Onward still in holier pleasures.
Duties void of care and pain ;
Onward, reaping blissful treasarei»
Endless life and en41ess gain.
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THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER. 173
The DrunkanVs Daughter^
<.*%aracfer«.— Stella, Buth, Hattie, Luct, Olive, Susah,
School- GirU,
Scene 7. — A school playi^onnd.— Enter Stella, OUre, Lucy,
and Ruth.
Stella. You may say what you please, girls, I will
never consent to have Harriet Cook invited to our
picnic ; it is to be quite a select affair, and I for one do
not choose to associate with drunkards* children. She
has no business in our school at all. The public school
is the place for her, — mother says so. She is surprised
that Miss Harrington takes her.
Lucy, But it is no fault of hei*s, Stella, that her father
drinks. I am sure she is one of the nicest, sweetest girls
in school, and one of the best scholars too. I am sure
she has helped you often enough over your arithmetic, to
have you speak more kindly of her.
^Stella, Dear me I I do not know that I am obliged to
associate with her as an equal on that account. My
father is very particular whom I associate with. You
ought to have seen old Jimmy Cook staggering home the
other night; he went past our house with a pack of boys
following him, pulling his hair and teasing him in every
way they* could. It was very funny to seo^him clutch after
them, and try to strike them; but the boys were too
lulck for him. They only shouted and laughed, and told
him to try again. I laughed till I cried, and father came
and stood beside me, and laughed too, as heartily as I
did.
Olive, Poor, poor Hattie ! I do hope she did not see
him.
Stella. . But she did, I know, for I saw he*; on the
opposite side of the street, hurrying on with her veil
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174 THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER.
palled over her lace. I hoped she would not pat on
quite so many airs after it, and think herself as
good as anybody else ; but it don't seem to have done her
much good.
(Hive. [Indignantly.'] For shame, Stella! Have you
no heart? As If it was the poor girl's fault; and as for
putting on airs, that is what Hattie never does ; she only
maintains a decent s^lf-respect, if she does carry an ach-
ing heart in her breast. We should be carefhl about re-
joicing over the misfortunes of another, for trouble may
come to us when we look for it the least.
Stella. Dear me, what a croaker! I presume now
she expects my father to turn drunkard, and go reeling
through the streets, just because I laughed at Jimmy
Cook. My father is a gentleman, and would never stoop
to anything so degrading as to drink low, poisoned
liquors. He never has anything but the finest wines on
his sideboard, and they are often four or five dollars a
bottle.
StUh. But people can become intemperate just as well
on wine as on whiskey. It is not a whit less danger-
ous.
Stella. Suppose you set up for a temperance lecturer ;
you know it is quite the fashion for ladies to lecture.
You are tall and good-looking, and a good elocutionist,
and I know you would make quite a sensation.
Huth. My first point will be, then, to urge you all to
be kind to the drunkard's children. By all means let us
ask Hatiie to our picnic, and make the day as bright as
we can for her.
Stella. [Much offended.'} Then you will have to dis-
pense with my company, I assure you.
Huth. We will try and bear it with as much resigna-
tion as possible.
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THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER. 175
Stella. Yo i are very sarcastic, Miss Davis ; but I can
tell you mother shall not send the elegant basket of cake
she ha» prepared for it, nor a single strawberry from our
vines.
Olive. Oh! don't worry about that, dear; we have
more strawberi'ies and cake promised than we can pos-
sibly use. But, Stella, think better of it, and come; you'll
lose so much pleasure, and yon know you needn't speak
a word to Hattie if you don't want to. Only don't treat
her rudely, for that is very wrong, and I know it would
offend half the girls in school; they all love, Hattie.
Stella. ILeaving angrily. '\ They are welcome to, — a
drunkard's daughter, indeed! I think things have conte
to a pretty pass In our school when she is preferred be-
fore a gentlemarCs daughter.
Buth. Worth before station any time, Stella. [ExU
SteUa, slamming the door.']
Lucy. You were almost too hard, Ruth.
Buth. I know it, but her airs are unendurable. But,
poor girl, she may see sorrow herself before many days.
Her father spends nearly all his evenings at the club, and
plays and takes wine most Immoderately. I do not
think she suspects such a thing as that he can possibly
be in danger. But, girls, we must make haste, for I see
Miss Harrington coming up the walk. She likes to have
us all in our places as soon as the bell rings. [ExU girls
— a bell ringing.]
Scene II. — Bedtatton room. Hattie, Olire, Lnoy weaviof wreaths
for the picnic.
Olive. Hattie, please help me twine in this myrtle ; I
can never get it to suit myself, but your fingers have the
knack of making everything fit in right.
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176 THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKEB.
Eattie, I think you are doing yery well, Olive, bat I
will help you if I can. There, how will that pleasp you?
How lovely those carnations are! Look, girls. [^She
fits the wreath on OUve*s head."]
Lucy. It is perfect. Don't stir a leaf, Hattie. Bat
here comes Susan l)ee. Do, pray, girls, be careftil what
you say, she does make so much trouble repeating things ;
and it seems to me nothing ever goes on that she doesn't
know. {Enter Susan,']
Susan, There, girls, are all the flowers I had time to
gather. Mother sent me over to Mrs. Nippers' to get
the particulars of that awftil affair that's just happened,
and I was tired clear out when I came home.
Girls, What awflil affair? Do tell usl Anybody
killed?
Susan. Well, not quite, I suppose, but pretty near. It
all happened at that club which was thought to be such a
wonderfblly aristocratic affair. Stella's father, you know,
is called one of the best players at cards in town ; nobody
ever beats him. But it happened that he was playitfg
with a gentleman who had not been very long in the club,
and they say he lost and lost, oh ! I can't tell yon how much
money ; but the more he lost the more angry he got, and
risked larger and larger sums, until the roan swept all his
property. Then he told the man he was a cheat and a
liar, and they came to blows. You know Stella's father
is a large, strong man, and the other was very slight, so
he was very much hurt before any one could or would
interfere. Some people say the man will die ; but I can't
pretend to say. But one thing we are sure of, Mr. Rosy-
lin is safe in jail, and I guess Stella won't hold her head
quite so high, and lord it over the rest of us quite so much
as she used to.
Olive, Hush, Susan, do! Don't let us speak hard
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THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKEtt. 177
thin^ of her, now she is in such troablc. I am sure I
pity her with all my heart.
HaUie. Poor Stella! I would do anything in tlie
world I could to comfort her.
Susan. I guefis it would comfort her the most nerer
to see the face of one of us again. You certainly don't
owe her any good- will, Hattie, of all the rest.
Hattie. I am sure I have not the slightest ill-will to-
wards her, and am truly sorry for her trouble ; most
likely the story is much exaggerated.
Susan, Most likely the half is not known.
Lucy. Well, whatever the truth proves to be, girls,
we will always treat Stella as kiudly as ever; for, what-
ever she may have maintained to the contrary, children
are not responsible for the faults of their parents. They
may suffer for them, but they are not to blame for them.
But now we must gather up our wreaths, girls, for the
carriages are coming, and we can finish them In the
WOOdSi. MBS. J. E. McOONAUGHT.
Alcoh^L
Thbrb walketh a fleud o'er the glad green earthy
By the side of the reaper Death ;
He dazzles alike with the glare of mirth,
Or quenches the light of the household hearth
With his foul and withering breath.
He stalketh abroad with his hydra head,
And there gathereth In his brain,
The falling foot and the strong man's tread,
The restless living, the gliastly dead,
And misery, want, and pain.
12
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178 THE TEMFEBANCE SPEAKER.
He nerves the arm of relentless hate
With the goblet's beaded foam ;
He lurks in the halls of -the rich and great,
In the beggar's moan at the palace gate.
And curses the poor man's home.
He barters the wealth of a spotless name.
For the wine-cup's subtle glow,
And scathes the pinions of breathless fame,
Till they droop with their burthens of guilt and shaOMb
'Mid the curses of sin and vyoe.
And there cometh ever a sorrowing wai),
In the path of his blighting tread ;
And childhood's cheek grows wan and pale.
And his heart is fUint and his footsteps fail.
For he grudge th the poor their bread.
Grudgeth the poor their daily bread,
And filleth the drunkard's bowl
With want and woe, remorse and dread.
With a nervous hand and a falling head,
And a curse on his deathless soul.
And beauty and n^anhood, love and mirtb.
Still turn to the laughing wine ;
But the blighted home and the darkened heartli.
And the tears of f orrowing ones of earth,
Lie deep in its gleam and shine.
And the fiend still watcheth, with tireless will.
For the swift and weaiy tread ;
For he knoweth the wine, with its subtle skill.
Shall gather alike the good and ill,
'Neath the curse of its iron tread.
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THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER. 179
Farewell to the Bottle*
" Now, we must part ; — we who have so long trod life's
thorny paths together. Have I not loved you well, —
better* than father or mother, wife or child, sister or
brother? I have loved you as the father loves his first-
born ; as the mother loves the infant in her arms ; as
the lovely maiden loves her chosen mate. My love for
thee has been like that of the shepherd for his flock ; the
student for his book; the angler for his rod; the artist
for his masterpiece; the poet for the waterfall. You
have loved me; have you?— ay, you have, — as the cat
loves the mouse; as the hawk loves the chicken; as the
wolf loves the lamb; as the devil loves the souls of
men.
" You promised me health, — you have filled me with
disease. You promised me wealtji, — you have clothed
me with rags. You promised me happiness, — you have
made me miserable. You have kept me at home when I
should have been abroad, — abroad when I should have
been at home ; asleep when I should have been awake,
— awake when I should have been asleep.
" Give me back my happy home. Give me back my
broken-hearted wife and ruined children. Give me back
my aged sire, whose gray hairs you sent sorrowing to
the grave. Give me back my bright prospects of useful-
ness and happiness In life. Give me back my hopes of
heaven. Take f^om me this aching head, these trem-
bling nerves, this burning thirst, which Is demon-like
gnawing at my vitals. Take from me this guilty con-
science, — this fearful looking for the judgment. Take
tvom my soul the awful curse, * No drunkard shall enter
the kingdom of heaven.'
" Fiend of hell ; high-priest of iniquity, down, dowQt
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180 THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKEB.
back to the infernal regions where yon belong, fit com-
panion for Satan and his imps, — for aslioved y^u once,
I hate you now. Hate you, — ay, I hate you as the devil
hates an honest man, and as God hates a hypocrite.**
The DevU and Groff'SeUer^
Thb grog-seller sat by his bar-room flre,
With his feet as high as his head, and higher.
Watching the smoke, as he puffed it out,
That in spiral columns curled about;
Veiling his face with its fleecy fold,
As lazily up fVom his lips it rolled.
While a doubtful scent and a twilight gloom
Were slowly gathering to fill the room.
To their drunken slumbers, one by one,
Eoolish and fiiddled, his friends had gone,
To wake in the morn to the drunkard's pain.
With bloodshot eye and a whirling brain.
Drowsily rang the watchman's cry, —
" Past two o'clock and a cloudy sky I **
Yet the host sat wakefhl still, and shook
His head, and winked with a knowing look.
** Ho I ho I " said lie, with a chuckling tone,
** I know the way the thing is done :
Twice five are ten, — and another V,
Two ones, two twos, and a ragged three,
Make twenty-four for my well-fllled fob,—
Hel he! 'tis rayt^r a good night's job I
The fools have guzzled my brandy and wine, —
Much good may it do them, — the cash is mine /•
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THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER. 181
And he winked again with a knowing look,
And from his cigar the ashes shook.
" He 1 he 1 the younkers are in my net, —
I have them safe, and I'll fleece them yet ;
There's Brown, — what a jolly dog is he I —
And he swells the way that I like to see ;
Let him dash for a while at this reckless rate^
And his farm Is mine as sare as fate.
•* Pve a mortgage now on Tompkins* lot ;
What a fool he was to become a sot I
But it's luck to me, — in a month or so
I shall foreclose, and the scamp must go.
Zounds ! won't his wife have a * taking on,'
When she learns that his house and his lot are gone?
How she will blubber, and sob, and sigh I —
But business is business, — and what care I?
** And Gibson has murdered his child, they say;
He was drunk as a fool here, yesterday ;
And I gave him a hint as I went to fill
His jug, — but the brute would have his will.
And the folks blame me, — why, bless their gizzards!
If I didn't sell, he would go to Izzard's I
I've a right to engage in a lawftil trade.
And take my chance where there's cash to be made.
** If men get drunk, and go home to turn
Their wives out-doors, 'tis their own concern;
But I hate to have women coming to me
With their tweedle-dum and their tweedle-dee ;
With their swollen eyes and their haggard looks,
And their speeches learned from the temperance books;
With their pale, lean children, — the whimpering fools I
Why can't they go to the public schools ?
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182 THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER.
"Let the hussies mind their own affairs,
For never have I interfered with theirs ;
I will turn no customer away
Who is willing to buy, and able to pay ;
For business is business — he ! he ! he ! he I "
And he rubbed his hands in his chuckling glee;
" Many a lark I have caught in my net, —
I have them safe, — I will fleece therft yet ! "
** He I he ! he I he ! " *Twas an echoed sound ;
Amazed, the grog-seller looked around ;
This side and that, through the smoke peered he.
But nought but the chairs could the grog-seller see*
" Ho I ho I — he I he T* — with a guttural note ;
It seemed to come from an iron throat ;
And his knees they shook, and his hair 'gan rise,
And he opened his mouth and strained his eyes.
And, lo ! in a corner, dark and dim.
Stood an uncouth form, with an aspect grim ;
From his grisly head, through his snaky hair,
Sprouted, of hard, rough horns, a pair ;
And redly, his shaggy brows below,
Like sulphurous flame did his small eyes glow;
And his lips were curled with a sinister smile.
And the smoke belched forth from his mouth the while.
Folded and buttoned around his breast
Was a quaint and silvery-gleaming vest;
Asbestos it seemed, — but we only guess
Why he should fancy so cold a dress ;
Breeches he wore of an amber hue.
From the rear of which a tail peeped throngh;
His feet were shaped l>ke a bullock's hoof.
And the boots he wore were caloric proof*
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•
THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER. 183
In his hand he bore, — if a hand it was,
Whose fingers were shaped like a vulture's claws, —
A three-tined fork, and its prongs so dull
Through the sockets were thrust of a grinning skull ^
Like a sceptre he waved it to and fro,
As he softly chuckled, " Ha ! ha ! — ho ! ho I "
And all the while were his eyes, that burned
Like sulphurous flames, on the grog-seller turned I
And how did he feel beneath that look?
Why, his jaw fell down, and he shivered and shook,
And quivered and quaked in every limb,
As an ague-fit had hold of him !
And his eyes to the monster grim were glued,
And his tongue was as stiff as a billet of wood ;
But the fiend laughed on, " Ho ! ho ! — he 1 he ! "
And switched his tail in his quiet glee. .
" Why, what do you fear, my friend?" he said,
And nodded the horns of his grisly head.
" You're an ally of mine, and I love you well !
In a very warm country, that men call Ilell,
I hold my court, — and I'm proud to say,
I have not a faithfuller fiend in pay
Than you, dear sir, for a work of evil ; —
Mayhap you don't know me ? I'm called the devil 1 "
Like a galvanized corpse, so pale and wan,
Up started, instanter, that horror-struck man;
And he turned up the whites of his goggle eyes.
With a look half terror and half surprise.
And his tongue was loosed, but his words were few : —
" The devil ? — you don't — " — *' Yes, faith ! I do,"
Interrupted Old Nick, " and hQ^'e's the proofs :
Just twig my tail, and my horns, and hoofs I
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184 THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER.
•* Having come firom warmer climes below,
To chat with a Mend for an hour or so,
And the night being somewhat chill) I think
Yon might ask an old fellow to take a drink t
Now let it be strong, — the clear, pure stuflf, —
Sweetened with brimstone, — a quart is enough; •
Stir up the mess in an iron cup.
And heat by the fire till it bubbles up I "
As the devil bade, so the grog-seller did,
Filling a' flagon with gin to the lid;
And when it boiled and bubbled o'er,
The fiery draught to his guest he bore. *
Nick in a jiflEy the liquor did quaff.
And thanked his host with a guttural laugh;
But faint and few were the smiles, I ween.
That on the grog-seller's face were seen.
For a mortal fear was on him then ;
And he deemed that the ways of living men
He should tread no more, — that his hour had
* And his master too, to call him home I
Thought went back to the darkened past,
And shrieks were heard on the wintry blast,
And, gliding before him, pale and dim,
Were gibbering fiends and spectres grim I
«* Ho I ho I " said Nick ; " 'tis a welcome cold
You give to a friend so true and old,
Who has been for years in your own employ,
Bunning about like an errand-boy.
But we'll not fall opt, for I clearly see
You are rather afraid ('tis strange I) of me.
Do you think I've come for you ? — never fear;
You can't be spared for a long while here I
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THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER. 185
" There are hearts to break ; there are souls to win
From the ways of peace to the paths of sin ;
There are homes to be rendered desolate ;
There is trusting love to be changed to hate ;
There are hands that murder must crimson red;
There are hopes to crush ; there is blight to be shed
Over the young, and pure, and the fair,
Till their lives are crushed by the flehd Despair 1
" This is the work you have done so well,
Cursing the earth and peopling hell ;
Quenching the light on the inner shrine
Of the human soul, till y«u make it mine I . '
Want and Sorrow, Disease and Shame, '
And crimes that even /shudder to name,
Dance and howl, in their hellish glee.
Around the spirits you've marked for me I
" Oh, Selling of grog is a good device.
To make a hell of Paradise I
Wherever may roll the fiery flood.
It is swollen with tears, it is stained with blood I
And the voice that was heard ere while in prayer
With its muttered curses stirs the air,
And the hand that shielded the wife from ill
In its drunken wrath is raised to kill !
" Hold on your course ! you are filling up.
With the wine of the wrath of God, your cup;
And the fiends exult, in their homes below,
As yon deepen the pangs of human woe !
Long will it be, if I have my way.
Ere the night of death shall close your day.
For, to pamper your lust for the glittering pelf,
You rival in mischief the devil himself! *'
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186 THE TEMPERANCE -SPEAKER.
Ko more said the fiend ; for, clear and high.
Rang oat on the air the watchman's cry.
With a choking sob, and a half-formed scream^
The grog-seller waked, — it was all a dream!
His grisly gnest, with his horns, had flown;
The lamp was out, and the fire was' gone^
And sad and silent, his bed he sought.
And long of the wondrous yision thought I
W. H. BUKLraCOL
Courage, Lost One*
Who would be a moral knave ?
Who would be a sot and slave ?
Who would fill a drunkard's grave?
Never let it be.
Who will take the noble plan?
Who will prove himself a man?
Lost one I if you will, you can; —
Will it and be free I
Let no coward fears aflVight,
God is on the side of right ;
He will aid you by his might,
If you will be ftee.
Never such a word as fail ;
Right is might, and must prevail;
Darkest foes in vain assail ;
Onward, and l^e Aree !
Wipe the tear from woman's ejre;
Still the hungry children's cry;
Be a freeman, live or die ;
Triumph waits the tree t
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THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER. 187
A Finished Education*
Charactera. — Edward and Henrt.
£S0«n«.—Heni7 alone in his study. Enter Edward with adgarin
hisliand.
Mward, Harrahl this winds up school-days. Now
for life.
Henry* Heighol you appear to have steam up this
morning.
S. Yes, sir, and something's got to move. But what
are you moping over books for? Come, put away the
rubbish, and take a turn with me.
H. Not so fast, my fly-away. Suppose you throw
away your rubbish, — I mean that cigar you are making
such a flourish with,— and let's have a little chat. You're
getting into such a fUme, I shouldn't like to trust myself
to go with you just now.
E, Oh I nonsense! You're a natural-bom old fogy,
and you'll never know anything about life. I suppose
you mean to grub away at your books until you get to be
as wise and as stupid as Professor Brown, who is always
In a brown study, and don't know enough to tie a
cravat.
H. You talk a good deal about life; perhaps there's
more in that word than you think of.
jE, Yes, sir, I know there is. I'm like a bird that's
been shut up these ten years in a cage of a school- room.
How could I know anything about life ? But now the
door's open, and I'm bound to have my liberty.
H, Liberty to do what?
E, Why, whatever comes into my head« I can smoke
wh^ I like ; I can go out nights, and' come in when I
please; I can have a jolly spree with the boys, and havo
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188 THE TEMPERANCE SPEAKER.
good times generally, without any old Brown to do me
broion for it.
H. According to your own story, you have merely-
chosen a new master, or rather, many masters, in place
of Professor Brown. You expect to obey whatever
notion comes into your head. Your fancy or your appe-
tite will say, ** Smoke," and you*ll smoke. Your com-
panions will say, "Let*shave a jolly spree," — that is,
" Let's drink wine until we are half crazy and can enjoy
acting uproarious and silly," — and you'll obey them and
make a fool of yourself. Professor Brown never required
anything half so unreaisonable.
E, But you know a fellow must sow his wild oats I
. jff I don't know any must of the kind. I have deter-
mined to see life too, and to have my liberty, and there
shall be no must like that over me.
E, You*re a queer fellow ; you never would do like
the rest of us ; but I can't help liking you.
ff. Thank you for your ft'iendship. I wish I might
use it for your benefit. Edward, you have never really
thought what life is. Look at yourself a moment ; you
can think soundly if you'll only hold still long enough.
You're not half the reprobate you sometimes seem. Yoa
have a body and a soul. They are for you to improve
or ruin. You can put them under training that will make
them stronger, better, and happier, or you can sufi'er
them to be made weak, mean, and miserable. Now,
which course Is true life ?
E, But you would cut off all a fellow's ftin.
H. No, but I would stop his folly. Don't I enjoy
sport as well as you ? I don't want to brag, but I'll ask
who was the best skater on the pond yesterday? Who
has been the captain of your ball-club and the leader on
the academy playground?
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THE TEMPEEANCE SPEAKER. 189
E, You, of coarse ; that's why I like you, in spite of
your preaching..
H. Isn't the preaching, as you call it, true? Don't