An Old Man's Prayer
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This simple story will be recognized by many throughout New England to whom the author has had the pleasure of reciting it. Frequent requests that he would place it in shape for preservation have emboldened him to issue it in its present dress. Painfully conscious of its defects as a literary work, he sends it forth in search of old acquaintances, trusting it may receive a share of that kindly favor bestowed upon it as it fell from his lips.
AN OLD MAN’S PRAYER
In the loftiest room, of princely state,Of a modern palace grand and great, —Whose marble front is a symbol trueOf the inner splendors hid from view, —On an autumn night, when wild withoutThe bold winds held their revel rout,Rudely assailing the passing throng,Through churchyards creeping with mournful song,A group was gathered around a boardHeaped with all that wealth could afford,Or taste could suggest: dishes costly and rare,Fruits of all climes and all seasons, were there.The pendent lights in brilliance dancedOn the gleaming plate their rays enhanced;The massive mirrors thrice displayedThe stately banquet there arrayed.Furniture carved by an artist hand,Carpets which only great wealth could command,Curtains of damask, of lace, and of gold,Spoke of the splendors wealth could unfold,And filled with a joy and a pleasure rareThe youthful hearts that were gathered there.Slender each form, and fair each face,Of the twelve gay lads which that table grace,As with genial talk and pleasant jestThey banter each other, and cheer their guest.For one guest is there, as youthful as they,With a heart as light, and a voice as gay,Who laughs at their jests with ready glee,And whose quick returns speak a spirit free,An honored guest; for, on the morrow,They must part with him in pain and sorrow.The glittering emblems his shoulders bearBid him for strife and for peril prepare;Bid him go forth at his Country’s call,With her banner to triumph, or on it to fall.A moment’s pause, as with ready handThe waiter hurries, at command,To clear the table, and, insteadOf the rich, choice viands thickly spread,Ranges dark bottles and cruses, which showMarks of long years in damp vaults below.The richest juices age can displayAre quickly spread in tempting array.Wines of Bordeaux and Seville are there,With liquors and cordials sparkling and rare;And bottles are opened, and glasses are filled.When all in a moment the tumult is stilled,As he who presides with dignified graceHigh raises his goblet, and stands in his place: —“I give you, friends, no warrior’s nameYour hearts to thrill, your blood to flame;No toast to beauty shall my lips repeat,Where we to-night in sacred friendship meetTo part with one, who, in our boyhood’s days,Earnest and true, won all our love and praise;Who, on the morrow, plays the hero’s part,And seeks the battle with a loyal heart.His health I give with an earnest prayer,That, while on his mission of peril and care,Success may be his, and, by deeds renowned,He may meet us again with laurels crowned.”All glasses are raised, when a gentle handIs heard at the door – all silent standAs it slowly opens, and into the lightAn old man steps, his features bright:The long white hairs o’er his shoulders stream;Like silver threads in the warm rays beam.Wrinkled his brow, and pale his face,Wasted his form, and tottering his pace,Shrunken his cheek; but the eye aboveTells of gentleness, kindliness, love.And silent stand all as he slowly seeksA place near the table, and gently speaks: —“Young men, but a moment I check your mirth,And bring you back to the common earth.Unbidden I come with an old man’s prayer:May it seek your hearts, and gain entrance there!Look on my face, seamed, not with crime,But with marks of age before their time:These long white hairs should not have shownTill ten more years had by me flown.Age is upon me; not age by years,But age by sorrow and care and tears;Not age that cheers as it draweth nearYon heaven which seemeth more bright and clear,But age which causes the heart to lagIn its onward course, and the spirit to flag;That prays for death as but a releaseFrom earthly care, and finds no peaceIn that sweet belief that at last I hail, —‘There is rest for the weary beyond the vale.’For to me has come a spirit of light,Bringing the morning, and chasing the night;Causing my heart with joy to swellTo my Maker, ‘who doeth all things well.’You shall hear my story: ’twill not be long,And may guard you all from sin and from wrong.I had wealth and plenty in goodly lands,In houses and cattle; and from my handsMany were fed; and many were theyWho partook of my charity day by day.My house was open to stranger and friend;And my gold did I lavishly, freely spend.But one bitter curse did my wealth uprearTo poison my life, – the tempter here,The sparkling demon, which now I seeFrom all your glasses glaring on me, —A monster who steals on its prey so slow,That it has your life before you knowOr dream of its power: this was the curseThat sat at my fire-side, robbed my purse,Poisoned my life, and left me to beA drifting log on the world’s wide sea,Ruined and bankrupt, lost and bereft;No kindred, no fortune, no treasure, left.Treasure! – yes; for I had three sons,The hope of my life, – three noble ones.You shall hear their fate, and then I’ll away,Nor longer your hour of pleasure delay.One sought as a merchant hopeful to clearOur tarnished name, to again uprearOur shattered house; but, sad to say,The curse of the wine-cup was in his way.He seized on it madly, drank deep and fast,And sank to the drunkard’s grave at last.I stood by his side as with frenzy wildHe cursed himself and his wife and child;He cursed me too, as the one who had ledHis feet in the path that drunkards tread;And then – it was worse than all beside —He cursed his Maker; and then – he died!Another, with spirit that loved to brave,Sought a bold, free life on the ocean-wave.He left my side full of life and health,In a good stanch ship, in search of wealth.A twelvemonth passed, and day by dayI scanned for his sail the distant bay.At last I saw it, and eagerly flewTo welcome my boy so manly and true.But, alas! he was gone: no son to greetMy waiting heart came with eager feet.But they told me there, – one stormy night,When the heavens were filled with angry light,The waves rolled high, and the winds beat wild,That out on a frail yard went my child;He had drunk deep, and ’twas fearful to sweepOn that slender spar o’er the seething deep;That one heavy sea tossed the ship like a toy,And hurled from his hold my darling boy.Then I sank me down in agony wild,And glared on the waves that rolled over my child:I gazed until in the waters blueI saw reflected the brilliant hueOf one lone star, which, high above,Seemed to speak to my heart of faith and love;And I thought, as I turned my eyes to its light.It beckoned me on to the heavens so bright,Where I know, whenever this life shall cease,I shall meet my boy in eternal peace.I had but one left; and him I taughtTo shun each sinful word and thought;To beware of the wine-cup’s demon lure,That would steel his heart, and his soul obscure.He took the way of life that leadsTo the sacred desk where the preacher pleads,And placed his foot on the pulpit stair,The gospel – banner of life – to bear.When the cannon’s boom o’er Sumter broke,And the air was filled with traitorous smoke;When brave men sprang with willing heartsTo their Country’s flag to repel the dartsWhich treason had hurled with malice wildAt the life of the mother, so good and mild, —My boy stepped down from the preacher’s stand,And started forth, with life in hand,To sell it dear, but to battle strongWith the loyal North against fearful wrong.I know that he carries a magic spell’Gainst the curse of our race to guard him well;And I know, should he fall, his death will beIn the foremost ranks of loyalty.And now, young men, an old man’s prayer: —Leave the bright wine in your glasses there;Shun its allurements; for in its deep redIs the blood of its victims dying and dead.Fill up your glasses, and pledge your friendIn the crystal stream that Heaven doth send.”With a lowly bow, and the same meek air,He has passed the door, and adown the stair;While those he has left to their leader turnWith downcast eyes, and cheeks that burn.Silent he stands as his glass he takes,When the guest of the evening the silence breaks.“Friends of my boyhood, the old man’s prayerShall meet a response in the heart I wear.I come to-night from a mother’s side:She watches my life with a parent’s pride;And I know ’tis the dearest wish of her heart,In camp and in battle to keep me apartFrom sin and temptation; unceasing will prayHeaven’s blessing to guard on my perilous way.And this pledge will I leave her, – never againMy lips with the wine-cup’s poison to stain.So, friends, let’s drink to our meeting again:My drink is the water, free from all stain.”He stood with his upraised glass, and the lightFull on his fair young brow beamed bright, —That brow which an anxious mother would kissWith a pure, deep feeling of heartfelt bliss;And along the line of his comrades young,To honor his toast, each hand upsprung:In not one glass did the red wine gleam;But all were filled from the crystal stream.On the morrow, adown the street,With trumpet’s blast and war-drum’s beat,Firm and erect, with martial tread,The flag of their Country overhead,With brave, stout hearts, and patriot-song,The Nation’s heroes go marching along.And our soldier is there, marching forthTo join the bands of the loyal North;To strike a blow for his Country dear,And her trailing flag to again uprear.Light is his heart; his faith is strong;Bright gleams his sword as he moves along:But the armor he wears shall serve him bestIs the shield of Temperance guarding his breast.