Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-03-27

than the consequence OF it in bad be-
havior at the moment, and the more
serious evils produced by it afterwards
must give pain."-"Great Evetts Of
Past Century"
'Ruined Homes"
dedicated to the l.. o. G. T. of Woolisbcket,
ID. T., by A. C. Thomas.l
IT'S thirty years ago, dear wife, since you and I
began
The little cabin by the spring, whose cooling
waters ran
So clear and sparkling DER the stones that
looked so clean and neat;
Twas such a shady, cooling place, tor weary
hands and feet.
And When our cabin home was done, twas small
and rude, of course;
And well we knew our humble fare could never
be much worse.
But happy in each others love, in spite of want
and care,
Each evening raised our hearts above, to Him
WHO answers prayer.
And wife. it sometimes seems to me that neigh
bOrs dor. '%tc0lnpare
With neighbots; such as we had then, Though
scattered here and there.
They Ill seemed glad to see you, to lend a help
ing hand,
To help us raise olif cabin, or fit a piece of land.
And wife, Wien little.Jennic came-an angel in
disguise, =:
With all her winsoh1e little Nays. each duy u
glad surprise:
How pleasant SEEMED our western liome!. How
blest our hubble lives!
What wonder that they envied you--those otller
farmers witsse
And wife, l never shall forget, how they in aftea.
years,
Der our darling little Ralph sled symtiathising
tears.
When they laid him iii the coffin, their teurs
with ours did flow.
For women weren't afraid to weep, some thirty
years ago:
And wife, it SEEMED so hard to say: Our Faith.
er's will be DONE"
When we laid him in his lonely grave, our dar-
ling little one;
And oh, the anguish of our hearts seemed more
than we could bears.
When they piled the clods above him, and raised
the final prayer. -
But wife, the anguish that we felt. when we laid
him in the grave,
Was softened by the thought that "Jesus came
to save,''
From sin and sorrow, want and care eternally
set free.
But wife, when little Jennie became a happy
bride,
Our cup of happiness was full, and running c'et
beside.
For Charlie was 50 itityM of lieeFi; they ,2vea
each Other So, /,
I couldn't help hut think, dear wife. Of thirty
years ago. ~.
Agar Or two II Perfect bliss, and then their
trouble COME.
Their happiisss was slipwrecked; its cause, the
demon, RUN
The demon of the wine cup their bliss could not
endure;
secure.
80 God in Heaven, help met" our little Jennie
cried,
/" 'rwereljetter tnsst With III If t Ralph I'd laid
-, ME down end died:
Why Should I live to see it, my ,oble Charles
fallo
Lord. spare, oh spare this bitter cup, the worm
wood and the gall"
Dear wife, how sadly things are changed. since
you and l were wed.
For Jennie is a d%runkard's wife; stwere better
she were dead.
IT'S true they lived in style in townl, and had a
splendid home;
And Charlie kept her like a 1loen, before lie
OH wife, the dreadful anguish that rends orr
hearts to-day!
Oh! how can we be reconciled and learn at last
to pray?
"Tiy will be done, our Father seems SO hard
to trust;
But men are only mortal, and only God is lust.
Now Jennie's step is feeble, tliiast used to be Sc
free:
Her laugh is but a bitter NOAH; twas once 5,
full OF glee. ,
She sit. to wait his coming til il y, has a: Amos G.;
come; ~.
She cannot cease her watch ng. until he ]staeoe r.
home.
The kiss with WHICH lie greeted her is now : !;
drunken "liir!''
What wonder that she turnc so paleo Our Jen
MES heart is sicEa. ga ;,; al; y,
How can she press her lips to his, and feel tn III,
y, demons breath; s., i.~, -, -. /.
VINO lhaue thelr happiness 6 turSe; her life
living death?
And yet now long" OH! yet how long shall de
mon ruin pfevail,' =,
Enticing men to ruin, 2lpps tile, broken pajlt? ,
A trni1 hOfb 11rna1 onj ,,., =. $50 - q
human woe: NJ - uxr.-, ,i...,
Mementoes: of the t%yrant's pover-a dreade,
splrlt1oe. J. ..aws II, fa;ao y,
What though the. victim, knows his tateo #
SELL must sta'gger CT; ly. ;.4ony! ,p.:,
The demon will iat brook delay, though healt]
and meahs.bc gone. ,n:.d pv.y +, :.
And though his loving wife sliculd pray in bit
.,,., terness of spll; al
That he would pause, .llee .tlrusts hef OIL, in,
l drains the sparkling bowl.