Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-04-11

INTEMPERANCE.
BY JOSEPHINE c. COINS.

! The following beautiful expression of sentiment
is the expression of a feeling and injured heart
one that has felt in all the force of bitter expert
ence, the evils she so happily describes:
l saw vouth upon whose face there beamed
The light of pure intelligence and truth
I Ambition spoke within his el e. and streamed
From his young lips the fiery words of youth
watched his strps-they were in honor's way,
/ And rapidly along that path they flew;
I Aud Ger hearts. and wiser ones would say.
That his was wond 'rous talent, and he knew
| The faliings of the World before him now.
| And doubtless pressed he onward to tue goal
l OF greatness and of truth, as if a vow
Had hound him. ne 'er 10 falter or grow weak
While health bnoyed up his heart or flushed his
Friends hocked around him. with hearts bound
i"g light,
His bow Of promise looked so very bright.
All, what could dim a future now so
fair
What cast a shadow on this sunlit life!
! What fell destroyer with dark hand viii dare
/ To bring upon his years an tarly blight?
] Intemprrance aimed at his brilliant heart,
And pierced it through with vile, envenomed
Dragged the fresh laurels from his brow away.
And caused dark shadows round his head to
pay.
Il dimmed the gaze, and clouded DER the brain.
Begrimmed the lace with its pnlluting stain (:
Nor stops It here. it follows, it pursues
With fearful haste. as if it would not lose
Sight of Its victim Iill the wreck is made
And manhood's noblest claims in dust are laid.
oh: cnrse Of curses. what can stem thy tide:
"hat crush thee. that thy blight may kill no
The hopes oflife? Oh, would tn, turn aside.
Who are they victims. Homes are made desc
late,
And hearts are broken.
And words of bitterness through thee are spo-
ken:
Dear ties are severed bv thy baIeful touch.
Dis2air- sin, uOurished and all lifes joys crush
ed.
The mother weeps the son thou hast destroyed.
Ana sisters have grown pale when thou drew
And wives in agony hs We loudly cried
For mercy a thy hand. with trembling fear:
Have shuddered and grown sick with sighs and
Wheere'er thy face appears, quenched is the
light
That shone so peaceful and so brigat;
Destruction and disgrace. woe sorrow tears
sad, broken spirits, life made up of fears,
Are thy Inheritance In every spot thy cursed
stream doth flow
Thou art mans tfercest, yilest, surest foe.
Oh! why with Gods great image raise the cup.
So fnil of poison venom, to the lips
OH WHY wi h madness will men swallow I'D
draugilt that will so sadly. surely nip
All that W Md glory cast about his life {!
4 mothers love sisters ten erness
The fond deVuI on Of faithful wife
All lies OF life destroyed, forgotten are
lniemperance, by thy volcanic fire.
Oh, fallen youth. look back upon the davs.
Those clear and sober days, when thou vert
free:
When nothing met thy onward upward poze
But promise of happy destiny
Zen now lis not too late 10 wrench the hold
OF this dark demon. who held control
So long. so dIrefully. Leap forth into the LIGHT
Lei thy soul grope no longer in the night
Of degracaiiun. Though the fire OF youth has
weaker grown
God still can thee, though all hope seems
flown;
Yes. God created MN to love to save
Not to despise or fill drUnkqrd's grave