The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-11-22
TEMPERANCE READING.
THE DEMONS WARNING.

Around the board the guests were met,
The lights above them beaming,
And in their cups, repleniShed oft,
The ruddy wine was streaming;
Their cheeks were flushed, their eyes weT
bright,
Their hearts with pleasure bounded;
The song was sung, the toast was given,
And loud the reVel sounded.
/ drained goblet with the rest,
And cried: Away with sorrowl
Let us be happy for to-day
What care we for tomorrow"
But as | spoke my sight grew dim,
And slumbcr deep came DER me,
And mid the whirl of mingling tongues
This vision passed before me:
Methought saw a demon rise;
He held mighty hicker,
Whose FURNISHED sides ran trimming DER
With floods of burning liquor.
Around him pressed clamorous crowd
To taste this liquor greedy,
But chiefly came the poor and sad
The suffering and the needy;
All those oppressed by need or debt
The dissolute, the lazy,
Bleareyed old men and reckless youths
And palsied women crazy.
"Give, give" they cried, give, give us drink
10 drown all Thought of sorrow;
If we are happy for to-day,
We care not Tor tomorrow"
The first drop warmed their shivering skin,
And drove away their sadness;
The second lit their sunken eyes,
And filed their souls with gladness;
The third drop made them shout and roar.
And play each furious antic;
The fourth drop boiled their very blood
And the fifth drop drove them frantic
"Drink!" said the demon, "drink your fill
Drink of these waters mellow!
They'll make youreye-balls scar and dlmn, ~
And turn your white skins yellow;
They IL till your homes with care and grief,
And clothe your back with tatters:
They Il fill your hearts with evil thoEghts-
But never mind; what matters
Though virtue sink and reason faa
And social ties dissever?-
III be your friend in hour of need,
And find You homes forever;
For have built three mansions ligh,
Three strong and gOOdly houses,
To lodge at last each Jolly soul
who all his life carOuSes.
''The first it is a spacious house
To all but sots appalling,
Where, by the parish bounty fed,
Vile, in the sunshine crawling,
The WORKOUT drunkard ends his days,
And eats the dole of others,
A plague and burden to hinsef,
An eye-sore to his brothers.
''The second is lazar house,
Rank, fetid and unhoiy,
Where, smtten by diseases foul
And hopeless melancholy,
The victims of potations dep
Pine on couch of sadness,
Some calling death to end tIeir pain,
And others wrought to madness.
''The third and last is blackand high,
The abode of guilt and anguish,
And iull Of dungeons deep md fast.
Where death-doOmCd felots languish.
So drain the cup and drain again;
One of my gOOdly houses
Shall lodge at last each jollysCul
Who to the dregs carouseS"
But well he knew, that demon old,
How vain was all his preaching;
The ragged crew that round lin tiocket
Were needless OF his teachiIg
Even as they heard his fearful words
They cIiou, with shouts of liughter;
"Out on the fool who mars to-day
With thoughts Of an hereafter
eve care not for thy houses three,
Who live but for the present
And merry will we make it yet
And quatt our bumpers pleasant"
Loud laughed the fiend to hearthem speak.
And, lifting high his biCker,
BODY and soul are mine, saidhe;
'1'l have them both for liquol"
Irish CiI'iSti6n AdUOcdte