Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-02-02
The Wife's Prayer and the
Druukard's Resolve.
by RYAN II. LONG.

by RYAN II. long.
Hueh, my dear! the winds are moaning
Through the ragged window pane,
And the rotten roof is eroanipg
Meath the torrent falling rain;
Close thine eyes and let them slumber
Through the darkness Of this night,
Aud hear not the awful thunder
That will roll before the light.
Uark! seems now ] hear football,
All! twas but that hingeIess gate
Dashed again by storm kings fury,
Dealing out its due of fato.
Sleep, my chiIdl tho lightning flashes
May but calm thy sweet rcposo,
But thy mothers tired lashcs---
Wbcu they'll rest but Heaven knows
AL upon my cyosight painted,
Holy scenes Of long ago,
With the sparks of radiarc, tinted
Sweet as sunsets clearcst glow,
When within the harvest gnrnercd,
b!ushing bride was scop,
With youth whose brow was furnished
Not with SINS dark, losthsomc screen.
But the change! oh, fearful wailins!
My poor heart can scarce contain
All the WOO that lies there railing,
In its bitter, sad refraio;
When the tcmpter, vile aud sulcn,
Tore the spleudor from thut brow
Swept the lustrc FROM his eycbaIls--
DarkcDrd orbs of misery now.
Y Ycs, he comes. hear him stumble,
Oh, my God, bear mc up!
Mid The thuDders penling rumble,
Help me drcg this bitter CUP;
Help nc still tho wall of anguish
That seems bursting from my breast;
Blessed Jesus, watt me hcayeuward--
Let mc GU thy bosom rest!
All! the door bchin1 bin closes;
Seems to walk with lirmer tread
And those eyes sccm not aa burning,
As when tingcd with Satan's rod;
AS before the crate he's standing,
IN the tirc!igh;'s fading glow,
Seems | seen manly picture,
Ono I'd seen years ago
"Wifc!' lie turns and Ger his features
G!camings Of angelic light,
Seem TO float in waves of splcn1or,
Driving out the horrid night.
Lifting from my care worn bosom
All the loads Of sorrow there,
Filling up that hour with gloducss.
Banishing oil thoughts Of care.
"k.re 10 night you hushod The sobGipgs,
Of our hoy in yondcr bed;
iIre you'd brushed the golden ringlcts
Tha! arc shroudins this young head,
While you were with tears bcmoanpg
That this home should be his fate;
WhoD thou sodst the winds arc roaring,
And the night is dark and late
81 beneath the cave was listening,
Listening TO thy offered prayer;
Heard you sobbng DER our offspring.
Heard and trcmblcd standing there;
| AS | heard the cold rain pattcrng
On the roof above my head,
| resolved to slun the tcmptcr,
! 'Ero another tear was shed.
"Thcrc ! kncelcd beneath the window,
! Gazing toward the clouded heaven,
| Asking God, if c'cr his aid
Unto mortal man was given
That he let it strengthen me,
Through this scene, my hour of need;
Help me save my labor's worth,
The mouths of wifo and child to feed.
"And lie heard me, wife, I've conquered
| no more will touch the cup
That with hell's dark doom is mantlcd,
That has burnt my earnings up!
| [ no more on earth will cnusc thee
In thy loneliness to shed
Tears Of anguish DER our offspring,
That now lies on yonder bed.
"But while heaven is all aglowing,
And oil carth's hountcons 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 soolhc thy sorrow
And receive thy smile again"
Tho Work of the Legislature.
COLUMBIA. January 25.--Thc proceed
ings of the House TO to-day, unlike Il
proceeding four Of five days, have been
considerable interest, aud matters
great Importance to tho pcoplo were di
posed Of
For weeks past the report of tho con
| D,iesion npoointr1 to oon.i1or onI