Poems (Barker)/Adele's Mission
Adele's Mission.
Night broods o'er the city, its snow laden breath Brings whisper of hunger and rapine and death;Day brings to the city, joy, sunlight and peace, Night gives every demon of evil release.In one squallid garret, close huddled in fear, Two children were murmuring faint words of cheer,"He may not come home till the morning," they said, "And may be he'll bring us a morsel of bread."
"I'm hungry, so hungry," then to her breast The older one, softly the little one pressed."Try darling to sleep, you'll dream if you do, And may be your beautiful dream will come true:Of flowers, and fountains and plenty to eat, And never to lie in the cold, dirty street.And—what is that Lolo? then lower the head As she lists to that stumbling, uncertain tread.
The door is thrown open, an oath meets their ears, Hope dies in their bosom extinguished by fear."Where are you, speak quick or I'll murder you both," Each sentence embellished with gesture and oath."Here father, but oh, please don't beat me to-night, "I haven't a penny, I walked till the light"Was all gone from the sky. We're so hungry and cold," And the little one sobbed when her story was told.
Oh merciless father, brute, demon thou art, Drink has closed every window and door of thy heart,Else never that hand could be raised to the child. Whose eyes now are watching, appealing and wild.She sank to the floor neath the weight of the blow, But sprang to her feet at the words, "Now, where's Lo?""Oh father, don't touch her, my darling, my pride, "Mother left her to me on the night that she died.
"You may beat me again, I'll not murmur or cry, "But father, for Lolo, I'd willingly die."In vain is her pleading, his mad, brutal hand Grasps the fair fragile child and his angry command:"Now leave me Adele, do you hear what I say?" She sprang to her feet like some hurt thing at bay,And the look in her eyes was so hunted and wild, For one moment he paused in surprise at the child.
No word left her lips, but before he could guess, He caught the last fluttering glimpse of her dressAs she fled down the stair, while her arms fondly pressed The sister she loved to her desolate breast.His voice met her ears and the sound of his feet, Down, down, down she flitted, then out in the street,Out into the darkness, out into the snow, With no one to point her young feet where to go.
Upbourne by the weight of her grief and despair, It mattered not then, anywhere, anywhere,On the wings of the wind with her burden she fled, Anywhere from the sound of that staggering tread,Anywhere from the weight of that uplifted hand, Anywhere in the breadth or the length of the landBut fainting and weary at last she sank down, She has come to a far better part of the town.
It is quiet and still save the winds fitful cry, And here but for Lolo she gladly would die.She gives one sad look at the desolate night, When o'er her pale face falls a glimmer of light.It comes from a window whose curtain withdrawn Throws a bright ray of light o'er the snow-covered lawn,With the child in her arms to the window she crept, And gazed with full heart while she silently wept.
'Twas a fair, pleasant room with a fire warm and bright, Books, pictures and flowers she saw by its light,And wondered if flowers could be found in the snow, And how the pale blossoms could learn how to grow.But the fairest of all in that fairy-like place Was the form of a woman, with half hidden face.There were tears in her eyes but they had not been shed, As the bell tolled for midnight she bowed down her head
A moment, then sprang to her feet and the child Heard her words like a prayer, so heart-broken and wild."O father in Heaven, oh Savior of mine, Give, give back my husband, unsullied by wine."There are steps in the street, there's a form at the door, "Kept by business, Lucile, and your grace I implore."You are lonely and tired, but now little bride, "Here's a gift for your patience," she laid it aside.
"No gift you could offer would fill me with bliss "Half so Heavenly and pure as your warm greeting kiss,"Your lips all unsullied, oh husband of mine, "Your bright eye undaunted, unclouded by wine."Oh give me your promise this demon to shun, "'Twill lead you to ruin, 'twill blot out life's sun."He laughed at her gently then drew to his side, This fair, little woman his scarce six months bride.
"I see no hurt in it, what harm can betide," "If you'll listen I'll tell you," a soft voice replied.They sprang to their feet in wondering amaze, Two poor little waifs met their pitying gaze,And the servant behind them "pray what could I do, For she begged at the door just one moment with you."The child all unheeding their pitying surprise, Came quickly towards them with sad upturned eyes.
"O! sir I will tell you what harm will befall, "Death, darkness and ruin, destruction to all."Your wife will grow pale and this fair golden hair, "Will shine with the silver of pain and despair."These eyes will grow hollow, these cheeks will grow thin, "There'll be darkness without, there'll be sorrow within,"Your home will be poverty's haunt of distress, "The end of the harm, sir, you never can guess.
"See here," and she pointed her poor swollen feet, All bleeding and torn by the stones of the street,And her white shoulders bearing the mark of the blow, And her torn, ragged dress and her face full of woe."To-night from my father I hastened in fear, "He said he would beat her, this baby so dear."My fair little Lolo, oh sir, do you see, What hurt there is in it, what harm there can be?"
The child has ceased speaking, then husband and wife, In hushed solemn silence are filled with new life.His eyes are uplifted, the promise is given, And angels rejoice in the bright courts of Heaven."So helping me God, I will never depart, With hand clasped in hand and with heart joined to heart."Then two little wanderers were sheltered and fed, And cuddled up close in a warm, downy bed.
"They are ours from the Lord, He will care for his own, "Their bruised feet will lead us close up to His throne."Oh Lolo so fair, with your golden crowned head, "Dear gentle Adele, your sad lesson is read."And may God in His justice deal ever with me, "Little lambs from the flock as I e'er deal with thee."And you my sweet wife, all your vigils are o'er, "With God's help, I never shall drink any more."