The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-29
THE WFES PRAYER AND THE
DRUNKARD'S RESOLVE.
BY BYRON R. LONG.

BY BYRON R. LONG.
Hush, my dearl the winds are moaning
Through the ragged window pane,
And the rotten roof is groaning
Meath the torrent falling 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 a football,
Ah !'twas but that hingeless gate
Dashed again BY storm-king's fury,
Dealing out its due of fate. -
Sleep, my child the lightning's flashes
NAV 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 long ago,
With the sparks of radiance tainted
Sweet as clearest sunsets glow,
When, within the harvest garnered,
Ia blushing bride was seen,
With youth whose brow was tarnlshed
Not with sins dark, loathsome screen.
But the change! oh, fearful wailing!
NV poor heart can scarce contain
All the woe that lies there railing,
In its bitter, sad refrain;
When the tempter, vile and sullen,
Tore the splendor from that brow
Swept the luster from his eyeballs-
Darkened orbs Of misery now.
Yes, he comes! hear him stumble;
oh, my God, bear me upl
slI:1 fb a fb1pdortc nea1fno rllrpble.
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 me on Thy bosom restl
All the door behind him closes;
Seems he walks with 6rmer tread,
And those ewes seern not as burning
Aswhen tinged 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 years ago.
"WifepS 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. Z:
Filling mp that hour with gladnesS
Banishing all thoughts Of care.i
"Ere tonight you hushed tha sobbings>
iOf our boysit yonder beds
Ere you'd brushed the golden ringlets
THAT are shrouding 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 and late,
s.I beneath the cave was listening,
Listening to thy offered prayer;
Heard YOU eobbing o'er our offspring, :,
Heard and tfembled standing there;
AS heard the cold rain pattering.
On the roof above my head,
I resolved to shun tho tempter,
Ere another tear was shed.
eThere i kneeled beneath the window,
Gazing toward the iclouded 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 save my. .labor's worth.
The mouths of wife and child to feed.
"And he heard me, wife; I've conquered
Ino more will touch the cup
That with hell'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 oer our offspring,
That now lies on yonder bed.
"But while heaven is all aglowing,
And all earth's bounteous store,
7 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;
I will try to soothe thy sorrow,
And receive thy smile again"