The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-06-20
DEATH ON THE PALE HORSE.
BY n. ALLIE DAVIS.
PART /.

was given unto them over the fourth pa
Of the earth, to kill with sword, and wit
hunger, and with death, and with til
beasts of the earth Rev. vi chapter,
verse.
1t was evening. Low adown the horizo
Distant great lIelios hung, red and
Glowing like an Oriental gem
The twilight deepened into dusk, and
Dark-eyed Night, gathered slowly her
Jeweled mantle across her heaving
Bosom, and the starry skies unveiled.
Far IN the eastern heavens, pale Cynthia
Sweet, sad face mid feath'ry clouds
Appeared till suddenly bursting forth
From hind her misty veil she bathed
The world in silver glory.
All nature was in repose; the twitterinI
Songsters of the woodland bow'rs long sine
Had echoed of their evening hymn
The last, sweet strains, and now, perch o,
Silently mid the rustling leaves, with
Dainty heads tuck'd snugly meath
Their tired wings. .f
No sound the silence broke, save
The low tinkle of the forest rills, the
Merry jingle of the cow bells, and the
Shrill voices of q summer night.
The roses, faint with their own sweet
Breath, their blushing faces dropped;
The waxen lilies Cpd their scented lips
To sip the early dew, that fell in
Sparkling purity, so like to angels tears
From the calmly smiling skies above, and
| The modest vi0lcts hid their heads deeper
Still their christ'ning leaves among, as
| If ashamed to look upon the sleeping
World in her rObe-de-Chambre.
Sleep, twin br, ther of Death, and tho
| Son of dusky Night, DER earths weary
Children lowered like beuedicton
From the great Am. With stroke
Mesmeric he sOOthed alike the sinless
Infant on its mothers bosom to
Dreamless sleep; lulled to rest the
Broken hearted child of sorrow, with
Plying kisses pressed the tear-wet lashes
Down, or with stern voice bad remorse,
Purple winged, never dying, begone and
Leave but for a few brief moments, the
Convict in his cheerless cell, to dreams
Fond but delusive, of pardon and of
Freedom.
Queen Nab with all her mischief
BroOding train, fresh from the mystic
Glens o happy Dreamland, fitted
From couch to couch waving their
Magic wands, and fore the maiden's
Virgin eyes love-lorn suitors stood,
Aud stolcd from rosy cheeks and pouting
Lips kisses sweet, long desired, till
Blushing and happy they awoke to
Find it but a dream, and perchance,
To hear the sound of goblin voices, in
Mocking laughter, and the voice of feet
Invisible, us the merry imps hurry on
To other victims.
But bark What sound is thatl
What noise breaks the silence 80 profound, i,
And sends the dream fairies Scampering
Away to sylven glens, and causes the
Angel of sleep to fold his poppy wing
And depart as quickly as he canes
What mean those murmuring voices, like
The sound of many waters or the low
Mutt'ring thunders yet nnseeni
The roses rouse themselves to listen, the
Snow white lilies open still wider their
Dew-kissed lips, and the violets
Peep shyly forth, astOnished at their
Own temerity.
Nearer, yet nearer come the voices,
Nearer, still nearer the thunder-sound,
And startled eyes bristling spears
Behold, cleaning in the wan light of
The now cloud-veiled moon. Myriads of
Ghostly forms fit hither and yon like
Witches in their hellish dance, and 10!
A host of warriors mighty at our very
Doors stand, with keen blades unsheath'd,
And banners all unfurled, and flying in
The midnight wind!
The dread commander, who is he, with
Visage stern and savage, with glit'rng
Helmet o FURNISHED steel; cr0wn'd, and
Arm'd cap-a-pie' Heavens! see his
Hideous form, scarce hid the ebon-bordered
Robe beneath; his wild, glowering,
Blood-shOt, cruel eyes; his grinning teeth,
The purple, parched lips between, and his
long,
Fleshless, claw-like hands, that clutch
With vice-like grip, the bride reins of
His pale charger, and waves alott
His criInson-stain'd war-fag!
Death CLEANS in flaming letters O.
gold across that banners front
DEATH and can it bei
Is this the grim, pale rider of Patmos'
Visious
Is this the great cOnqueror of all, of even
Time himselff Is this the shadow
Ever following in the steps of Life;
Stealing stealthily at our very heels;
always to the waiting tomb;
our waking thoughts, ,onr nightly |
Dreams beck'ning ever to our loved ones, |
Luring them away, leaving us to
Mourn and weep, and smiling coldly
Upon us the while we cry in accents
Fraught with anguish, death, Death,
Touch with thy cold fingers the
Fountains of my life, wrap thy white
Shroud around this stricken form,
And bear me too beyond the sighs, and
Fears of this vain worldm
IS this the fell destroyer that with relont-
less
Hand snatches the infant from its
Mothers breast, pales the roses red on
3eauty's cheek lays low at one fell
Al.
Throne, the lowly carpenter at his bench,
rhe fair bride at the altar, and the
In his bridal chamberi
Z 1t is l." Great God! he speaks, and
lis sepurchral voice cold as the
irave itself, sends the swift, warm
,ife-blood in chilling streams, the
pine adown!
IL is |, and here beside me, ride
dy companions faithful, He'll and the
srave Legions follow at my heels, and
)ur motto read on yonder Haunting
Banner: Veni! ridi!i rici!!!
he angel of the harvest his sickle hath
thrust into the earth, and hath gathered
he vine, and cast il into the wine-press
" the wrath of God Woe, woe, woei
yeep and howl yea earthly children
,or your miseries that shall come upon
you!
.wakel We drowsy sleepers! awake! ye
Unions aud forward TO obey your Kings
command!
10 forth flaming sword, and take
rom the earth its Wanted peace!
Law Famine aud Hunger, and
heath. and You We crouching beasts,
our bonds are loosened for season;
ound the bugle comrades; rush forth
o battle and stay not till the fourth
art of men are swept like ehaff into
ternity. Far as the sea Is wide,
'eep as the ocean dive and find
o the utteImost ends Of the earth, the
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