Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-08-15
From the Memphis Appeal.
THE NIGHT.BLO0MING CEREUS.
BY LIDE.


| In a valley green and golden
With its wealth of clustering vines
Crowned by shadows grey and oiden
From the snow-clad Appenines,
Where each gentle slope was swelling
With sweet promises OF bloom,
Was youthful shepherddwelling
In his peaceful mountain home,
With its waters leaping gladly
Where the April showers weep,
And its white SHOWS rushing madly
Down the avalancbe's sweep,
With its meek dun cattle lowing
In the soff dim twilight hours,
And its April breezes blowing
Over fields of mountain nowers.
But his heart was sad and lonely
And his lite seemed duh and tame,
For no woman found him comely
And no herald brought him fame,
And he scorned each simple treasure
For his soul was longing then
For the pride and pomp and pleasure
In the lives of other men.
Once he sat beside his cottage
And his scorn was waxing hot
'Gainst the humble "mess of pottage"
That was all a peasants lot;
When like softly falling shower
Stole an incense strangely sweet,
And a snowy-stainless flower
Floated sweetly to his feet.
Like a softly chanted vesper,
As the snowy petals part,
Steals sweet, melOdious whisper
From the glowing, golden heart
stake the doubtful gilt, oh Mortal
With its mingled smiles and tears.
Only once ope the portal
In hundred weary years.
Lay ME on the virgins shrine,
Only breathe on me, and whisper
And the wish at once is thine;
'Tis fearful gift, oh Mortali
With its browning hopes and fears,
Only once ope the portal
In hundred rolling years"
Proudly beat the youthfuf bosom,
''All the joys of earth are mine''-
And he laid the snowy blossom
Down upon the Virgin shrine,
While the vesper slowly pealing
Sent its echoes through the glen,
Came the whisper softly stealing
"Give me gold like other men,"
Then king Midas rained his treasure
In q cleaning, golden show er,
But it brought nO throb OF pleasure
8 With its ioyless pride of power;
And egain, as softly pealing
Came the eager whisper stealing,
"Let me laugh, like other men,"
Then the flashing silver fiagon
Poured its flood of ruby rain,
But behind it stood dragon
With his lurid eyes of pain,
And the laugh was cold and cherries,
And his soul was sickened then;
'Mirth Is cold, and laughter wearies-
Let me love like other men,
n Lis eager arms he presses
A maiden young and fair,
And her soft and dewy kisses
Lure him with their promise rare,
But the CLEAN and glow that mingled,
A baleful light shall prove,
FOR its flame was never kindled
At the altar-fire of love.
hen he knew his dream of passion
For mOcking, regal lie,
And he smote the fair creation
And in sadness watched IL die
Let the hand of living marble,
And the voice of Poets's pen
'rown my aching brow with laurel,
Give me fame, like other men,"
hen the wreaths of bay and laurel
Circled round the brow of youth,
Sut Experience, with iron tongue
Soon taught its bitter truth,
low the serpent fangs of evil
Pierce his soul with venomed lie
Who dare rise above the level
of poor humanity.
With bitter tears he trampled
His thorn encircled crown,
md he breathed upon the flower
And sadly cast ii down.
Let others seek loves bower
And pleasures summer sea,
,ove and laughter, pride and power
Are gifts not meant for me-"
hen his heavy heart was lightened
With a murmured-"Peace be still"
md his darkened soul was frightened
With light inenable,
While above him, mid a shower
OF starbeams pure and fair,
'loated up his treasured flower
On wings of goSsamer.
1 take back the gift, oh Mortal!
With its mingled smiles aud tears,
md close my snow portal
For O hundred waiting years;
'et your heart and soil grow stronger,
And their strength f5s atjsers tell,
on shall need the gtfts, ssosgcr,
You have learned Its lesson well.
Only he, shall scent the sweetness
Mid its snowy petals furled,
Who shall use his fairy flower
For the gladneSS of the world
My he, who, bringing incense
To the altar-fires of Heaven,
cunts his richest treasure worthless,
And his dearest, nothing given"