Classic Poem

See yonder wretched little girl,
Braving cold, and want, and peril,
Wandering through the frozen street,
Seeking her she fears to meet;
Matted locks hang round her ears,
From her wild eyes rain the tears;
In her arms a squalid child,
Wrapt in rags all torn and soil'd,
Clinging to her shivering breast —
Young bird cast from rifled nest.
Now the mother's form she sees,
Drooping head and tottering knees.
Babbling tongue and idiot stare,
Ah! too well her state declare.
" Mother! mother! father's come;
Haste! oh, haste! he waits at home! "
Ay! he waits for her returning,
Wrath and hate within him burning.
Oh! that home, how desolate!
Bare the walls, and cold the grate;
Empty cupboard, naked bed,
Health and peace and comfort fled!
Hark, those sounds! your ears they tingle!
Blows and shrieks and curses mingle —
Words of passion, fierce and wild,
Weeping girl and screaming child,
While the shades of evening close,
Cowering, sobbing, seek repose;
Couched on straw, the group, forlorn,
Wait the miseries of the morn.
God! I pray, with heart high swelling,
Mercy on the drunkard's dwelling.

See that playful, laughing girl,
Lips of rose, and teeth of pearl,
Brow unwrinkled by a frown,
Waving locks of golden brown,
Shading soft her azure eyes,
Dimpled cheeks whose hue outvies
Rosebud wild, I hear her singing —
O'er the mead her wild flight winging —
Weaving 'neath the willow bushes
Coronets of fragrant rushes
Mother at the cottage door —
Gazing the fair landscape o'er —
Sees on homeward path advancing,
Her wee daughter, skipping, dancing,
Fill'd her lap, and hands, and bosom
With flowery blooms and hawthorn blossom.
Look within; how clean and neat!
The fire is bright, the tea is set;
The father lifts his eyes to heaven,
And asks on all its bounties given
God's blessing. Now the blooms and roses
Are laid aside; the evening closes
The blinds are drawn — fast closed the door —
And now, upon the cottage floor,
That lovely, lowly group are kneeling
In fervent prayer, to Heaven appealing;
And while their hymn of praise is swelling,
We'll pray, " God bless the temperance dwelling. "