The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-01-25
By II. T. s.

silence and alone;
The still moon thro' my window sheds its
soft light on the floor
With melancholy palenees / have never
seen before.
AnC the summer wind comes to me with
its sad, AeOlian lay.
As If burthened with the sorrows OF a
weary. weary day;
Yet the moonlight cannot soothe me OF the
sickness here within,
And the sad wind takes no portion from
my bosom's weight of sin.
quietly to rest,
That 1 scarcely feel them beating in my
arms or in my breast;
And these rounded limbs are resting now
go still upon the bed,
That one would think 10 see me here that
was lying dead.
What if 'twer so? Whatitl died-died as
am lying now,
With something like to virtues calm upon
this marble brow?
What If l died tonight All! now this
slothful heart begins to beat
A fallen wretch like me, to pass from earth
30 sadly sweetl
Yet am calm-as calm as clouds that
slowly float and form,
To give their fearful strength to some I'M
pltying summer storm;
As calm as great Sahara, ere the simeon
sweeps its waste,
Or as the WIDE sea. ere the white waves all
its shores have laced.
| Still, still have no tears to shed; these
eyelids have no store
| The fountain once within me Is fountain
now no more.
| The moon alone weeps for me noW-the
pale and thoughtful moon;
She weeps for dying Mary, through all the
| nights sweet noon.
| What if died tonight, within these glided,
wretched walls,
Upon whose crimson trappings no eye Of
| virtue ever falls?
! What would Its sOulless inmates do when
they had found me here,
With cheek too white for PASSIONS smile,
too cold for passions tearf
| Oh one would come and from these arms
unclasp the bauble bands,
Another wrench the jewels of my fairer,
white hands;
This splendid robe another's form would
| grace. Oh long before
The moonlight came again to sleep upon
/ the floor.
| And when they'd laid me down in earth
where pauper graves are made,
Beneath no bending willows angel-haunted
shade,
| Who'd come and plant flower Ger poor
Mary's friendless grave.
Or trim the tangled wild grass that no
| Summer wind could wave?
Who'd raise a stone to mark it from the
ruder graves around,
That the passing strangers footsteps might
respect the spot of ground?
No stone would stand above me, no little
No hand would plant flower DER fallen
/
What If I died tonight And when to-
morrow's sun had crept
Where late the softer moon In virgin
beauty slept,
They come and find me here, oh who
weep to see me dead?
Who'd bend the knee of sorrow by the
pulseless want0n's bed?
There's one would ceme-my mother
God bless the angel band
That bore her, ere her daughter fell, to
/ Wonder quiet land I!
Thank God for all the anthems that the
gladden'd angels sung
When my mother went to Heaven, and
was pure and young.
And there's another. too. would come-a
/ man upon whose brow
NY shame has wrought the winter snow to
rest so heavy now;
!, Yes. he would come, with manhood's tears
i all burning down his cheek.
Had reasons kingdom stronger been where
virtue grew SO weak.
My sisters and my brothers all. thank God
are far away;
They'll never know how died the one who
mingled in their play
THEY'LL never know how wretchedly their
darling sister died
The one who smiled whene'er they smiled,
who cried Whenever they cried.
I'm all alone tonight How strange it is
that should be alone!
This splendid chamber seems to want some
Roue's wonted tone
You soulless mirror. with It's smooth AID
ali unvarnished face,
Sees not these ieweled arms tonight IN
their unchaste embrace.
OhlI have fed the fever of that heated
crowded hall,
Where 1 might claim the richest and tn
gayest OF them all
Where / could smile upon them. with that
easy, wanton grace.
Which subdues the blood of virtue that
would struggle in my face!
But hate them all scorn them. as they
scorn me on the street;
could spurn away the pressure that my
lips so often meet;
I could trample on the lucre that their
passion never spares,
!, For they've robbed me OF heritage OF
greater price than theirs.
They can never give me back again what
have thrown away
The brightest jewel woman wears through
out her little day;
The brightest and the only one, that from
!, the cluster riven,
Shuts out forever woman's heart from all
the hopes of Heaven.
What If died tonight? What If died as
i / am lying here?
There's many green leaf withers ere the
Autumn comes to scarf
There's many dew-drop shaken down ere
yet the sunshine came,
And many spark hath died before 1t
Weakened into fame !!
What if / died tonight, and left these
wretched bonds of clay,
|, To seek beyond the hollow sphere q
brighter, better dayf
What if my soul passed out and sought
that haven OF the blest,
"Where the wicked cease rom troubling
and the weary are at rest ~
Would angels call me from above, and
beckon me to come
And Join them in their holy songs N thal
eternal home?
Would they clasp their hands in gladness
when they saw my sc n set free!
And point beside my mother to place
reserved for mef
Would they meet me as sister, as one Of
precious worth.
Who had won place in Heaven by hei
l.