The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-08-17
- ~> -
Originality Request
READ THIS NOT, BUT PASS IT BY.

Go wanderous creature, from Adam till now,
And tell if virtue has changed and if so how?
10 greater works some honest soul is given,
But all are deereed by heaven.
Fortune on some hath cast pleasing look.
TO some hath given beauty and the same from
others took,
Angelic features attend on every face,
And god-like symetry each gentle figure grace,
Whilst vanity and pride both lnger round,
20 please top crafty clown.
Conceit if any ask it who Will
If dead, its image haunts US still,
And pleasure alone in such is found,
TO anuse the d-vl or the guests confornd.
But Why speak we thus in these degenerate days ?
"Mhen worth begs the reward Of empty praise, =
Since pleasure prompts each impulse OF the heart,
And virtue itself has given way to art.
Sven nyuphs inspired with fond desire,
Whose tosonls burn with celestial fire;
W no virtue mock and corruption squeeze:
80 crafty each part or soul 10 p cast;
Even they forget twas by heaven ordained,
And by he prophets ell proclaimed
80 them with pleasure and without disgrace;
TO beartify cur land, and llu tiply our race.
Now TO your noble task be ye resigned,
Which far exceeds the gifts Of body or Ct mind,
Jet heay Ell S viii be by you performed
While maids are by themselves and others scornd.
But turn aside from such grave commands,
Ard see the site Oh which our social fabric stands
Envy, shame, corruption, yilllany and vice,
Stir up never ceaslng ard constant strife;
Whilst reason vaeates her exalted tlroae
And nation sink with lameutabla groan,
\ thousand monsters hiss all DER the main;
IAndEeyils strut from plain to plain.
Pray heaven tell from whence does such arise?
Are people feels OF in ignorance growing wise?
Do mortal pestiiences made dreadful await,
so announce more 9irefui or destructive fate?
Great God to lie more leniency show,
Remove the peril 20 h--ll we'll go.
Avarice and lust move hand in hand.
And spread like smallpox from land 20 land
Religion from her proud seat Is hurled;
Blasphemy and shame rule the world;
Different creeds and dogmas engender strife,
and each thinks he's born for better life !;
Some SO distracted to this at once driven
Boast they are angels on earth and will be gods
in heaven,
Rail il anger at an Allmercful God;
Laugh at their vice and their villainy applaud.
But others in more confidence believe,
By an outward show their God they'll please;
Whilst pLaisaic raptures swell the heart,
AS blood in veins extend to every part
And if i'll public they'll offer up prayer,
IT'S that them, devils, natives, strangers, all
may stare.
Eut why stop we here when all things are &C
plain;
Who fails of heaven is sure of hell to GAIN
Then remove the curtain and expose to light
Fer serpents securer, when hid from sight
Some less anxious for public show,
TO stretch their torpid frames TO church will go
For VIII t p? ii remains for you to tell.
We now. Lucifer was hurled from heaven to hell
And with demon efforts tried in vain,
The bl:ssful seat once more to gain.
But be it good or i'll, one thing we know.
Most go, if not all, as to public show;
To sec, or to be seen, Is the main desire,
To crafty whim OR revive a latent fire.
Meier thinking once Of the parson or his gown,
viii gaze, stare and wonder all around,
Pulled up with vanity and their own conceit;
VIII each declare who's ugly and who's sweet.
A critic with greater prudence or with greater
skill,
Could not his duty half so well fulfil.
But soon, alas the parson says, let's pray,
Some RISE some stoop ami others glide away,
But busEing modesty by prudence trained
Says stop, like men to monkeys chained,
Whilst others. lest too gross shame might brook,
Will hide their faces but, through their fingers
look
Thus to their God their tribute thus they pay.
Aud fer precious look will give their souls W ay,
But moving to their accustomed seats again
Will give sigh and draw a long amen.