The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-12
VI. DUNsTAN's sTRATAoEM.
VIRGINIA DIMfTRY HvrH,


4 IL some phantoms song. ~ he fits along
n The rolling plain, and the hills among.
And floats through the summer air.
Tis some breads lay 10 the dying day,
Ot the Winding horn Of some wandering fay.
It's some spirit Of mirth~ who has sought tn
earth.
Some vision OF radiant ethereal birth.
TO sport mid lowerets there.
10. no. no. It's q giants snore.
g Or the rage In prsone1 lions roar.
Than Ariels tune to the glowing moon:
Ne will know what It is 1 ween full soon.
For 1t booms like crushing shell.
Obi gruesome the fear. 1t drawsth near.
Sure It's the wall round some dead mans bier
Beneath our feet. bark the sounds repeat
Xhoir melancholy. endless beat:
IT'S groan from nethermost hell
OF this chronicle quaint. let tradition now tell.
Hew Saint outwitted the lepd In hell.
The Arch fiend that evening was vastly put out
He called for his pipe. and glass OF brown
stout.
The bowl OF his pipe was q grinning old skull.
With malice the face was remarkably full.
FOR while In the heat OF brutal discussion
The devil beheaded this truculent Russian.
yThe ale well no drinker could cavil at that.
Wad sparkled, and frothed In Perkins vat.
Qmpressed on each bottle to make 1t more sure.
8fWa6 Barclay and Perkin's'-the firms sigma
tufe.
Mis- hiehness toyed lanaudly with an epistle,
lily Smirth finding vent In a low prolonged
whistle.
The creamy page fragrant with sweet asphodel,
- peffume unknown In the regions OF he'll.
courteous and frank was the phrase
IT'S spssless to ask you to mend your foul
ways.
WhyI claim your attention. you know very
we'll
i've been told by our buger surnamed Gabriel.
Last night your imps. who we're out on raid.
H1ured a soul from his path not at all OF their
grade.
Nut spirit so holy. and ciroled with glory.
He needed no passport e'en through purgatory.
hid your imps fetch him back. or. know very
well. /
VIII make 1t question Of stern casus beHi
u nm neither excited. dear sir. nor morose:
II am not In my nature ut all bellioose;
But warn you In the most Ohrlstianly way.
II that soul loses caste 'therel be the devil to
pay
saint Dunstan Is able to conquer all wrongs.
Remember your nose and the pair OF hot tongs.
sxIhe memory yet thrills my midriff with laugh
ter.
~ my faith but your wild cries. filled orevioe
and rafter.
nut enough Of earths triumphs; quick. send
that soul on
I'm no Norman. nor Dane, but Anglo-Saxonl
In ~ sisno
Vinoes.
here his Highness grew merry and shouted
Haw hawi
Possession Ia ever nine points OF the law"
And he curled up his lip. go runneth this ditty.
At the good old saints attempts to be witty.
! But Ills said that in spite OF his knowledge OF
Law
He FURNISHED his arms and prepared for war.
Al i've the next morning the demons were
surly.
sThey murmured and muttered. We've got up
too early.
~ brimstonel We don't see the sense or the
merit
sOf holding war over one puny spirit
Our banner q In crimson and gold stand I'M
furled.
A. II we wers going to conquer-a worldi'
Here a distant gong sounded. which ended dis
pute;
And they hurried to put on their holiday suit. |
The Prince. he was dressed In most gorgeous
attire.
Hound his helmet there lowered a circle OF FIRE. |
s<-Iad IN armor OF gold. with shield FURNISHED |
blue.
which flashed back a thousand bright gems to |
the view
He stood and he summoned each demon by |
name,
Quick his answer his servitors Loyalty came
From their roastiBgs. broilings stewiDRs and |
broth
Game Moloch and Baal. Dagon. Ashtaroth.
The Prince slowly scanned them with sinister |
brow.
The imps said In whispers. Hes in for row." |
Throw open" he Numbered. your easterly |
gate.
stand in half circle. quietly walt"
Through the portals OF morning adown the |
blue waste.
n band Of bright spirits In eagerness haste
strong. silent and watchful. they motionless
They we're Heavens best fruit. the elite of the
land.
saint Dunstan bore on his broad shoulder
mace.
sConsider his mission. twas aptly in place.
This thought would intrude az he marched |
sturdy on.
THAT he once conquered Satan with muscle and
Drawn.
And he chuekleu ana SAID. i must surely In |
herit
EBOme power and vim. being now freed spirit
The adamant gates were flung sullenly wide,
Led BY Dunstan the angels moved on side by
side.
Entil in close phalanx they stand-while in
tent
Their soft. liquid eyes on Saint Dunstan were
bent
sTwixt this legion OF darkness and legion OF
light.
The soul. ripe for heaven" stood trembling
with fright.
Appealingly turning sad eyes on the Saint.
With an eoduence such az no thinner could
paint.
Saint Dunstnn--
come not to barter. come not to sue. /
Il come not to eavil. come not to WOO.
But merely request that you yield without feud
This soul Az M hare "a, Va |