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Title: Sketches of Southern life
Author: Harper, Frances E. Watkins
Language: English
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*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Sketches of Southern life" ***
LIFE ***
SKETCHES
OF
SOUTHERN LIFE,
BY
FRANCES E. WATKINS HARPER.
PHILADELPHIA:
FERGUSON BROS. & CO., PRINTERS,
No. 15 North Seventh Street.
1891.
SKETCHES
OF
SOUTHERN LIFE.
BY
FRANCES E. WATKINS HARPER.
PHILADELPHIA:
FERGUSON BROS. & CO., Printers No. 15 North Seventh Street.
1891.
SKETCHES OF SOUTHERN LIFE.
AUNT CHLOE.
I remember, well remember,
That dark and dreadful day,
When they whispered to me, “Chloe,
Your children’s sold away!”
It seemed as if a bullet
Had shot me through and through,
And I felt as if my heart-strings
Was breaking right in two.
And I says to cousin Milly,
“There must be some mistake;
Where’s Mistus?” “In the great house crying—
Crying like her heart would break.
“And the lawyer’s there with Mistus;
Says he’s come to ’ministrate,
’Cause when master died he just left
Heap of debt on the estate.
“And I thought ’twould do you good
To bid your boys good-bye—
To kiss them both and shake their hands,
And have a hearty cry.
“Oh! Chloe, I knows how you feel,
’Cause I’se been through it all;
I thought my poor old heart would break,
When master sold my Saul.”
Just then I heard the footsteps
Of my children at the door,
And I rose right up to meet them,
But I fell upon the floor.
And I heard poor Jakey saying,
“Oh, mammy, don’t you cry!”
And I felt my children kiss me
And bid me, both, good-bye.
Then I had a mighty sorrow,
Though I nursed it all alone;
But I wasted to a shadow,
And turned to skin and bone.
But one day dear Uncle Jacob
(In heaven he’s now a saint)
Said, “Your poor heart is in the fire,
But child you must not faint.”
Then I said to Uncle Jacob,
If I was good like you,
When the heavy trouble dashed me
I’d know just what to do.
Then he said to me, “Poor Chloe,
The way is open wide:”
And he told me of the Saviour,
And the fountain in His side.
Then he said “Just take your burden
To the blessed Master’s feet;
I takes all my troubles, Chloe,
Right unto the mercy-seat.”
His words waked up my courage,
And I began to pray,
And I felt my heavy burden
Rolling like a stone away.
And a something seemed to tell me,
You will see your boys again—
And that hope was like a poultice
Spread upon a dreadful pain.
And it often seemed to whisper,
Chloe, trust and never fear;
You’ll get justice in the kingdom,
If you do not get it here.
THE DELIVERANCE.
Master only left old Mistus
One bright and handsome boy;
But she fairly doted on him,
He was her pride and joy.
We all liked Mister Thomas,
He was so kind at heart;
And when the young folks got in scrapes,
He always took their part.
He kept right on that very way
Till he got big and tall,
And old Mistus used to chide him,
And say he’d spile us all.
But somehow the farm did prosper
When he took things in hand;
And though all the servants liked him,
He made them understand.
One evening Mister Thomas said,
“Just bring my easy shoes:
I am going to sit by mother,
And read her up the news.”
Soon I heard him tell old Mistus
“We’re bound to have a fight;
But we’ll whip the Yankees, mother,
We’ll whip them sure as night!”
Then I saw old Mistus tremble;
She gasped and held her breath;
And she looked on Mister Thomas
With a face as pale as death.
“They are firing on Fort Sumpter;
Oh! I wish that I was there!—
Why, dear mother! what’s the matter?
You’re the picture of despair.”
“I was thinking, dearest Thomas,
’Twould break my very heart
If a fierce and dreadful battle
Should tear our lives apart.”
“None but cowards, dearest mother,
Would skulk unto the rear,
When the tyrant’s hand is shaking,
All the heart is holding dear.”
I felt sorry for old Mistus;
She got too full to speak;
But I saw the great big tear-drops
A running down her cheek.
Mister Thomas too was troubled
With choosing on that night,
Betwixt staying with his mother
And joining in the fight.
Soon down into the village came
A call for volunteers;
Mistus gave up Mister Thomas,
With many sighs and tears.
His uniform was real handsome;
He looked so brave and strong;
But somehow I couldn’t help thinking
His fighting must be wrong.
Though the house was very lonesome,
I thought ’twould all come right,
For I felt somehow or other
We was mixed up in that fight.
And I said to Uncle Jacob,
“Now old Mistus feels the sting,
For this parting with your children
Is a mighty dreadful thing.”
“Never mind,” said Uncle Jacob,
“Just wait and watch and pray,
For I feel right sure and certain,
Slavery’s bound to pass away;
“Because I asked the Spirit,
If God is good and just,
How it happened that the masters
Did grind us to the dust.
“And something reasoned right inside,
Such should not always be;
And you could not beat it out my head,
The Spirit spoke to me.”
And his dear old eyes would brighten,
And his lips put on a smile,
Saying, “Pick up faith and courage,
And just wait a little while.”
Mistus prayed up in the parlor,
That the Secesh all might win;
We were praying in the cabins,
Wanting freedom to begin.
Mister Thomas wrote to Mistus,
Telling ’bout the Bull’s Run fight,
That his troops had whipped the Yankees
And put them all to flight.
Mistus’ eyes did fairly glisten;
She laughed and praised the South,
But I thought some day she’d laugh
On tother side her mouth.
I used to watch old Mistus’ face,
And when it looked quite long
I would say to Cousin Milly,
The battle’s going wrong;
Not for us, but for the Rebels,—
My heart ’would fairly skip,
When Uncle Jacob used to say,
“The North is bound to whip.”
And let the fight go as it would—
Let North or South prevail—
He always kept his courage up,
And never let it fail.
And he often used to tell us,
“Children, don’t forget to pray;
For the darkest time of morning
Is just ’fore the break of day.”
Well, one morning bright and early
We heard the fife and drum,
And the booming of the cannon—
The Yankee troops had come.
When the word ran through the village,
The colored folks are free—
In the kitchens and the cabins
We held a jubilee.
When they told us Mister Lincoln
Said that slavery was dead,
We just poured our prayers and blessings
Upon his precious head.
We just laughed, and danced, and shouted,
And prayed, and sang, and cried,
And we thought dear Uncle Jacob
Would fairly crack his side.
But when old Mistus heard it,
She groaned and hardly spoke;
When she had to lose her servants,
Her heart was almost broke.
’Twas a sight to see our people
Going out, the troops to meet,
Almost dancing to the music,
And marching down the street.
After years of pain and parting,
Our chains was broke in two,
And we was so mighty happy,
We didn’t know what to do.
But we soon got used to freedom,
Though the way at first was rough;
But we weathered through the tempest,
For slavery made us tough.
But we had one awful sorrow,
It almost turned my head,
When a mean and wicked cretur
Shot Mister Lincoln dead.
’Twas a dreadful solemn morning,
I just staggered on my feet;
And the women they were crying
And screaming in the street.
But if many prayers and blessings
Could bear him to the throne,
I should think when Mister Lincoln died,
That heaven just got its own.
Then we had another President,—
What do you call his name?
Well, if the colored folks forget him
They wouldn’t be much to blame.
We thought he’d be the Moses
Of all the colored race;
But when the Rebels pressed us hard
He never showed his face.
But something must have happened him,
Right curi’s I’ll be bound,
’Cause I heard ’em talking ’bout a circle
That he was swinging round.
But everything will pass away—
He went like time and tide—
And when the next election came
They let poor Andy slide.
But now we have a President,
And if I was a man
I’d vote for him for breaking up
The wicked Ku-Klux Klan.
And if any man should ask me
If I would sell my vote,
I’d tell him I was not the one
To change and turn my coat;
If freedom seem’d a little rough
I’d weather through the gale;
And as to buying up my vote,
I hadn’t it for sale.
I do not think I’d ever be
As slack as Jonas Handy;
Because I heard he sold his vote
For just three sticks of candy.
But when John Thomas Reeder brought
His wife some flour and meat,
And told her he had sold his vote
For something good to eat.
You ought to seen Aunt Kitty raise,
And heard her blaze away;
She gave the meat and flour a toss,
And said they should not stay.
And I should think he felt quite cheap
For voting the wrong side;
And when Aunt Kitty scolded him,
He just stood up and cried.
But the worst fooled man I ever saw,
Was when poor David Rand
Sold out for flour and sugar;
The sugar was mixed with sand.
I’ll tell you how the thing got out;
His wife had company,
And she thought the sand was sugar,
And served it up for tea.
When David sipped and sipped the tea,
Somehow it didn’t taste right;
I guess when he found he was sipping sand,
He was mad enough to fight.
The sugar looked so nice and white—
It was spread some inches deep—
But underneath was a lot of sand;
Such sugar is mighty cheap.
You’d laughed to seen Lucinda Grange
Upon her husband’s track;
When he sold his vote for rations
She made him take ’em back.
Day after day did Milly Green
Just follow after Joe,
And told him if he voted wrong
To take his rags and go.
I think that Curnel Johnson said
His side had won the day,
Had not we women radicals
Just got right in the way.
And yet I would not have you think
That all our men are shabby;
But ’tis said in every flock of sheep
There will be one that’s scabby.
I’ve heard, before election came
They tried to buy John Slade;
But he gave them all to understand
That he wasn’t in that trade.
And we’ve got lots of other men
Who rally round the cause,
And go for holding up the hands
That gave us equal laws.
Who know their freedom cost too much
Of blood and pain and treasure,
For them to fool away their votes
For profit or for pleasure.
AUNT CHLOE’S POLITICS.
Of course, I don’t know very much
About these politics,
But I think that some who run ’em,
Do mighty ugly tricks.
I’ve seen ’em honey-fugle round,
And talk so awful sweet,
That you’d think them full of kindness,
As an egg is full of meat.
Now I don’t believe in looking
Honest people in the face,
And saying when you’re doing wrong,
That “I haven’t sold my race.”
When we want to school our children,
If the money isn’t there,
Whether black or white have took it,
The loss we all must share.
And this buying up each other
Is something worse than mean,
Though I thinks a heap of voting,
I go for voting clean.
LEARNING TO READ.
Very soon the Yankee teachers
Came down and set up school;
But, oh! how the Rebs did hate it,—
It was agin’ their rule.
Our masters always tried to hide
Book learning from our eyes;
Knowledge didn’t agree with slavery—
’Twould make us all too wise.
But some of us would try to steal
A little from the book,
And put the words together,
And learn by hook or crook.
I remember Uncle Caldwell,
Who took pot-liquor fat
And greased the pages of his book,
And hid it in his hat.
And had his master ever seen
The leaves upon his head,
He’d have thought them greasy papers,
But nothing to be read.
And there was Mr. Turner’s Ben,
Who heard the children spell,
And picked the words right up by heart,
And learned to read ’em well.
Well, the Northern folks kept sending
The Yankee teachers down;
And they stood right up and helped us,
Though Rebs did sneer and frown.
And, I longed to read my Bible,
For precious words it said;
But when I begun to learn it,
Folks just shook their heads,
And said there is no use trying,
Oh! Chloe, you’re too late;
But as I was rising sixty,
I had no time to wait.
So I got a pair of glasses,
And straight to work I went,
And never stopped till I could read
The hymns and Testament.
Then I got a little cabin
A place to call my own—
And I felt as independent
As the queen upon her throne.
CHURCH BUILDING.
Uncle Jacob often told us,
Since freedom blessed our race
We ought all to come together
And build a meeting place.
So we pinched, and scraped, and spared,
A little here and there:
Though our wages was but scanty,
The church did get a share.
And, when the house was finished,
Uncle Jacob came to pray;
He was looking mighty feeble,
And his head was awful gray.
But his voice rang like a trumpet;
His eyes looked bright and young;
And it seemed a mighty power
Was resting on his tongue.
And he gave us all his blessing—
’Twas parting words he said,
For soon we got the message
The dear old man was dead.
But I believe he’s in the kingdom,
For when we shook his hand
He said, “Children, you must meet me
Right in the promised land;
“For when I’m done a moiling
And toiling here below,
Through the gate into the city
Straightway I hope to go.”
THE REUNION.
Well, one morning real early
I was going down the street,
And I heard a stranger asking
For Missis Chloe Fleet.
There was a something in his voice
That made me feel quite shaky,
And when I looked right in his face,
Who should it be but Jakey!
I grasped him tight, and took him home—
What gladness filled my cup!
And I laughed, and just rolled over,
And laughed, and just give up.
“Where have you been? O Jakey, dear!
Why didn’t you come before?
Oh! when you children went away
My heart was awful sore.”
“Why, mammy, I’ve been on your hunt
Since ever I’ve been free,
And I have heard from brother Ben,—
He’s down in Tennessee.
“He wrote me that he had a wife.”
“And children?” “Yes, he’s three.”
“You married, too?” “Oh no, indeed,
I thought I’d first get free.”
“Then, Jakey, you will stay with me,
And comfort my poor heart;
Old Mistus got no power now
To tear us both apart.
“I’m richer now than Mistus,
Because I have got my son;
And Mister Thomas he is dead,
And she’s got nary one.
“You must write to brother Benny
That he must come this fall,
And we’ll make the cabin bigger,
And that will hold us all.
“Tell him I want to see ’em all
Before my life do cease:
And then, like good old Simeon,
I hope to die in peace.”
“I THIRST.”
FIRST VOICE.
I thirst, but earth cannot allay
The fever coursing through my veins,
The healing stream is far away—
It flows through Salem’s lovely plains.
The murmurs of its crystal flow
Break ever o’er this world of strife;
My heart is weary, let me go,
To bathe it in the stream of life;
For many worn and weary hearts
Have bathed in this pure healing stream,
And felt their griefs and cares depart,
E’en like some sad forgotten dream.
SECOND VOICE.
“The Word is nigh thee, even in thy heart.”
Say not, within thy weary heart,
Who shall ascend above,
To bring unto thy fever’d lips
The fount of joy and love.
Nor do thou seek to vainly delve
Where death’s pale angels tread,
To hear the murmur of its flow
Around the silent dead.
Within, in thee is one living fount,
Fed from the springs above;
There quench thy thirst till thou shalt bathe
In God’s own sea of love.
THE DYING QUEEN.
“I would meet death awake.”
The strength that bore her on for years
Was ebbing fast away,
And o’er the pale and life-worn face,
Death’s solemn shadows lay.
With tender love and gentle care,
Friends gathered round her bed,
And for her sake each footfall hushed
The echoes of its tread.
They knew the restlessness of death
Through every nerve did creep,
And carefully they tried to lull
The dying Queen to sleep.
In vain she felt Death’s icy hand
Her failing heart-strings shake;
And, rousing up, she firmly said,
“I’d meet my God awake.”
Awake, I’ve met the battle’s shock,
And born the cares of state;
Nor shall I take your lethean cup,
And slumber at death’s gate.
Did I not watch with eyes alert,
The path where foes did tend;
And shall I veil my eyes with sleep,
To meet my God and friend?
Nay, rather from my weary lids,
This heavy slumber shake,
That I may pass the mystic vale,
And meet my God awake.
THE
JEWISH GRANDFATHER’S STORY.
Come, gather around me, children,
And a story I will tell.
How we builded the beautiful temple—
The temple we love so well.
I must date my story backward
To a distant age and land,
When God did break our fathers’ chains
By his mighty outstretched hand
Our fathers were strangers and captives,
Where the ancient Nile doth flow;
Smitten by cruel taskmasters,
And burdened by toil and woe.
As a shepherd, to pastures green
Doth lead with care his sheep,
So God divided the great Red Sea,
And led them through the deep.
You’ve seen me plant a tender vine,
And guard it with patient care,
Till its roots struck in the mellow earth,
And it drank the light and air.
So God did plant our chosen race,
As a vine in this fair land;
And we grew and spread a fruitful tree,
The planting of his right hand.
The time would fail strove I to tell,
All the story of our race—
Of our grand old leader, Moses,
And Joshua in his place,
Of all our rulers and judges,
From Joshua unto Saul,
Over whose doomed and guilty head
Fell ruin and death’s dark pall.
Of valiant Jephthah, whose brave heart
With sudden grief did bow,
When his daughter came with dance and song
Unconscious of his vow.
Of Gideon, lifting up his voice
To him who rules the sky,
And wringing out his well drenched fleece,
When all around was dry.
How Deborah, ’neath her spreading palms,
A judge in Israel rose,
And wrested victory from the hands
Of Jacob’s heathen foes.
Of Samuel, an upright judge.
The last who ruled our tribes,
Whose noble life and cleanly hands,
Were pure and free from bribes.
Of David, with his checkered life
Our tuneful minstrel king,
Who breathed in sadness and delight,
The psalms we love to sing.
Of Solomon, whose wandering heart,
From Jacob’s God did stray,
And cast the richest gifts of life,
In pleasure’s cup away.
How aged men advised his son,
But found him weak and vain,
Until the kingdom from his hands
Was rudely rent in twain.
Oh! sin and strife are fearful things,
They widen as they go,
And leave behind them shades of death,
And open gates of woe.
A trail of guilt, a gloomy line,
Ran through our nation’s life,
And wicked kings provoked our God,
And sin and woe were rife.
At length, there came a day of doom—
A day of grief and dread;
When judgment like a fearful storm
Swept o’er our country’s head.
And we were captives many years,
Where Babel’s stream doth flow;
With harps unstrung, on willows hung,
We wept in silent woe.
We could not sing the old, sweet songs,
Our captors asked to hear;
Our hearts were full, how could we sing
The songs to us so dear?
As one who dreams a mournful dream,
Which fades, as wanes the night,
So God did change our gloomy lot
From darkness into light.
Belshazzar in his regal halls,
A sumptuous feast did hold;
He praised his gods and drank his wine
From sacred cups of gold.
When dance and song and revelry
Had filled with mirth each hall,
Belshazzar raised his eyes and saw
A writing on the wall.
He saw, and horror blanched his cheek,
His lips were white with fear;
To read the words he quickly called
For wise men, far and near.
But baffled seers, with anxious doubt
Stood silent in the room,
When Daniel came, a captive youth,
And read the words of doom.
That night, within his regal hall,
Belshazzar lifeless lay;
The Persians grasped his fallen crown,
And with the Mede held sway.
Darius came, and Daniel rose
A man of high renown;
But wicked courtiers schemed and planned
To drag the prophet down.
They came as men who wished to place
Great honors on their king—
With flattering lips and oily words,
Desired a certain thing.
They knew that Daniel, day by day
Towards Salem turned his face,
And asked the king to sign a law
His hands might not erase.
That till one moon had waned away,
No cherished wish or thing
Should any ask of men or Gods,
Unless it were the king.
But Daniel, full of holy trust,
His windows opened wide,
Regardless of the king’s command,
Unto his God he cried.
They brought him forth that he might be
The hungry lion’s meat,
Awe struck, the lions turned away
And crouched anear his feet.
The God he served was strong to save
His servant in the den;
The fate devised for Daniel’s life
O’er took those scheming men.
And Cyrus came, a gracious king,
And gave the blest command,
That we, the scattered Jews, should build
Anew our fallen land.
The men who hated Juda’s weal
Were filled with bitter rage,
And ’gainst the progress of our work
Did evil men engage.
Sanballat tried to hinder us,
And Gashmu uttered lies,
But like a thing of joy and light,
We saw our temple rise.
And from the tower of Hananeel
Unto the corner gate,
We built the wall and did restore
The places desolate.
Some mocked us as we labored on
And scoffingly did say,
“If but a fox climb on the wall,
Their work will give away.”
But Nehemiah wrought in hope,
Though heathen foes did frown
“My work is great,” he firmly said,
“And I cannot come down.”
And when Shemai counselled him
The temple door to close,
To hide, lest he should fall a prey
Unto his cruel foes.
Strong in his faith, he answered, “No,
He would oppose the tide,
Should such as he from danger flee,
And in the temple hide?”
We wrought in earnest faith and hope
Until we built the wall,
And then, unto a joyful feast
Did priest and people call.
We came to dedicate the wall
With sacrifice and joy—
A happy throng, from aged sire
Unto the fair-haired boy.
Our lips so used to mournful songs,
Did joyous laughter fill,
And strong men wept with sacred joy
To stand on Zion’s hill.
Mid scoffing foes and evil men,
We built our city blest,
And ’neath our sheltering vines and palms
To-day in peace we rest.
SHALMANEZER,
_PRINCE OF COSMAN_.
BY MRS. FRANCES E. W. HARPER.
Shalmanezer, Prince of Cosman, stood on the threshold of manly life,
having just received a rich inheritance which had been left him by his
father.
He was a magnificent-looking creature—the very incarnation of manly
strength and beauty. The splendid poise of his limbs, the vigor and
litheness of his motions, the glorious light that flashed from his
splendid dark eyes, the bright joyous smiles that occasionally wreathed
his fresh young lips, and the finely-erect carriage of his head, were
enough to impress the beholder with the thought, “Here is an athlete
armed for a glorious strife!”
While Shalmanezer was thinking upon his rich inheritance and how he
should use it, he suddenly lifted his eyes and saw two strange-looking
personages standing near him. They both advanced towards Shalmanezer
when they saw their presence had attracted his attention.
The first one that approached the young man and addressed him, was named
Desire. He was a pleasant-looking youth, with a flushed face, and eager,
restless eyes. He looked as if he had been pursuing a journey, or had
been grasping at an object he had failed to obtain. There was something
in his manner that betrayed a want of rest—a look in his eyes which
seemed to say, “I am not satisfied.” But when he approached, he smiled
in the most seductive manner, and, reaching out his hand to Shalmanezer
said:
“I have come to welcome thee to man’s estate, and for thy enjoyment, I
have brought thee three friends who will lead thee into the brightest
paths, and press to thy lips the sweetest elixirs.”
Gladly the young man received the greeting of Desire, who immediately
introduced his three companions, whose names were, Pleasure, Wealth, and
Fame.—Pleasure was a most beautiful creature. Her lovely dark eyes
flashed out a laughing light; upon her finely-carved lips hovered the
brightest and sweetest smiles, which seemed ever ready to break into
merry ripples of laughter; her robe was magnificently beautiful, as if
it had imprisoned in its warp and woof the beauty of the rainbow and the
glory of the setting sun; in her hand she held a richly wrought chalice
in which sparkled and effervesced a ruby-colored liquid which was as
beautiful to the eye as it was pleasant to the taste. When Pleasure was
presented to Shalmanezer, she held out to him her cup and said in the
sweetest tones:
“Come, drink of my cup, it is sparkling and bright
As rubies distilled in the morning light;
A truce to sorrow and adieu to pain—
Here’s the cup to strengthen, soothe and sustain.”
Just as Shalmanezer was about to grasp the cup, the other personage
approached him. Her name was Peace, and she was attended by a mild,
earnest-looking young man called Self-Denial. In the calm depths of her
dark-blue eyes was a tender, loving light, and on her brow a majestic
serenity which seemed to say, “The cares of earth are at my feet; in
vain its tempests sweep around my path.” There was also a look of calm,
grand patience on the brow of her attendant, which gave him the aspect
of one who had passed through suffering unto Peace. Shalmanezer was
gazing eagerly on the fair young face of Pleasure, and about to quaff
the sparkling nectar, when Peace suddenly arrested his hand and
exclaimed:
“Beware of this cup! ’Neath its ruddy glow,
Is an undercurrent of shame and woe;
’Neath its sparkling sheen so fair and bright,
Are serpents that hiss, and adders that bite.”
The young man paused a moment, looked on the plain garb of Peace and
then on the enchanting loveliness of Pleasure, and, pushing aside the
hand of Peace with a scornful gesture, he said proudly and defiantly:
“I will follow Pleasure!”
Peace, thus repulsed, turned sadly away; and Self-Denial, wounded by
Shalmanezer’s rude rejection, bowed his head in silent sorrow and
disappeared from the scene.
As Peace departed, Shalmanezer eagerly grasped the cup of Pleasure and
pressed it to his lips, while she clasped her hand in his and said in a
most charming manner, “Follow me;” and then he went willingly to the
place where she dwelt.
As Shalmanezer approached the palace of Pleasure he heard the sweetest
music rising on the air in magnificent swells or sinking in ravishing
cadences; at his feet were springing the brightest and fairest flowers;
the sweetest perfumes were bathing the air with the most exquisite
fragrance; beautiful girls moved like visions of loveliness through the
mazy dance; rare old wines sparkled on the festal board; the richest
viands and most luscious fruits tempted the taste; and laughter, dance
and song filled the air with varied delights. For a while Shalmanezer
was enraptured with the palace of Pleasure. But soon he became weary of
its gay confusion. The merry ripples of laughter lost their glad
freshness; the once delightful music seemed to faint into strange
monotones—whether the defect was in his ear or in the music he could not
tell, but somehow it had ceased to gratify him; the constant flow of
merry talk grew strangely distasteful to him; the pleasant viands began
to pall upon his taste; at times he thought he detected a bitterness in
the rare old wines which Pleasure ever and anon presented to his lips,
and he turned wearily away from everything that had pleased his taste or
had charmed and entranced his senses.
Shalmanezer sat moodily wishing that Desire would return and bring with
him another attendant to whom he had been introduced when he had first
clasped hands with Pleasure, and whose name was Wealth. While he was
musing, he lifted up his eyes and saw Wealth and Desire standing at the
door of his Boudoir, and near them he saw the sweet loving face of
Peace, who was attended by Self-Denial. Peace was about to approach him,
but he repulsed her with an impatient frown, and turning to Desire he
said:
“I have grown weary of Pleasure, and I wish to be introduced to the
halls of Wealth.”
Taller, graver and less fair was Wealth, than her younger sister,
Pleasure. If the beauty of Pleasure could be compared to the vernal
freshness of Spring—that of Wealth suggested the maturity of golden
harvests, and ripe autumnal fruits. Like Pleasure, she was very richly
attired; a magnificent velvet robe fell in graceful folds around her
well-proportioned form; like prisms of captured light, the most
beautiful jewels gleamed and flashed in her hair; a girdle of the finest
and most exquisitely wrought gold was clasped around her waist; her
necklace and bracelets were formed of the purest jewels and finest
diamonds.—But there was something in her face which betokened a want
which all her wealth could not supply. There was a mournful restlessness
in her eye that at times seemed to border on the deepest sadness; and
yet, there was something so alluring in her manner, so dazzling in her
attire, and fascinating in her surroundings, that men would often
sacrifice time, talent, energy, and even conscience and manhood, to
secure her smiles and bask in her favor.
“Shalmanezer,” said Desire to Wealth, “has grown weary of thy sister,
Pleasure, and would fain dwell in thy stately halls. Is there aught to
hinder him from being one of thy favored guests?”
“Nothing at all,” said Wealth, smiling. “The rich inheritance left him
by his father has been increasing in value, and I am glad that he was
too wise to throw in Pleasure’s cup life’s richest gifts away.”
With these words she reached out her jewelled hand to Shalmanezer and
said, “Follow me!”
Weary of the halls of Pleasure, Shalmanezer gladly rose to follow
Wealth. As he was leaving, he paused a moment to bid adieu to Pleasure.
But she was so changed, that he did not recognize in the faded woman
with the weary, listless manner, dull eyes and hollow cheeks, the
enchanting girl, who, a few years before, had led him to her halls a
welcome and delighted guest. All was so changed. It seemed more like a
dream than a reality, that he had dwelt for years in what now seemed
like a disenchanted palace. The banquet table was strewn with broken and
tasteless fragments; the flowers had lost their fragrance and beauty,
and lay in piles of scentless leaves; the soft sweet music had fainted
into low breathed sighs, and silence reigned in the deserted halls where
dance and revelry and song had wreathed with careless mirth the bright
and fleeting hours.
“Come,” said Wealth, “my Chariot waits thee at the door.”
Without one pang of regret, Shalmanezer turned from the halls of
Pleasure, to ride with Wealth in her magnificent chariot.
As they drove along, Wealth showed Shalmanezer the smoke rising from a
thousand factories. Pausing a moment, she said:—“I superintend these
works and here are my subjects.”
Shalmanezer gazed on the colossal piles of brick and mortar, as those
castles of industry met his eye. Just then the bell rang, and he saw
issuing from amid the smoke and whir of machinery a sight that filled
his soul with deep compassion.
There were pale, sad-looking women wending their way home to snatch some
moment’s rest, and an humble meal before returning to their tasks. There
were weary-looking men, who seemed to be degenerating in mental strength
and physical vigor. There were young children who looked as if the warm
fresh currents of life in their veins had been touched with premature
decay. And saddest of all—he saw young girls who looked as if they were
rapidly changing from unsophisticated girlhood into over-ripe womanhood.
“Are these thy servants?” said Shalmanezer, sadly.
“These,” said Wealth, “are my servants, but not my favorites. In dark
mines—close factories—beneath low roofed huts—they dig the glittering
jewels, and weave the webs of splendor and beauty with which I adorn my
favorites. But I see that the sight pains thee. Let us pass on to fairer
scenes.”
Bending down to her finely-liveried coachman, she whispered in his ear,
and in a few minutes the factories, with their smoke and din, were left
behind. Beautiful lawns, lovely parks, and elegant residences rose
before the pleased eyes of Shalmanezer; beautiful children sported on
the lawns; lovely girls roamed in the parks; and the whole scene was a
bright contrast to those he had left behind.
At length they rode up an avenue of stately trees, and stopped at the
home of Wealth. “Here is my dwelling,” she said, “enter and be my
welcome guest.”
Shalmanezer accepted the invitation, and entering, gazed with delighted
wonder on the splendor and beauty of the place. On the walls hung most
beautiful pictures surrounded by the richest frames—rare creations of
the grand old masters; lovely statues suggested the idea of life
strangely imprisoned in marble; velvet carpets sank pleasantly beneath
his tread; elegant book cases, inlaid with ivory and pearl, held on the
shelves the grand and noble productions of the monarchs of mind who
still rule from their graves in the wide realms of thought and
imagination. In her halls were sumptuous halls for feasting; delightful
alcoves for thought and meditation; lovely little boudoirs for cozy
chats with cherished friends. Even religion found costly bibles and
splendidly embossed prayer books in the chambers of repose, where
beneath the softened light of golden lamps, the children of Wealth sank
to rest on beds of down.
“Surely,” said Shalmanezer, “he must be a strangely restless creature,
who cannot be satisfied in this home of beauty, grace and affluence.”
And yet, while he spake, he was conscious of a sense of unrest. He tried
to shake it off, but still it would return. He would find himself
sighing amid the fairest scenes—oppressed with a sense of longing for
something he could not define. His eye was not satisfied with seeing,
nor his ear with hearing. It seemed as if life had been presented to him
as a luscious fruit, and he had eagerly extracted its richest juices,
and was ready to throw away the bitter rind in hopeless disgust.
While he sat gloomily surveying the past, and feeling within his soul a
hunger which neither Wealth nor Pleasure could appease, he lifted his
eyes towards a distant mountain whose summit was crowned with perpetual
snows, although a thousand sunbeams warmed and cheered the vale below.
As he gazed, he saw a youth with a proud gait, buoyant step and flashing
eye, climbing the mount. In his hand he held a beautifully embossed
card, on which was written an invitation from Fame to climb her almost
inaccessible heights and hear the sweetest music that ever ravished
mortal ear. As the youth ascended the mount, Shalmanezer heard the
shouts of applause which were wafted to the ears of the young man, who
continued to climb with unabated ardor.
“Here,” said Shalmanezer, “is a task worthy of my powers. I have wasted
much of my time in the halls of Pleasure; I have grown weary of the
stately palaces of Wealth; I will go forth and climb the heights of
Fame, and find a welcome in the sun-crowned palaces of Renown. O, the
sight of that young man inspires my soul, and gives new tone and vigor
to my life. I will not pause another moment to listen to the
blandishments of Wealth. Instead of treading on these soft carpets, I
will brace my soul to climb the rugged heights to gaze upon the fair
face of Fame.”
Just as he was making this resolve, he saw Peace and her attendant
gazing anxiously and silently upon him. His face flushed with sudden
anger; a wrathful light flashed from his eyes; and turning his face
coldly from Peace, he said: “I do wish Peace would come without her
unwelcome companion—Self-Denial I do utterly and bitterly hate.” Peace
again repulsed, turned sadly away, followed by Self-Denial. With eager
haste Shalmanezer rose up and left the bowers of Ease and halls of
Pride, to tread the rugged heights of Fame, with patient, ready feet. As
he passed upward, new vigor braced his nerves. He felt an exhilaration
of spirits he had never enjoyed in the halls of Wealth or bowers of
Pleasure. Onward and upward he proudly moved, as the multitude, who
stood at the base, cheered him with rapturous applause, and no music was
ever so sweet to his ear as the plaudits of the crowd; but, as he
ascended higher and higher, the voices of the multitude grew fainter and
fainter; some voices that cheered him at the beginning of his journey
had melted into the stillness of death; others had harshened into the
rough tones of disapprobation; others were vociferously applauding a new
aspirant who had since started to climb the summit of Renown; but, with
his eye upon the palace of Fame, he still climbed on, while the air grew
rarer, and the atmosphere colder. The old elasticity departed from his
limbs, and the buoyancy from his spirits, and it seemed as if the chills
of death were slowly creeping around his heart. But still, with fainter
step he kept climbing upward, until almost exhausted, he sank down at
the palace-gate of Fame, exclaiming, “Is this all?”
Very stately and grand was the cloud-capped palace of Fame. The pillars
of her lofty abode were engraven with the names of successful generals,
mighty conquerors, great leaders, grand poets, illustrious men and
celebrated women. There were statues on which the tooth of Time was
slowly gnawing; the statues of men whose brows had once been surrounded
by a halo of glory, but were now darkened by the shadow of their crimes.
Those heights which had seemed so enchanting at a distance, now seemed
more like barren mounds, around which the chills of Death were ever
sweeping.
Fame heard the voice of her votary, and came out to place upon his brow
her greenest bays and brightest laurels, and bid him welcome to her
palace; but when she saw the deathly whiteness of his face, she shrank
back in pity and fear. The light was fading from his eye; his limbs had
lost their manly strength; and Fame feared that the torpor of Death
would overtake him before she could crown him as her honored guest. She
bent down her ear to the sufferer, and heard him whisper slowly, “Peace!
Peace!”
Then said Fame to her servants, “Descend to the vale, bring the best
medical skill ye can find, and search for Peace, and entreat her to
come; tell her that one of my votaries lies near to death, and longs for
her presence.” The servants descended to the vale, and soon returned,
bringing with them a celebrated physician.—Peace had heard the cry of
Shalmanezer, and had entered the room with her companion before the
doctor had come. When the physician saw Shalmanezer, he gazed anxiously
upon him, felt the fluttering pulse, and chafed the pale cold hands to
restore the warmth and circulation.
In the meantime, Pleasure and Wealth having heard the story of
Shalmanezer’s illness, entered the room. “There is but one thing,” said
the physician, “can save Shalmanezer’s life: some one must take the warm
healthy blood from his veins and inject it into Shalmanezer’s veins
before he can be restored to health.”
Pleasure and Wealth looked aghast when they heard the doctor’s
prescription. Pleasure suddenly remembered that she had a pressing
engagement; Wealth said “I am no longer young, nor even well, and am
sure I have not one drop of blood to spare;” Fame pitied her faithful
votary, but amid the cold blasts that swept around her home, was sure it
would be very imprudent for her to attempt to part with so much blood.
Just as Pleasure, Wealth and Fame had refused to give the needed aid,
Desire entered the room, but when he heard the conditions for the
restoration of Shalmanezer, shrank back in selfish dismay, and refused
also.
As Shalmanezer lay gasping for breath, and looking wistfully at his old
companions, Peace, attended by Self-Denial, drew near the sick man’s
couch. Shalmanezer opened his eyes languidly, and closed them wearily;
when life was like a joyous dream, he had repulsed Peace and utterly
hated Self-Denial, and what could he dare hope from either in his hour
of dire extremity. While he lay with his eyes half-closed, Self-Denial
approached the bedside, and baring his arm, said to the doctor:
“Here is thy needed remedy. Take the blood from these veins, and with it
restore Shalmanezer to health and strength.”
The doctor struck his lancet into Self-Denial’s arm, and drawing from it
the needed quantity of blood, injected it into Shalmanezer’s veins. The
remedy was effectual. Health flushed the cheeks of Shalmanezer, and
braced each nerve with new vigor, and he soon recovered from his fearful
exhaustion. Then his heart did cleave unto Self-Denial. He had won his
heart by his lofty sacrifice. He had bought his love by the blood from
his own veins. Clasping hands with Self-Denial, he trod with him the
paths of Peace, and in so doing, received an amount of true happiness
which neither Pleasure, Wealth nor Fame could give.
[Illustration]
OUT IN THE COLD.
Out in the cold mid the dreary night,
Under the eaves of homes so bright;
Snowflakes falling o’er mother’s grave
Will no one rescue, no one save?
A child left out in the dark and cold,
A lamb not sheltered in any fold,
Hearing the wolves of hunger bark,
Out in the cold! and out in the dark.
Missing to-night the charming bliss,
That lies in the mother’s good-night kiss;
And hearing no loving father’s prayer,
For blessings his children all may share.
Creeping away to some wretched den,
To sleep mid the curses of drunken men
And women, not as God has made,
Wrecked and ruined, wronged and betrayed.
Church of the Lord reach out thy arm,
And shield the hapless one from harm;
Where the waves of sin are dashing wild
Rescue and save the drifting child.
Wash from her life guilt’s turbid foam,
In the fair haven of a home;
Tenderly lead the motherless girl
Up to the gates of purest pearl.
The wandering feet which else had strayed,
From thorny paths may yet be stayed;
And a crimson track through the cold dark night
May exchange to a line of loving light.
[Illustration]
SAVE THE BOYS.
Like Dives in the deeps of Hell
I cannot break this fearful spell,
Nor quench the fires I’ve madly nursed,
Nor cool this dreadful raging thirst.
Take back your pledge—ye come too late!
Ye cannot save me from my fate,
Nor bring me back departed joys;
But ye can try to save the boys.
Ye bid me break my fiery chain,
Arise and be a man again,
When every street with snares is spread,
And nets of sin where’er I tread.
No; I must reap as I did sow.
The seeds of sin bring crops of woe;
But with my latest breath I’ll crave
That ye will try the boys to save.
These bloodshot eyes were once so bright;
This sin-crushed heart was glad and light;
But by the wine-cup’s ruddy glow
I traced a path to shame and woe.
A captive to my galling chain,
I’ve tried to rise, but tried in vain—
The cup allures and then destroys.
Oh! from its thraldom save the boys.
Take from your streets those traps of hell
Into whose gilded snares I fell.
Oh! freemen, from these foul decoys
Arise, and vote to save the boys.
Oh ye who license men to trade
In draughts that charm and then degrade,
Before ye hear the cry, Too late,
Oh, save the boys from my sad fate.
NOTHING AND SOMETHING.
It is nothing to me, the beauty said,
With a careless toss of her pretty head;
The man is weak if he can’t refrain
From the cup you say is fraught with pain.
It was something to her in after years,
When her eyes were drenched with burning tears,
And she watched in lonely grief and dread,
And startled to hear a staggering tread.
It is nothing to me, the mother said;
I have no fear that my boy will tread
In the downward path of sin and shame,
And crush my heart and darken his name.
It was something to her when that only son
From the path of right was early won,
And madly cast in the flowing bowl
A ruined body and sin-wrecked soul.
It is nothing to me, the young man cried:
In his eye was a flash of scorn and pride;
I heed not the dreadful things ye tell:
I can rule myself I know full well.
It was something to him when in prison he lay
The victim of drink, life ebbing away;
And thought of his wretched child and wife,
And the mournful wreck of his wasted life.
It is nothing to me, the merchant said,
As over his ledger he bent his head;
I’m busy to-day with tare and tret,
And I have no time to fume and fret.
It was something to him when over the wire
A message came from a funeral pyre—
A drunken conductor had wrecked a train,
And his wife and child were among the slain.
It is nothing to me, the voter said,
The party’s loss is my greatest dread;
Then gave his vote for the liquor trade,
Though hearts were crushed and drunkards made.
It was something to him in after life,
When his daughter became a drunkard’s wife
And her hungry children cried for bread,
And trembled to hear their father’s tread.
Is it nothing for us to idly sleep
While the cohorts of death their vigils keep?
To gather the young and thoughtless in
And grind in our midst a grist of sin?
It is something, yes, all, for us to stand
Clasping by faith our Saviour’s hand;
To learn to labor, live and fight
On the side of God and changeless light.
WANDERER’S RETURN.
My home is so glad, my heart is so light,
My wandering boy has returned to-night.
He is blighted and bruised, I know, by sin,
But I am so glad to welcome him in.
The child of my tenderest love and care
Has broken away from the tempter’s snare;
To-night my heart is o’erflowing with joy,
I have found again my wandering boy.
My heart has been wrung with a thousand fears,
Mine eyes been drenched with the bitterest tears;
Like shadows that fade are my past alarms,
My boy is enclasped in his mother’s arms.
The streets were not safe for my darling child;
Where sin with its evil attractions smiled.
But his wandering feet have ceased to roam,
And to-night my wayward boy is at home—
At home with the mother that loves him best,
With the hearts that have ached with sad unrest,
With the hearts that are thrilling with untold joy
Because we have found our wandering boy.
In that wretched man so haggard and wild
I only behold my returning child,
And the blissful tears from my eyes that start
Are the overflow of a happy heart.
I have trodden the streets in lonely grief,
I have sought in prayer for my sole relief;
But the depths of my heart to-night are stirred,
I know that the mother’s prayer has been heard.
If the mother-love be so strong and great
For her child, sin-weary and desolate,
Oh what must the love of the Father be
For souls who have wandered like you and me!
“FISHERS OF MEN.”
I had a dream, a varied dream:
Before my ravished sight
The city of my Lord arose,
With all its love and light.
The music of a myriad harps
Flowed out with sweet accord;
And saints were casting down their crowns
In homage to our Lord.
My heart leaped up with untold joy;
Life’s toil and pain were o’er;
My weary feet at last had found
The bright and restful shore.
Just as I reached the gates of light,
Ready to enter in,
From earth arose a fearful cry
Of sorrow and of sin.
I turned, and saw behind me surge
A wild and stormy sea;
And drowning men were reaching out
Imploring hands to me.
And ev’ry lip was blanched with dread
And moaning for relief;
The music of the golden harps
Grew fainter for their grief.
Let me return, I quickly said,
Close to the pearly gate;
My work is with these wretched ones,
So wrecked and desolate.
An angel smiled and gently said:
This is the gate of life,
Wilt thou return to earth’s sad scenes
Its weariness and strife,
To comfort hearts that sigh and break,
To dry the falling tear,
Wilt thou forego the music sweet
Entrancing now thy ear?
I must return, I firmly said,
The struggles in that sea
Shall not reach out beseeching hands
In vain for help to me.
I turned to go; but as I turned
The gloomy sea grew bright,
And from my heart there seemed to flow
Ten thousand cords of light.
And sin-wrecked men, with eager hands,
Did grasp each golden cord;
And with my heart I drew them on
To see my gracious Lord.
Again I stood beside the gate.
My heart was glad and free;
For with me stood a rescued throng
The Lord had given me.
SIGNING THE PLEDGE.
Do you see this cup—this tempting cup—
Its sparkle and its glow?
I tell you this cup has brought to me
A world of shame and woe.
Do you see that woman sad and wan?
One day with joy and pride,
With orange blossoms in her hair,
I claimed her as my bride.
And vowed that I would faithful prove
Till death our lives should part;
I’ve drenched her soul with floods of grief,
And almost crushed her heart.
Do you see that gray-haired mother bend
Beneath her weight of years?
I’ve filled that aged mother’s eyes
With many bitter tears.
Year after year for me she prays,
And tries her child to save;
I’ve almost brought her gray hairs down
In sorrow to the grave.
Do you see that boy whose wistful eyes
Are gazing on my face?
I’ve overshadowed his young life
With sorrow and disgrace.
He used to greet me with a smile,
His heart was light and glad;
I’ve seen him tremble at my voice,
I’ve made that heart so sad.
Do you see this pledge I’ve signed to-night?
My mother, wife, and boy
Shall read my purpose on that pledge
And smile through tears of joy.
To know this night, this very night,
I cast the wine-cup down,
And from the dust of a sinful life
Lift up my manhood’s crown.
The faded face of my young wife
With roses yet shall bloom,
And joy shall light my mother’s eyes
On the margin of the tomb.
I have vowed to-night my only boy,
With brow so fair and mild,
Shall not be taunted on the streets,
And called a drunkard’s child.
Never again shall that young face
Whiten with grief and dread,
Because I’ve madly staggered home
And sold for drink his bread.
This strong right arm unnerved by rum
Shall battle with my fate;
And peace and comfort crown the home
By drink made desolate.
Like a drowning man, tempest-tossed,
Clings to a rocky ledge,
With trembling hands I’ve learned to grasp
The gospel and the pledge.
A captive bounding from my chain,
I’ve rent each hateful band,
And by the help of grace divine
A victor hope to stand.
[Illustration]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in
spelling.
2. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed.
3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
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