The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-05-15

- wv " WVTTJ HTUTU VTUFVTY TIH UUTEUTB, ITU
TO strive more earnestly for their speedy and ex-
alting accomplishment, my gratitude for the
hoior OF your Invitation, and the courteous at
creased.
The delivery Of the address was followed
by more music, when this poetess OF the
evening, Mrs. Lide Merriwether, Of Mem
phis, was introduced to the audience, her
appearance being received with great APP
p!ause'
Mrs. Merriwether then read the follow
Ing poem, in a manner which reflected cred.
it upon her elocutionary powers:
THE THREE WIS.
In antG-bcllum days, when skies were peaceful,
Aud suns were radiant, and blossoms gay;
When men were brave, and women fair aud
graceful,
And all was lovely as a mmer day;
When gallants sought for language euphOnisuo
10 drain u bumper. OF adorn "a chit"
Our dashing corps Of knighthood journalistic,
Chose for their watchword, WOMAN, WINE
and W.T."
Soothing In sound, soft in ALTERATION,
\ JaIring conSOnants its pillows break,)
LHllng III word, sweet in Interpretation;
A pleasing anUdyne, 'nOt bad to take;h
a potent 'iraught II duns Or debt should trouble
Or bosom friend with purse or ~, etheart fit;
Drown all your sorrows in the triple W,
Andthrow care to the winds w.th "WoMAN,
WINE and WIT"
Woman! a safe step In the right direction,
To sOOtlc your sorrow, or illumc yOCr 10y,
II chosen Tor her BRAN, not her complexion,
ANA made Il home companion, not q toy,
Eagerly graspcd as summers fragrant flowers,
Then trampled in the mira of life's highway
But like the p~olo-star, through yOur darkest
hours
Guarding and guiding with loves stsadfass
ray.
Winel q fair mirage, fading from the vision,
A trcachcions quicksand, lurking for It's prey,
Grasping 1t ere IL reach the fields Elysian,
Where pleasures mOcking finger points the
way;
a Turing devil, in An angels seeming,
Blood red the feet that trample out the vine,
Blood,rcd the vintagt-burning, slaring, gleam-
Where heart and soul and brain are drowned
IN wine.
Wit! II most potent and divine elixir,
Aiming thu right, and strong in It's defense,
Al empty sham, II cunning, scryile t%rickster,
II aiding wrong, or used at friends expense;
AS sudden sunrise cleaning meadows cover,
And buds and blossoms glow beneath its ray,
Or, like soft summer showers, sparkling over
The shine and shadow of LIES c~hangctul way.
things to all men,, saith the revelation;
Each creed that suits It's age il good and true;
This suited We'll the Golden dispcnsation'-
"OId things have passed away; 10, all are
new"
New aims, new Crceds, new plans for their dit
Let the astslecp-its cpitaph is writ;
For all It's gloss, Il snare aud a ielusiou
Was your old NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., VIM
and W.T.
e
He who stood hrmest in the smoke of battle
stu ilrmest stands in dcsolation's day;
Vndauhted mid the cannon's roar and rattle,
lliaunted still, he works his patient way;
On blOOd-Stllncd fields our c%Ountry's brave de-
trndants,
Each g]rasping firm the colors Of his State,
70 you ! bring, for Onr true Independence,
Ihc new cyangel-"WoiK, and WATCu aid
WATT
lie comes to conquer, and our waiting eyes sce
This r."crless monarch whom all earth shall
hail,
Whose banner bears its "ycni, vidi, well"
Whose ]"lcNicon knows no such word as tall.'
Dong alike the works Of God or devil,
Gearing his shrlycs to hrllO or heavens gate,
Matchlrss for good -OmnipOtcnt for OWL
y ttiunc deity, Work, WArCH and WAIT.
Under tho banner ut this king enlistihg,
Strike from the day. dawn To the setting sun,
strong for the right, aud every wrong resisting,
Die ia the battle wish your armur on,
Manning your battlements with truth God-
given,
Quad well your rampNtts, bar your p~Ostern
gate,
And hing out to the rrcshcuing breeze OF heayeu
Your bold %tri-color, Work, and WATCH and
WAIT.
Work with tho hcart-cach pulse-bcat ever
To Weld its pleasure for anothcr's good;
Work with the hHnd-cnch arm = .ikr true and
steady.
That SO it gam its honest livelihood:
When hplllw ltuptG tI,.ip ghull,,y I,,ul,.l uhuh
How best II lite orsloth and waste to gain,
Teach them tOkvow that it is good aud noble
To work with heart, and hand, and soul, and
brain.
Work for the weak, the lOwly, and the crring,
10 LIT them up that they the light may SEQ;
Work for the lost, the hopeless, the despairlng,
To lead them back to God and purity.
Work Tor each man, ~ for u friend and brother;
Work for the true, me beautiful, the gOOiL
Blessed is lahurl he who sOws shall gather,
Reads, IN our creed, Il new beatitudc.
Watch! ON each tower your waketul sentrtes
(Know that no fortress is imprngnahlc)
Lest happy one should come and lind you sleep-
ing,
Scale your stout wall, and take your citadel.
Watch! lest for soft and weIl-disscmbled lying,
You entrance give to smooth-tqngued sophis-
try,
And from your runparts DER the world send ny-
Her poisoned shafts of false. philosophy.
| Trust not in your own armOr--'twil betray ySu-
Your waichtul foe each tcck an flaw will soc,
And, waiting the right moment, rGnd and slay
The lurking demon, OrpoRTuNITY.
The pruud"ht heart that beats In Gods creation,
Before Ills power, Is but rs common clay
Then, that YOU may be guarded from tempta-
ton,
And from all evil, hourly watch and pray.
Wait! ,corn not feeble sleeps and humble vii.
uiugS,
with stcadfast rootstcp tread the weary way,
knowing that great ends spring rr nj small be-
ginnings,
Seek not to build your castle in a day;
But slowly, stone by stone, your oasis laying,
TIL winds nor waters your strong walls shalt
srathr;
Nor pride nor prejudice your firm course sway
And ut your patience keep step with your
Then having proved your truth by loyal serving,
With low obcisancc knock ye at the gate
Your hearts repeating, and your patience prov
ing,
"Thcy ais serve who only stand and wait"
With folded hands, and head in silence bending,
Waiting in faith, with courage undismayed,
SUCCESS, "with healing ON his wings" descend
Low whispers, 1T is |, be not afraid
Work, WATCH and WAIT! their peerless power
blending,
Shall wake our land to beauty from the graves
Al Easter glory from their altar vending.
Strong to regcHcritc. and swift to save:
With joyful shouts the welkin snail he ringing,
And anthems sweet ascend to heavens gate,
| For rnnsomcd nations, their hOSanua singing,
Halling the trinity, WORK, WATCH and
WAIT"
As Mrs. Merriwether concluded her
reading, DR.. White, Of the Lebanon Herald,
| announced that the exercises were nov
| closed, AID that he was deputizsd to ex-
press the tharks Of The association to the
citizsus OF Lebanon for the graceful hospi.