 | Verses of a life time |  |
195
TEMPERANCE FLOWERS.
[_]
[The following lines were suggested by observing a beautiful vase of flowers every evening at the Charleston Temperance meetings. The exquisite original of Mrs. Hemans has been adhered to as far as practicable with the change of sentiment.]
Bring flowers, young flowers to Temperance Hall,
From gardens where dew-drops have loved to fall;
Bring flowers, they are springing in wood and vale,
And their breath floats out on the southern gale,
And the touch of the sunbeam hath waked the rose,
To deck the fountain whence water flows!
From gardens where dew-drops have loved to fall;
Bring flowers, they are springing in wood and vale,
And their breath floats out on the southern gale,
And the touch of the sunbeam hath waked the rose,
To deck the fountain whence water flows!
Bring flowers to strew in Reform's pure path,
He hath shaken thrones in his noble wrath;
He comes with the rescue of nations back;—
The tempter lies crushed in his chariot's track,
The turf looks green where he wins the day,
Bring flowers to bloom in Reform's pure way!
He hath shaken thrones in his noble wrath;
He comes with the rescue of nations back;—
The tempter lies crushed in his chariot's track,
The turf looks green where he wins the day,
Bring flowers to bloom in Reform's pure way!
196
Bring Temperance flowers to the drunkard's cell,
They have tales of mercy and hope to tell;
Of the free blue streams, and the glowing sky,
And the bright world shut from his glazing eye;
They will bear him a thought of his innocent hours
And a dream of his youth—bring him Temperance flowers!
They have tales of mercy and hope to tell;
Of the free blue streams, and the glowing sky,
And the bright world shut from his glazing eye;
They will bear him a thought of his innocent hours
And a dream of his youth—bring him Temperance flowers!
Bring flowers for the Temperance bride to wear,
They were born to blush in her shining hair;
She is leaving the home of her childhood's mirth,
She hath bid farewell to her father's hearth;
Her place is now by another's side,
Bring flowers for the locks of the Temperance bride.
They were born to blush in her shining hair;
She is leaving the home of her childhood's mirth,
She hath bid farewell to her father's hearth;
Her place is now by another's side,
Bring flowers for the locks of the Temperance bride.
Bring flowers to the Temperance shrine of prayer,
They are virtue's offering, their place is there;
They speak of hope to the fainting heart;
With a voice of promise, they come and part,
They slept in temptation's wintry hours;—
They break forth in glory—bring Temperance flowers
They are virtue's offering, their place is there;
They speak of hope to the fainting heart;
With a voice of promise, they come and part,
They slept in temptation's wintry hours;—
They break forth in glory—bring Temperance flowers
Charleston, S. C. 1846.
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