The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-11-27
THE DRUNKARDS WIFE.
BY MRS. G. A. wHEELocx.

Men of wealth, and men Of station.
Men whose hands uphold the nation,
Eear Oh! hear my sad complaint,
Hear ere sink and faint.
Twenty-Five years ago to-day
From my dear old hone he took me away,
Sweet sixteen, 40 young and fair
With rose buds twined in my curling hair.
Twenty five yesrs-sincs the day was we'd,
Twenty-Five years-whst life have led,
Tw enty-fve years-wirh SORROW so ripe,
Twenty-Five years. drunkards wife.
Twenty-Five years, since 1, his bride
Promised to love and vsinly I'VE tried,
Tried to love poor drunken wretch,
Rspulsive alike to sight and touch.
Twenty-Five years since that brave young man,
Carrying oAt the rumsellers plan,
Trod the road to the very briuk
OF the abyss dug for those who drink.
Twenty five years since by rum made mad
He lost oil sense Of good or bad,
Forgot there was anything wicked wrong
In the blasphemous oath Is the ribald song.
Twenty-Five years since promised to love
That vile man next to my God above.
Vowed to love, honor and obey
Ne uau WHO HAs OIteu 1OrDlQuen me 70 pray.
Men of honor tell me pray,
1 will give heed TO what you say,
How to obey when obedience 10 sin,
Shall God or that man my allegiance win.
promised to honor, All ms, All me,
Nothing to love or honor sec,
Twenty-Five years in sorrow to weep,
through hours that belong to rest and sleep.
Twenty-hye yesra less only nv tvo
Since little Johnny with eyes 80 blue
came to brighten my hard, sad life,
Came to bless the drunkards wife.
How often prayed while my darling slept,
That he never would follow his fathers step,
But an ono day they drove me wild
When they named my boz the drunkards child.
Down with my child was bending low,
Crushed With anguish soa S!..ecos. -ce,
When over us stood thai drunken brute,
And wlile my toayue vita aJr.or WAS nlss
D.alt the felt blow with broken chair,
W Itch daoblsd with olo ID my dirl,a q nair
There III my arms he murdered him -thsrs,
Closed the sweet life of my darling 80 fair.
Then came the neiy yhbors with tenderest care,
Aud they buried my boy whsre the blossoms
were fair.
ON, the drunlards hand crush ed out tie ;iss
From the only hope of the runka rds wife.
twenty-five years have waited TO SEQ
Better days, Il better there be,
twenty-five years has my heart been wrun4
by the sound Of taunts 80 scornfuily aung.
Twenty-Five years Of suffering and sorrow,
Twenty-Five years, without hope for the morrow I.
twenty-five years, Oh may this be
The very last year Of rial for me.
twenty-five years, and now to day
Re spends in prison far away,
bowed by sickness and weak and old,
Will he ever enter the Shepards fold.
say Oh say ii do my best
Can ever hope for eternal rest,
But tell me 1rst in that better life
Am to be known as the drunkardS wife.
Ssy to the rum-seiier-stay thy hand,
cloud not with SORROW our beautiful land.
Say to the drunkard-no moro Oh IL then alAy
Mother and child In such vilonous way.
Sag 20 the wife no more shalt thou fboe
Misery snd sorr0w, shsms and Disgrace,
Say with uttsrsu e, 0od-like and grand,
WE burntsh this Six from out 81 our land,
Wanted.
your Hogs at the highest prioe.
MADOLE & HINKLE