Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-08-29
HOME POETRY.
Anniversary ofthe Western STAR" A
Temperance Lodge at Muscalunge.

To commemorate the occasion of the first
yearly anniversary of the existence of the
Order of the Western Star. these lines are
respectfully inscribed by
GEoRGE B. WHEELER.
Since labor by this Order was begun
The earth has once revolved around the sun !;
To some, year with love and health replete,
Prosperity and peace and joy complete
To some, year OF trials KEEN by storm,
And flood, and dread disease in various form !;
A year cut from the measure of our life,
OF good and evil deeds, with traces rife
And signs of here and there noble strife.
We thought we saw a noble work in view,
Full ripe for willing, earnest hands to do;
We saw bright youth to intoxicatiou pass
BY careless trifing with the social glass
We saw the swift, the headlong, downward
course,
And felt ourselves. sometimes, the crushing
force;
TO aid and urge the youth to make pause
we pledged our solemn VOWS, and the laws
Which bind us in worthy, common cause.
Full well we knew that other hands had tried
To check the current of that ceaseless tide;
Enticing plans were laid, with good intent,
To cause misguided drunkards to repent;
To curb the thirst for alcoholic drink
And warn the victim from the dangerous brink;
A noble aim, a worthy cause to teach,
But still by far too distant mark to reach;
Persistent effort failed t expand the breach.
Then we arose, to cast our little aid,
With those who sought to lay the mighty shade
The difference this, They seek to close entire
The touch and taste by man of liquid fire:
While we propose that every man of sense
Should only drink it at his own expense;
Thus tempting pride, he is his master still,
And governed only by bis own free will,
Except the social glass he may not fill.
Our worthy purpose met the common lot
OF opp0sitions fierce, derisive shot;
our objects and our aims were miscoustrued
BY temperance friends, with jealousy imbued
Our principles were simply met with scorn
by those whose JOY was in the social horn.
But Oft we heard a word Of kindly cheer
| From sympathizing friends, both far and near
TO whom the temperance cause was ever dear
That fashion sways the human heart Is plain
And governs all mems actions in the main
One half is governed by the other half;
One smiles because he sees another laugh;
True friendships formed by sympathies inlaid
But fashions friendly acts must be repaid.
| Now, if my friend should treat me to drink
/ should be deemed a stingy churl to shrink
From treating back, to make a stronger link
Twere best by far if man would reason first
That he might choose the best, reject the worst
And ponder well the course which suits his will
Pursued by others might engender ill.,
L Vnt H.
To elevate mankind, not good oppose.
If fear of i'll should be to you unknown,
| Respect your neighbours if not your own.
lfyou will drink, why tempt your brother down,
Treat not and be not treated, is our creed.
Have we unto this pyecept given heed ?
/ A proper question this for each to ask.
To answer true let each his mem'ry task
| If then we find in auGat we've been relax
Let US more earnestly our powers tax,
Now at the closing OF the year renew
Our vows to self and others to be true
And strive to keep our promises in view.
Perhaps VIC have throughout the year that's
| gone
Ourselves received some aid strong drink to
| shun.
| A word of cheer unto another lent
Has saved him from the snares the tempter sent
While checking thus our own desire for drink
We may have led some other one to think,
| And thus have filled our measure partly full
| If we have caused, or led some thirsty soul,
| To give wide berth unto the flowing bowl.
We all may find if we our work review,
With pleasure, we have many evenings spent
| For which we see no reason to repent;
With profit too, extending friendships range
And saved some little of our surplus change
Then let us firmly by our colors stand,
March onward ever, clasping hand in hand,
| Until our influence covers all the land.