The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1879-10-18

THE wIFE.s PRAYER AND THE
DRUNKARD,s RESOLVE.

Hush, my dear! the winds are moaning
Through the ragged window pane,
And the rotten roof is gr0aning
Meath the torreDtfalling rain
Close thine eyes and let them slumber
Through the darkness of this night,
And hear not the awful thunder
That will roll before the light.
Hark seems now hear Q football;
All twas but that hingeless gate
Dashed again by rm-king's fury,
Dealing out it's due of fate.
Sleep my child the lightning's flashes
May but calm thy sweet repose;
But thy mothers tired lashes-
When they'll rest but heaven knows.
Ah upon my eyesight painted,
Holy scenes Of long ago,
With the sparks Of radiance tainted,
Sweet as clcarest sunsets glow;
When, within the harvest garnered,
q blushing bride was seen,
With youth whose brow was tarnlshed
Not with sims dark, loathsOlne screen.
But the change oh, fearful wailing!
My poor heart can scarce contain
All tho woe that lies there railing,
In it's bitter, sad refrain;
When the tempter, vile and sullen,
Tore the splendOr from that brow
Swept the luster from those eyeballs-
Darkened 0rbs Of misery now.
Yes. lie comes! hear him stumble;
Oh, my God, but bear me up
Mid the 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 heavenward-
Let mc on Thy bosom rest!
All /! tho door behind him closes;
Seems he walks with firlner tread,
And those eyes seem not as burning
As when tiugetl with Satan's rod;
As before the CRATE he's standing,
In the frelight's fading glow,
Seems see manly picture,
One I'd seen long years ago.
"Wifc!" he turns, and DER his feature
Gleamings OF angelic light
Seem to float in waves Of splendOr,
Driving out the horrid night.
Sitting from my care-worn bosom
All the loads Of sorrow there,
Filling up that hour with g)adness,
Banishing all thoughts Of caro-.
Ere tonight you hushed the sobbings
Of our boy in yOnder bed
Ere you'd brushed the golden ringlets
That are shronding his young head;
While you were with tears bemoaning
That this home should be his fate;
When thou saidst the winds are roaring,
And the night is dark aud late;
II beneath the eve was listening
Listening to your offered prayer;
Heard you sobbing Ger our offspring,
Heard and tremblcd standing there;
As heard the cold rain pattering
Ou the roof above my head,
resolved to sl,un the tempter,
Ere another tear was shed.
''There knceled beneath the window,
Gazing toward the clouded heaven,
Asking God, if e'er his aid
Unto mortal man was given,
That He'd let it strengthen me,
Through this scene, my hour of need;
Help me to save my labOrs worth,
The mouths Of wife and child to feed.
"Antl he heard me, wife I've conquered
no more will tOucl, the cup,
That with hcll's dark doom is mantled,
That has burnt my earnings up!
no more on earth will cause thee
In thy loneliness to shed
Tears of anguish Ger our offspring,
That now lies on yondcr bed.
.But while heaven is all aglowing,
And all cartl'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"
Chicago Ledger