p. 189 | Temperance by Oriana Leslie

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 21, 1881

Temperance.

By Oriana Leslie

A MOTHER'S LAMENT.

ONCE I held him in fond embrace, His bright curls drifting o'er neck and face; No earthly music so sweet to me, As that merry laughter, that childish glee. In his life, his hopes, were my only joy, Oh! my passionate love for that fair-haired boy; Now a dungeon echoes my darling's moan, Had I but known! Oh, had I but known!

I gave him wine, I never thought With what poison and madness the draught was fraught; They told me, but calm in my pride I smiled And said as I gave the cup to my child, "Only false, weak natures have need to fear, None loving and true like my darling here." But the fiend I admitted no mercy has shown, Had I but known! Oh, had I but known!

I loved my darling with a worshipful pride; He was my all since his father died. So true, so ready to do and dare— His eye so clear, and his brow so fair; Now on that stands the sweat of pain, Now those hands bear the murderer's stain. In a darkened world I stand alone, Had I but known! Oh, had I but known!

Oriana Leslie.