The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-08-09
PESSIMISM.

:. PESSIMISM
ats ,,fe worth liying?-weIl, to tell you true.
1t scarcely is, II all men were IKE you.
Brirhtfaced maiden, bright-soulcd maiden.
What is this that must hear!
Is thy heart with sorrow laden,
is thine eye dmmed with a tearf
Can it be that lips so sweety
Rounded to be kindly kissed. -.as-.-.-4i
Could be twisted indiscreetiy
To that vile word Pesshntsu
Not for thine own ills thou weepest;
Softly feathered is thy nest;
When thou wakest, when thou sleepest
Thou art fortuned with the BEST
But thy sisters and thy brothers
Pierced with many wcefui smart
DYING children, wailing mothers,
Fret thy nerve, and stab thy heart.
In the country, In the city,.
Goddess deeds, a loveless list
Stir thy blood and move thy pity.
And thou art a Pessfmtst.
Storms and wars and tribulations,
Feyered passions reinless tide,
With insane Authorizations
Mingled travel far and wide.
Can there be an Eye inspecting
Things so tumbling In pell-men,
With cool control directing
Such q hotbed, such hetif
Nay, sweet maid, but think more slowly;
Though this thing and that be SAD
Ills a logic most unholy
That the gross OF things is bad;
IT'S a trick of melancholy,
Tainting life with deaths ALLOYS
Or In wisdom, or in folly,
Nature still delights in JOY.
Dost thou hear of starving sinnersf
Nine and ten or ninety-nine,
Many thousands eat good dinners,
Many hundreds guam good wine
Hast thou seen score OF crippiesf
Equal legs are not uncommon:
II you know one fool that tipples,
Thousands drink hoffman and woman:
Tell me, If you know, how many
Murders happen in the TOWN.
Should that weigh your heart quite DOWN.
No doubt; 4 you read the tn ps p, ppelsc,ch
DOting dreams, deliri0us capere,
Many a blunder, blot and blotch;
Bags of windy speculation,
Babblement of small and great,
Cheating, swindling, peculation
squabbement of Church and State;
Miners blown up, humbugs shown up,
Beaten wives, insulted brides,
Rayinx preachers, witless teachers,
Lunatics and suicides.
Drains and cesspoois, Paintings, feverss
Poisoned cats and stolen coliies,
Simple women, gay dece tss,;s.
Wandering NJ. P.s brainless babbles
Deputations, meetings, dinners,
Riots of the lawless rabble,
Purple sins of West End sinners;
Driving dicing, drinking, dancing,
Spirit-rapping, ghostly stun,
Bubble schemes, and deft financing,
When the shares are blown enough.
All this is true; when men cut capers
That make the people talk or stare,
Tomorrow, when you ope the papers,
You're sure TO find your antics tnere
But you and I. and all our neighbors,
Meanwhile in pure and peaceful ways,
With link on link of fruitful labors,
Draw out our chain Of happy days.
See things AS they are; be sober;
Balance well life's loss and gain:
II to-day be chill October,
Summer suns will come again.
Are bleak winds for ever sighingY
Do dark clouds for ever lowerf
Are your friends all dead and dying2
All your sweetness turned to souri,
ways,
But horse is not an ass,
And black-snake is not always
Lurking In the soft green grass.
Don't be hasty, gentle lady:
In this whirl of diverse things
Keep your footing. and with steady
Poise control your equal wings.
All things can't to all be pleasant,
love bitter. you love sweet;
Some faint when a cat is present,
Rats find babies cheeks a treat
If all tiny things were tall things
II all petty things were grand,
Where would greatness be. when all things
On one common level standf
Do you think the winged breezes
Fraught with healthy ventilation,
When tender infant sneezes
Should retreat with trepidation?
When dry Earth to Heaven is calling
For soft rain and freshening dew.
Shall the rain refrain from falling
Lest my lady wet her sheer
Fools stiil rush to rash conclusions,
And the mole-eyed minion man
Talks OF troubles and COMMISSIONS,
When he sees not half the plan.
Spare to blame and fear to cavii,
With short leave dismiss your pain.
Let no fretful fancies revcl
In the sanctum of your brain.
Use no magnifying glasses
To change molehills into mountains,
Nor on every hill that passes
Pour hot tears from bitter fountains.
Trust In God and know your duty,
Some good things are in your power:
Every day will bring its booty
From fhe' labor of the hour.
Never wreck what folos are prating,
Work and wait, letsorrow lie;
Live and love; have done with hating,
Goethe says-and SO say j.
-Bldcksc0od's Magazine.