Poems | Page 9

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.
42 NOTHING AND SOMETHING.
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.
NOTHING AND SOMETHING. 43
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?
44 VASHTI.
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.
VASHTI.
She leaned her head upon her hand
And heard the King's decree--?"My lords are feasting in my halls;
Bid Vashti come to me.
"I've shown the treasures of my house,
My costly jewels rare,?But with the glory of her eyes
No rubies can compare.
"Adorn'd and crown'd I'd have her come,
With all her queenly grace,?And, 'mid my lords and mighty men,
Unveil her lovely face.
"Each gem that sparkles in my crown,
Or glitters on my throne,
VASHTI. 45
Grows poor and pale when she appears,
My beautiful, my own!"
All waiting stood the chamberlains
To hear the Queen's reply.?They saw her cheek grow deathly pale,
But light flash'd to her eye:
"Go, tell the King," she proudly said,
"That I am Persia's Queen,?And by his crowds of merry men
I never will be seen.
"I'll take the crown from off my head
And tread it 'neath my feet,?Before their rude and careless gaze
My shrinking eyes shall meet.
"A queen unveil'd before the crowd!--
Upon each lip my name!--?Why, Persia's women all would blush
And weep for Vashti's shame!
"Go back!" she cried, and waved her hand,
And grief was in her eye:?"Go, tell the King," she sadly said,
"That I would rather die."
46 VASHTI.
They brought her message to the King;
Dark flash'd his angry eye;?'Twas as the lightning ere the storm
Hath swept in fury by.
Then bitterly outspoke the King,
Through purple lips of wrath --?"What shall be done to her who dares
To cross your monarch's path?"
Then spake his wily counsellors--
"O King of this fair land!?From distant Ind to Ethiop,
All bow to thy command.
"But if, before thy servants' eyes,
This thing they plainly see,?That Vashti doth not heed thy will
Nor yield herself to thee,
"The women, restive 'neath our rule,
Would learn to scorn our name,?And from her deed to us would come
Reproach and burning shame.
"Then, gracious King, sign with thy hand
This stern but just decree,
THANK GOD FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. 47
That Vashti lay aside her crown,
Thy Queen no more to be."
She heard again the King's command,
And left her high estate;?Strong in her earnest womanhood,
She calmly met her fate,
And left the palace of the King,
Proud of her spotless name--?A woman who could bend to grief,
But would not bow to shame.
THANK GOD FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.
Thank God for little children,
Bright flowers by earth's wayside,?The dancing, joyous lifeboats
Upon life's stormy tide.
Thank God for little children;
When our skies are cold and gray,?They come as sunshine to our hearts,
And charm our cares away.
48 THANK GOD FOR LITTLE CHILDREN.
I almost think the angels,
Who tend life's garden fair,?Drop down the sweet wild blossoms
That bloom around us here.
It seems a breath of heaven
Round many a cradle lies,?And every little baby
Brings a message from the skies.
Dear mothers, guard these jewels.
As