Smyrna times., 1868-02-12
Written for the " Smyrna Times"
LAMP-LIGHT MUSINGS.
BY T. I.

Another day had passed away, and its re-
cord written on the pages of Eternity. Another
night was passiHg it's magic wand or sleepy
forgetfulness over the world OF mankind. The
lights. in most of the windows OF our little
village. had gone out, when | had sat down to
muse. Imagination, fondly cherished rose In
full force, and vision of scene OF happiness
came up before my mind. pictured two per-
sons Just bloomed into manhood and woman
hood, Joined together in the bonds OF matrl-
mony. Lives that we're separate melodies have
become a beautiful harmony, and begin to
glide peacefully down life s current. Hand IN
hand and heart to heart, they journey on; the
present is Joyous and the future bright. and
hopeful Happiness springs up IN the kindly
atmosphere of mutual love and christian plety.
The early morning and dewy evening find them
kneeling side by side, worshipping the same
God, taking up the same cross; and gathering
like joys from the boughs of Heavens munlh-
cence. Friends have given home-a beautl-
ful home industry. gives competence; temper
ance has given health, and religion an abiding
hope. Surely nothing can destroy all this fell
city. These purer and higher joys, are SO
hedged about, that they will ablde--through
all the shades and sunshine, joys and sorrows
of life. But my mind no longer dwells on this
vision of happiness Imagination, ever busy,
hurries me forward to the times of coming
years, and another scene presents ltself-lt Is
scene of misery and distress. L see the once
beautiful home a miserable hoVel, ana the
happy couple of other years bowed with DIS
case and sorrow. A terrible monster has en-
tered the home and lives of once unmarried te-
licity; darkness and gloom oppresses,. where
sunshine once cheered and peace smlled-let
the story be told. The husband, III an evil
hour, became frequenter of the village hotel
or neighboring dramshop-he became a
moderate drnker, surely no harm In this; but
habit grew and strengthened, the appetite be-
comes irresistible, and soon the ennobhng
hopes of religion left this uugenlal heart, Its
consultations falling a sacrifice to the wine cup.
Health followed in the train, and disease holds
rule. Property soon took to itself wings, and
poverty possesses the miserable tenement OF
the once happy home. The love of home and
| of home associations are sacrificed to the IN
ordinate appetite of the husband. Soon the
| holy and mutual love- formed in earlier and
happier days, grows dim. The story is nearly
told-the husband is drunkard, and she the
wife of drunkard, inevitably partaklng part
of the misery and degradation. The hopes
and noble aspirations of earlier years, have
departed and left void, rapidly hlllng up with
misery and despair. There are no sunny
places, nor heaven born hopes, lett in the lite
of the husband. All is sdarkness-hopelessn
and, but one ray of light shines upon the weary
life of the wife, but that ray is very bright. Ii
is the consultations of religion, shining away
down deep in the heart whispering, even IN
the darkest hour, messages Of peace and holy
hope. So intimate is the marriage relation
that when the Demon, intemperance, makes
the husband miserable, it drives happiness
from the wife also, Except religion, which
towers above the clouds surrounding life. into
the sunshine of Heaven and eternal happiness
The reverie is broken, imagination ceases
longer to contemplate such scene. But ha
imagination, with all her errors, overdraWI
the picture or given an impossible fancy? L
not this q true, but very imperfect picture,
the thousand realities that yearly bring mlser!
and ruin upon the peace and prosperity OF ou
J common country? One-half of the misery ant
, heart aches, caused by drunkenness, has neve
been imagined, and never can be recorded
! All acknowledge it to be national evil, an
it behooves all good citizens to use their lntu
: ence in favor of temperance and to CIV
, countenance and support to the various socie
ties organized to reclaim drunkards and to saw
! the young from ever falling into the habits Q
! drunkenness. Most temperance societies hav
good reclaiming and restraining influences; bu
too often suffer opposition from those VIII
should be found in the ranks, using thel
; powerful influences for the right advancement
: of those noble orders.
Wyominp Feb 1868