Bed closed the gates of possibility.
1hsf moment cast its shadow DER his life.
he blamed her not perhaps twas generous
Yet when the fiery storm of wee had passed,
He could not find it in his heart to think
Ofher with aught save that same ardent love
Which on the quiet stsrlt night in June
lie once had preferred her.
Then far away
To other scenes his fortunes carried him.
Yet WIKI him went the ever present thought
OF her. TheH by degrees, with time there came
Indifference. BE wearied Of the round
OF dissipation. and bethOught himself
1'were folly thus, like prodigsl 10 waste
The energies which God had given him.
To waste them, and for what! The loss OF her
Who knowing bis dependence yet had cast
II m iron her cruelty. Nor only this.
He still bed health, had mid had his right arm
NheTewiih TO cleave pathway TO success.
Why then should this pale shadow intervene,
More potent than a score of steel-clad foes?
"Delusive grief. thou shalt not haunt me more
Make way, nor longer cumber up my path"
He cried, and. branoishing the sword Of Will,
Beat down the specter, aud once mOre-was free.
And mesDWhile what Of her p. she deeply felix
The pam be suffered. she had kno W. too well
His ARGENT nature, not to be assured
That separation brought q train OF woes
Jnspeaksbe. Yet, on her Bonded knees
She pTayec tor counsel, and ia tears behe.d
1he path Of duty plainly pointed out.
O1ce more compassion took the place OF love.
Size watched bis course Of life, yet stood alooF.
Full sure that but a word OF pity would
Bot uselessy revive his qnenched desire
Sne found she had not loved him, ssd recoiled
From contemplation of the misery
Which might have followed the discovery
Too lac OF her mistake. IL was regret,
And Dot remorse that she experienced
In thinking DER the grief which she had wrought.
Society, pretending sympathy,
Once more enyironed her win batteries,
And wcOsd her once again to It's delights
With sohing heart, she followed the behest,
\ ilOOked with GOODNESS on her astterers.
And logged the while tor thoughtful solitude.
One Gay there came missive. IL was signed
With GeTGld's name. Twas be had wrI.tea il.
Returning from a night Of revelry
And these the words that he addressed to her
All, why did | ever dare doubt you,
Forever I'm grieving about you;
] cannot he hsppy without you.
Come back 10 ne, darling. pray;
Cone back 10 ne. dearest,