Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-12-12
TIE WIFE's PRAYER AND THE DRUNK.
r. ARDS RESOLVE.
BIZ BYRON n. LONG.

Hush, my dearl the winds are moaning
Through the ragged window pane, =
And the rotor roof Is groan1ng 49,
Meath the torrent-failing rain;
Close thine eyes and let them slumber
Through the darkness Of this night.
And hear not the awful thunder
That will roll befo, the light.
Harkl seems now 1 heae football;
Ali twas hut that hingeless gate
Dashed again by storm-king's fury,
Dealing out Its due of fate.
Sleep, my childi tho lightning's flashes
May but calm thy sweet repose;
But thy mothers tired lashes-
When they'll rest but Heaven knows.
ALL upon my eyesight. painted,
Holy scenes Of lung ago,
With the sparks of radiance tainted,
Sweet as dearest sunsets glow;
When. within the harveat garnered,
q blushing bri.ie was seen,
With youth whose brow was furnished
Not with sins dark, lonthsome screen.
But the change! oh. fearful wailing!
My poor heart can scarce contain
All the woe that lies there railing,
In its bitter, sad refrain;
When the .empter. vile aud sullen,
Tore the splendor from that brow
Swept the luster from eyeballs-
DGrkt ned orbs of misery now.
Yes. he comes! I hear him stumble;
Oh, my God. but bear me upl
Mid tho thunder's pealing rumble,
Help me dreg this bitter cup:
Help me still the wall of anguish
That seems bursting from my breast;
Blessed Jesus. watt me heavenwsrd-
Lot me on Thy bosom rest!
All the door behind him closes;
Seems he walks with frmer tread,
And those eyes seem not as burning
As when hnged with Satan's red;
As before the crate he's standing,
In the frelight's fading glow,
Seems see . manly picture,
One I'd seen long years ago.
"wifel" He turns, and DER his features
Gleamings Of angelic light
seem to float in waves Of splendor,
Driving out the horrid night,
Lifting from my care-worn bosom
All the loads Of sorrow there,
Filling up that hour with gladness,
Banishing all thoughts Of care.
Ere o-night you hushed the sobbings
OF our boy in yonder bed;
Ere you'd brushed the golden ringlets
That are shrouding his young head;
While !ou were with tears bemoaning
That this home should bs his fate;
When thou saidst the winds are roaring,
And the night ia dark and late;
Il beneath the esve was listening
Listening to thy offered prayer;
Beard You sobbing DER our offspring,
HearI and trembled standing there;
AS heard the cold rain pattering
On the roof above my head,
resolved to shun the tempter,
Ere another tear was shed.
there kneeled beneath the window,
Gazing toward the clouded heaven,
Asking God. If e'er his aid
Unto mortal man was given,
That He'd let 1t strengthen me,
Through this scene, my hour of need:
Help me save my labor's worth,
The mouths of wife and child to feed.
And He heard mo, wife; Two oonquered:
| no more will touch the cup
That with hell's dark doom Ia mantled,
That has burnt my earnings upl
no moro on earth will cause thee
In thy loneliness to shed
Tears OF anguish DER our offspring,
That now lies on yondsr bed.
"But while heaven is all ALLOWING,
And all earth's bounteous store,
will try to be more grateful
Than I've ever been before.
will try TO heal the rupture
That has torn thy heart in twain;
will try to soothe thy sorrow,
And receive thy smile again."
APPLETON, Ohio.