Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-08-11
THE DESTROYER,
4 Dialogue for t,co Characters.

Nor can l see the harm.
The Temperance people are too apt
To take from signs, alarm.
HERBERT.
A glass Divine has often proved
The ruin Of best minds,
And only in pure Temperance
Can you true safety find.
Doyou remember Nellie fair;
Ny sister bright and true:
Do you remember how she wed
LIES sky looked bright and blue.
CLARENCE
Yes I remember her full well.
And her fair bridal morn.
And oft have wondered where she was.
And why you looked forlon
When e'cr her name was mentioned in
Your presence-and a tear
Would trickle down your checks. my fricn
She was a sister dear.
HERBERT.
Then listen will tell the tale,
How shadows black as night
Came DER the path Of her who Lett
Her home to make anOther's bright.
Oh. it was but an earthly shrine
Before which she had bowed,
And sOrrows gathered thickly dark.
In one tUmultOus crowd.
The one she loved. like you. found
Within a glass Divine,
To work a harm to human life.
Or make it less divine:
And Oft at night when clouds with wings
Were floating through the sky,
And dreamily the moon looked down
From her lone throne on high,
And flashing like angel eyes from far
Down through the Silly air,
The stars would softly, gently glow,
Gems in nights raven hair,
Nellie would sit in lonely room.
The fire burns down so low,
Aud silently the shadows dark
Go fitting to and fro.
She could hear the old clock tick
The lonely hours away,
Like saddened spirits breathing
While he would oft delay,
Her idol One-Oh, where was hcE
Won was the laurel crown;
His name was echoed through the halls
OfFame and high Renown.
But where was he? In halls that robbed
A Thousand homes of light,
Whose purity of love was drowned
In shades f blackest night.
A phantom form lurked round his path
And yet, twas some thing more.
It lurcd him with the whitening spell.
And magic charms it wore.
The angel DER lis shoulder strOvc
To win, the wandeIer back.
Twas vain, he madly pressed his way
UpOu the temptCr's track.
He needed not, but to his lips
The wine was lifted up;
While DER him hung with blood stained wing
The demon OF the cup.
And when the hour OfmOrning dawned
He'd seek his hOmeward way.
With angry words upon his lips
Curse her when she'd attempt to pray.
Thus much ere one short year had fled
The tempting wine had done,
All, pause and think my youthful friend,
Your course has just begun.
CLARENCE.
Yes, but think you, ever
Would sink so low as this,
That I could curse with lips, the ono
Whose lips were made t. kiss.
Oh, no, the wine cup ne'er will lead
Ne to commit such wrong
For I'm not easily led astray-
Such fate comes not to strong.
But to the weak and faltering ones
The impure minds of earth.
Ine'er shall pass to dire disgrace
From scenes Ofjoy and mirth.
HERBERT.
But think my friend-whcrc influence goes.
Those who're weak and frail,
VIII mock the example you may set
And follow in the trail.
And listenl will tell ycu more:
How the dark iend OF drink,
Led Nellie's husband once SO good,
Zen TO perditiOn's brink.
When wine had ferCeIy Crazcd
Whenhe had drained the cup
In angry frenzy, mad with drink
His hand was lifted up
And In that hour he struck blow
That killed his girlish bride,
And with one sigh, one gentle moan.
She sank dead by his side,
a victim to the power Ofdrink,
Ofwine's bright tempting glow;
And thus it ever is my friend,
In this dark-world of woe.
On every side we hear the tale
OThOrrOr and of crime,
And trace it back-its cause is drink
In every land and Cline
And we, as men-arc duty bound
To stOpthe flowing tide,
And beat the marching armies back
That march DER land so wide.
As men-we must our influence give
To Danish from our land,
The face what comes in tempting guisc
With crime stained, blood stained hand;
And though you may not stand in need
Ofcaution or its power,
GOumay do good, and brighten here
For some heart-darkest hour.
Then let me urge you once again
To sign our Temperance pledge
CLARENCE.
THANK you, friend for showing me
The path Of duty plain,
Andif by total abstinence,
I can e'er Danish pain,
From one sadquivering, troubled heart.
Or lead a wanderer back
From ways Of sin and wrong and grief
To duty's nOwery track,
III feel the effort has not been
Made here in vain, in vain;
And trust that from our land so fair
May Danish drinks dark stain.
know that black Intempeancc,
Leads men to sin and wrong,
And trust that in the ways of right
II may become yet strong.
Yes, win sign the temperance pledge
And hope all here tonight
viii do the same and fight with us
For Virtue, truth and right.
HERBERT.
Wellpush the battle 20 the gates,
Nor ever shrink or pause,
Until the whole world are redeemed
And own Good Orders laws.
Wen meier grow faint or tire in work.
For our noble Temperance cause;
And when the light Of reasons truth
Has banished darkness dire,
The thought that we've been faithful, will
To better deeds inspire;
Where now the vail of woe is heard
And dwells disease and care,
Wen hear the shouts Of gladness pure
Waited upon the air;
Wen feel the blessed consciousness
Ofbeing true and firm,
Pruo to our manhood ard oar GOD,
True to lie and its germ;
And VIC ask the sympathy
Encouragement and aid,
Ofall true man and women here
Ofcvery mother, wife and maid:
And from cv'Fy flag staff
l. Al