The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-11-16
Terrible Ride of Pst,r n Bride.

Have you heard OF the ride of old Peter Mcbride
Of thai midsummer night fun Of horrors TO,
or the fright that he had-how he thought that
How they found him at morn bruised in body
will tell you the tale. for it shows what may
To man when he foolishly NEEDLES with rum.
A merry old topper was Peter McBride
He was fond OF bis glass as schOOlboy Of
Jam,
He rode every night for bis regular dram
To the village hotel, on his old chestnut mare
He loved tho black bottle that greeted him
But o. what . foe was that bottle to hint
IT scattered his nerves and Redeemed his nose:
grew dim;
His form became feeble: the tracks of the
Began to appear on his temples; yet more.
What , price do men pay for the pleasures of
In manhoSd, in usefulness. wisdom and
Rum conquers, It seldom is crushed in the strife,
1t ruins am ition. It dissipates health
Yet thousands are wasting and losing their all
And millions unborn In the battle will fall.
One night to the tavern came Peter Mcbride.
He tied bis thin steed to the sign-pOst near by;
The rickety bar with wearisome sigh.
For he felt what slave he had weakly become
In the mcrciless, pitiess bondage OF rum.
So be called for drink and he guzzled 1t down
To drown his dull care and to make him feel
gay.
He drank and he drank till the lampight looked
TIL tho tavern turned around in mystical
He drank itiil his stomach was tortured with
Till horrible phantoms distracted his brain.
But see! from a corner there cautiously peeps
A little red serpent: how happened it there?
Its eyes g.esm Ike diamonds. 1t wriggies. it
1t COILS iisel quietly under his chair
He leaps from his seat with howl Of dismay.
The little red serpent has vanished away.
Look! Look! from the cracks in the ceiling and
From the barrels and kegs. from the bottles
How the snakes. how the worms, and the green
How they twist. how they squirm in the glasses
and mugs
How they creep DER the counter. and in at the
How they wrissle and wri,he. as they fall on
They climb up his limbs. and they Irvine on his
He drops his old bottle! He throws on hi.
They creep on his body He wrlggles and twists
He struggles to tear their cod coils from his
He stamr on the floor and he clutches the air.
Then PUSHES in rage for his old chestnut marei
But the boys of the village. who longed for
Loosed his neishng old beast from the sign.
post and tied
In her place. with BEDFORD, a big brinde COW,
All sadd ed, al! bridled, and ready to ride,
When rushed from the tavern, with snakes in
his tracks,
Old Peter. who bounced with yell on her back.
The cord snapped In tw ain, and away in alright.
With the stars overhead dimly lighting the
Passed Peter Mcbride in pitiful plight
In the tracks of bis steed towards his distant
The dogs nerccly barked and the cocks loudly
As the believing COW by the farm houses few.
The villagers leaped in alarm from their beds.
They threw up their windows. in wonder ,hey
Gazed.
And peertd through the darkness. with uncov.
Such row in that region had never been
raised.
While swift as the wings of the wind DER the
tie
In q terrible tempest. rode Peter Mcbride!
He saw the strange horns Of TIE beast that he
The tour cloven hoofs of the feet footed
With the hn.rihl., .hnnshs. ...u.a ....t.ry,, IL.
rode! -
He saw ns stiff tail, like snake on The wing!
The ar all around had a sulphurO,is smell.
He Il st his firm grip on the saddle and TELL.
Fren,,s found him and carried him over the
hills,
To his desOlaie home whc c they put him to
bed;
They bic eth ! HIM, they fed him with 'h"n'' mile
TEey plasieied his chest and the! pouliiced
his head,
And. when he recovered. he solemny swore
TO tipple aud 10y with the uevil no more.
Are You wasting the years OF your manhood
away,
Is the Dc mon OF drunkenness iragsin ing you
Gown,
Are you rushing and has ing TO early decay,
4! bywOrd ami sport Of the boys Of the town.
Some dragon may carry you Of in Your pride
With snakes 1T your b. els like old Peter Nc
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