Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-04-14
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI THURSDAY, APRIL IA, 1892.
SORROW, DELIRrum AND DEATH.

F'CHbONs hAND Dhs1h N -
I'll tell tale from first to last.
'Tls dreaTy tale, a tale that's past.
And while tell this tale to you,
You1l say "'tis Old''-but then It's true.
A bright hair'd boy, saw one day,
A handsome one, engaged In play.
But soon his playing days were o'er;
His boat he launclI'd from youths bright shOl
Then, hope inspired his youthful breast,
And tempted him to reach the crest
OF fame's bright dome. SO on he moved
Fast toward the heights he dearly loved.
He won bright laurels for his pains;
His friends all said shes man OF brains"
He soar'd alOft like winged dove,
But dreadful day he's faII'n in love
A woman's eyes-they're lovely things,
But to mans long life, the mis'ry brings,
Unless the owner chances TO
BE loyal, honest, loving true.
These virtues, all. she lack'd, me thinks,
And day by day she added links
To that long chain which now has bound
The man to her, like a cringing hound.
biiC has hlil DOulu, Sic hIloWS HtE pow i,
Shes waited long for this sweet hour
When She could smile as does a fend
And say, Dear sir, fear yott'fe green'd."
He sees 1t now and tries TO break
The chain which binds him to the stake
I'm rise" he says, "and show the world
That mans "a MAN-In NOT be fOil'd. -
It's good enough to talk that way;
It's good enough to rise and say,
I'm man" But when you've tested him.
YouTl find his manhood rather slim.
For then he thinks he'll rid his mind
OF bitter thoughts which seem to grind
His soul to finest dust,
BY using means which seem most Just
He was so young and yet SO bright
A star; yes, friend. a beacon light
Which could have lighted many man
To land his barque on golden strand.
He joined the merry thrOngs that look
So gay and glad. And then he took
To drink. To drink? All, fatal bowl!
Twill drown despair-'twill drown the soul.
But on he went and down he pOurd
To realms of fancy, beaming bright
With fires which blaZ'd and burnd all night.
just one kind word might here have broke
The spell which now began to yoke
Him down to darkness and to woe;
But friends (?) now said, lust let him go"
So on he went He lost his name
He lost his wealth; he lost his fame
His shattered nerves began to tell
What soon will conceive know too well.
A mothers love forsakes him not
And home again-right on the spot
We saw him play In youthful days,
He moves his nervous form and prays.
A few bright years have rolled away
Since he had left his home to stray
In fame's bright fields. He now has come
To share the joys of home, sweet home"
Too late, alas! for joys like these;
For as he steps in doors, he sees
HObgoblinS grin, in front appear,
And voices strange come from the rear.
Delirium wild has got him now.
He moves within the house and how
He trembles as he steps That yell
Was like demOn's-straight from hell.
"Ye gods see yonder devil come
To take me OFF to his own home,
You blear-eyed demon, back, say!
And let me plOd my weary way!
"Ah, mother dear, hast come to this,
can no longer bear your dear warm kiss
I'm bound by ropes to this old bed
Where once loved to lay my head.
"Those snakes are cOiling round my arm,
Oh, Gilead! Gilead! where's thy balm?
A thousand scorpions come to tear
My bones and eyes and flesh and hair.
"But hush! they go. hear hell's gate
Screak aloud All, here comes more! Ihate
Thus sadly to leave my mother dear,
And father, wipe away that tear.
They've got me now I'll live behind
Those gates that jar and crate and grind.
I'm gone, yes, GONE. Oh, how things quake
Ye devils Scorpions! S-n-a-k-e!H
He's dead and silence reigns supreme.
The sun sheds forth but one stray CLEAN.
Above the brow of him who sleeps
One star appears-its vigil keeps