The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-02-22
rHE DnEA u OF rms orrIoNIsr.


Once on g time when iu slumher.
Silence being Uo-i profouud,
Fitful visions without DumhCr.
Came NY hCmb'J c,pCh around;
'Monc ib'u There wa. 1rc must pleasant,
Gi,iu- I2o intrn.c drliGht--
Lovely objects then were present,
Lending beauty 20 The night
Mcthought stood within the valley
Faigcr yhsn the poets dream;
Where the suEclS love 10 daily,
Where ,hc brightest beauties elcam;
Where w,rc flowers far eXeclling
I hose that i've in Fastern song.
Whose sweet odogs carc dispellng,
SHE'D fragrance o'cr the throng
'Mong IA, overs were broollets twining-
Molten pearls those strcAmleis seemed
A. the sun IN heaven shining
Ger them all IN racianec slreamed;
Into lakclrts ihcrc were flowing,
Lakes that glassed the ether blue,
In whose dcP,hs the sun was showing
Fish OF ever varying hue.
From thal vale the trees uprising.
Spread their branches FAR and wide,
From whose rcstliug leaves surprising
Music, Ike gentle tide,
Flowed upon the heart weary,
Calming all It's passions w.ld,
Changing, too, its feelings dresry,
Making hopeful "a y child.
There were mountains swelling 'ronnd INC,
illaFlDg up tlo C.tar, hlNc SKY,
And in awe their grandeur bound me,
For felt Jehovah nigh.
Like huge sentinels they were standing.
Guarding well that vale So bright;
OF each passing storm demanding
That II break in zephyrs light.
In this vale. mid loftyrcedars,
Stood temple grandly fair
At whose altsrs. asour plesdcrs,
Angels Joined in solemn prayer;
Spacious courts were wide outspreAding
Meath dome exceeding high,
Where all poor ones, eorroS urcadlng,
Might for needed succor fly,
Antique fountains thoro were throwing
From the basins purely wktc
Flesh cold wafer, whence 10 flowing,
Flashed like DIAMONDS IN the light.
Round these fountains there were straying
Peoples from the fmthest CLINE,
Who tacir vOws were adly paying
At this altar 80 sublime.
There were porchcs four in number,
Eastward, westward, south and north,
Aud me thought, while thus in slumber,
Crowds from them were pouring forth
Crowds, whose voices sweetly singing,
As they slowly moved along,
Set the very mountains ringing
With tho music OF their song.
Ger the temple brightly bending,
Was a pure, ethereal bow,
In whose colnrs. richly blending,
Jeweled letters seemed TO glow;
just beneath, a banner streaming,
Wondrous, dazzling, wide unfnrl'd,
Had thereon in letters cleaning:
Temperance besscs all the world"
Strange, indeed, yet rich in meaning.
Was this midnight vision fair;
L from IL with care was cleaning
Truths delightful, rich and rare.
When there stood a form before me,
Queenly looking yet 80 mild
That felt the love come DER me
Due the mother from her child.
There, beside me. saw / standing
Temperance, faircst maid OF light
She with presence sweet, commanding,
Solved the vision OF the light:
" In this vale tits ! that reigneth,
My own temple standcth there;
No foul crime my vot'ry staineth,
He who hath learned my yoke to bear"
On that bow like Jewels shining,
Are the words OF Temperate love
And their power so refining
Show them born of heaven aboYe.
Faith, and Hope these intertwine
In the cOlors richly bright,
With Charity these combine
Turning darkness into light.
Those you see the valley throngng,
With whose songs the mountains ring,
To my army now belonging,
Who my praises gladly sing,
Once lntcmpcTGnce 'mong thOm living,
O'cr them threw her deathlY spell,
They, her srogsh"ps license giving,
Were rushing madly down 10 he'll
But my valiant soldiers sought them,
With warm hearts they gathered round
Local option" then they brought them,
And relief was quickly found.
Thus to be world wide blessing
Is Local Options only ann,
Removing cares the most distressing,
Kissing heads bowed down in shame.
When sic thus had kindly spoken,
| turned to ask her something MORE
But the spell for aye was broken,
Thc night was yOiceless as before.