Temperance by Julia Lloyd Colegrove

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 7, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 30.

Temperance.

By Julia Lloyd Colegrove

ONWARD.

By Mrs. Julia Lloyd Colegrove.

THIS life is such a boon, It is so bright; we love its morn, its noon, Its night. Our hearts go out For good, not ill, which lies about— Only one life, one chance to try Our strength or weakness ere we die. In the great fight we must prevail; We love the right—right cannot fail.

The slain lie thick around; They fought not well. Heedless, on slippery ground, They fell where wine-dregs lay, Thrown by the hands that hell obey, Regardless of the bitter blight Of those who plead through years of night, That there may be a safer way For those whose wills have gone astray.

A time of light is this— The path is clear. Down, down the dark abyss, So near, none need to go. The tippler need not tread the path of woe; Kind friends are on his track; The law shall hedge him back; And he himself shall say: I can, I will be strong; I am a man.

The boys, so glad and free, So full of health and hope and life and glee, And wealth of loving trust, They will not lay their honor in the dust; Though hurried on from joy to joy, They know the gilded, painted toy Of short-lived pleasure in the wine-cup's glow Is but a cheat which they can well forego.

They know the bitter end That, fast or slow, the steps would downward tend; And so, with heart and voice, While mothers, sisters, friends rejoice— The boys, the gay, glad boys Who love to make a glorious noise— They cry, "Let Prohibition rule the world, And Alcohol, the foe, down from his throne be hurled."

Prescott, Ark.