Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-06-26
ssaee
~
POETRY
H Va
CHARLIE.


BY U. W. ".
Now, farewell dear Charlie, you leave us to-day
The mandates of duty you seek to obey;
I'll think of thee often, think early and late
You will pass notin future, nor stop atthe gate
The bright happy face have met at the dool
And welcomed, perchance may greet me nc
more
ask the good Shepherd to stretch forth His
arm,
And shield you from danger, temptation and
harm.
You have no dear mother to kneel down al
night
And pray that your steps may be guided Alright
To ask God to keep you from evil and sin,
From the dark secret paths where the wicked
have been,-
To ask Him to give you the courage to shun
The vices that early in youth are begun;
And no pocket bible with corners turned dowI
Was given toyou as guide and a crown.
No, ere you had fathomed the depth of her love
Fer spirit was borne to the kingdom above
But whether you dwell on the land or the sea
That spirit maternal around you will be;
And If by the hand of the wicked you're led,
Twill weep If in heaven a tear can be shed.
Then Charlie, walk softly, be noble and just,
grieve not the rescued nor trample their dust
o Charlie be honest, be upright and true,
The smallest of evils is hard to undo;
As firm as Gibraltar stand up for the right,
! Though hard be the battles in which you may
fight. LjN !.
O cling unto honor, feed on its repast,
nd won ba nroWu nd fl trr ofo 1oc
man who is honest through trials must plod
| Think oft of the father, who bade you good bye
While the warm tears of sorrow were dimming
his eye;
0 think of his counsels so honest and plain,
Remember you never may hear them again.
o let them be lights that will never grow dim
And drink not the cup that's forbidden by him
Yes, honor his precepts that life may be long,
That you may have gladness and mirth in youl
song.
clear
Acros, the dark lyateTs your boat you can steer
| The old Golden Rule" is the maxim to scan,
| '1is one of the best ever given to man.
| 1t on every heart it could cauterized be,
free
Aud neighbor with neighbor would then ceas'
| to war,
The sanderous weapon leave no ugly scar.
| Each one would be conscious of what was hi
own,
| And leave the affairs of his neighbor alone,
| No guilt or remorse would our bosoms then feel
And before our Maker we daily could kneel.
So Charlie in answer to honors loud call,
Speak well of your neieilbor or speak not at al
Be civil alike to the high and the low,
| We can't by the raiment an angel here know
Have scared from hoyel that gave them thei
| birth:
Speak not to- the poor and the humble witt
scorn.
| The Savior himself in a manger was born.
May goodness and virtue and honor e'er be
The compass to guide you on life's stormy sea
Should sorrows eer darken your bright sum-
way.
Like dews may they vanish and leave you still
! gay.
This life is a picture with only one side,
Where brightness and beauty can e'er be dis
cried,
| May this SIDE iliumine and gladden. your way
With sideral glory till life's latest day.
The dark side hath mountains and rivers Q
woe,
And the mystical cup doth with grief overflow
| But this side SO gloomy may you never see,
Is the prayer now ascending to heav'n from me