National Republican., 1882-08-31
For the THE REPuBLIcAS;
SONG OF THE PESTILENCE,
nY ]. 9. sLArEn.

I c me once again fr I'm my sea.girt homo,
Where orar &c trees bloom, and the zephyrs plny
WIN tropical flowers md bright birds roam
Through forests OF beauty the llvelong day.
come In my might but so gently fall
MY footsteps. that none may suspect how near
Come the leacen folds which fling o'er all
Who cowcr before me when appear,
1 hang DER the land and stlne the breath
with poisonous vapors that are my foodi
And fear Of me drives to cru,l death
Some whom would spare III playful mood.
laugh at the efforts fpuny man
To stay my career, nnd my hunger glut
On the lives of mortas bensnth my ban,
Or they dwell In palace or lOwly hut
breathe on the rich who walk In their pride
In anguish they heed my summons and die;
And brayest young hearts breastng llres full tide
Acknowledge the glance OF my f'vorcd eye,
call to the mlser-.he leaves his gold;
Tho merchandise hastes from the marts OF trade.
whisper the preacher-my story told
lie dies In the pulpit where OFT he's prayed.
visit the churches and li,t to prny'r
From Christian indeed and hypoGrte vile.
Aud noiselessy sin on the holy ar
The poison DISTILLED from my deadly smile.
The sinner and saint quick yield TO my pow'r.
And give themselves up to my close embrace.
The uintron Of years. and bride OF nn honr,
Look, tremble, and die at sight my face.
Like skeleton grim sit at the board
orrlch men and roor, the humble and proud,
And snite them all down with fcver's dread sword,
Enwrapping each form in my sable shroud.
I take the young babo In my deadly arms,
And cast II aside turned to llfeless clay;
And the maiden fair. With her virgin charms,
Caress, till she fades from the earth away.
seek out the places where lovers walk,
And their checks grow y 10 M they feel me nigh.
Through banqueting halls If the great stalk,
And the tests, In terror, fall down and die.
The wife, softly sleeping In husba ads arms,
Awatens TO find that I'm close beside.
laugh as witness her dread alarms.
And bear him away Ger the death-cold tide.
The husband drive from the wife with fear,
And parent from child; for though lovo be strong.
Yet 1t shuns the test ofmy presence drear,
And the piercing notes of my Wild death-song,
The veteran warrior with heart so brave
Whose checks never paled at the leaden blast
That swept DER the lie d. where he sought gravo-
Falls tremblingly down at my feet Mt last.
But yet there are some who are brave and true,
Who fearlessly labor with might and main.
To succor the stricken but those are few
They save from my clutches. Their work Is win.
And others there are. who their treasures yield
Through kindly love from the North and West,
To replenish the stores of each broad field
That I've garnered In TO my craving brcaSt
But treasures are useless. except to prove
That sympathy runs through the veins like blood,
OF the sturdy race who would seek to move
My heart by the sweep Of their golden flood.
All see rare sights as pass along
On nay wings of death, for The living dare
Scarce bury their dead. IT'S few of the strong
May fight me. and win, IN my chosen lair.
Men think me monster, and dread my gloom;
But littio care for their thoughts or fears
Ipoint at them ail my fin ger OF doom
And mako them my sub,e It's, despite their tears.
1 lash them, each one with my fearful scourge:
And wide yawn the grave-yards when pass by.
From city, and hamlet, the fln'ral dlrge
Ascends, at my beck. to the arching sky.
laugh at mans terrors, and scorn his pleas
For mercy. No pity have TO give
To any, cen though upon bended knees
They beg and beseech me TO let them live.
1 feast on the bodies of those I've slain:
And drink IN new lie from bayou and fon;
And from reeSing filth and the putrld drain.
Clean strength to lay low the children OF men.
Each low-lylng valley, and now'ry mead
Fill Kingdoms govern with morsels rare,
On which, at my leisure, love to feed
Meath murky Sky or the suns hot glare
have but two masters, and one Is God;
The other, tine ffoSt whlCn Is sent 10 Smlte.
When He gives command, or feel the rod
O,the Frost King, soon vanish from sight
love the bright land where have my birth,
Where the sun hangs low In the purple skies
To WOO the free gifts of the fruity earth.
Till winter itself blooms like Paradise
And love the South, with her turbd streams,
And her broad savannahs, and deep laSOons.
But love her best when the SUMS bright CLEANS
Are tnged with the Gllmmer of Harvest Moons.
Then hold my revels. Then thousands fall
At my swift approach, as proudly soar
And gather them under my darksome pail
To bear them away to life's other shore.
Fair land of the South! have loved thee we'll
Since the days when morsals first trod thy soil
1 have woUed thee long, as thy tears may tell,
And my strong arms now about thee coil.
have woOed thee long, and have gathered in,
For my harvest sheaves, thy beauty and pride;
And garnered them safe from trouble and sin,
And the woes of earth, which the living belde.
But leave thee soon-yet last caress
ItOndly would lavish on thee, my queen.
Ere bid thee adieu, and, in loneliness,
Haste back to my beautiful island green.