Classic Poem

On Seeing a Friend inebriated

M Y Eyes they did affect my Heart,
What of this shall I say,
My Friend of whom I highly thought
So dead in Liquor lay.

His artless Children on him play'd,
He did no notice take.
So dead in Sleep and Liquor sure
That nothing could him wake.

Parents before your Off-spring ne'er
Such bad examples set,
But train them up in Wisdom's ways,
Lest they her Laws forget.

Most ask a blessing on their Food,
I wish that all would think,
On Liquor ask a blessing first,
Before they dare to drink.

Of Drink should all them cauteous be
That bear a Christians name,
Oh! do not Crucify the Lord,
And put him oft to shame.

Why say " your health " unto your Friends,
And yet so thoughtless be,
To injure Soul and Body both,
By drinking oft too free.

May Drunkards consciences awake,
This Crime to know and feel,
Willing and humble may they fly
To christ their Souls to heal.

Oft , when the watching stars grow pale,
And round me sleeps the moonlight scene,
To hear a flute through yonder vale
I from my casement lean.
" Come, come, my love! " each note then seems to say,
" Oh, come, my love! the night wears fast away! "
Never to mortal ear
Could words, tho' warm they be,
Speak Passion's language half so clear
As do those notes to me!

Then quick my own light lute I seek,
And strike the chords with loudest swell;
And, tho' they naught to others speak,
He knows their language well.
" I come, my love! " each note then seems to say,
" I come, my love! — thine, thine till break of day. "
Oh, weak the power of words,
The hues of painting dim,
Compared to what those simple chords
Then say and paint to him!