Lynchburg Virginian

SONG OF THE WATER-DRINKER.
By Dr. E. Johnson.

Oh! water for me! bright water for me.
And wine for the tremulous debauchee
It cooleth the brow! it cool-eth the brain,
It maketh the faint one strong again:
It comes o'er the sense like a breeze from thosea,
All freshness, like infant purity
Oh! water, bright water, for me, for me!
Give wine, give wine to the debauchee
Fill to the brim: Fill, fill to the brim
Let the flowing crystal kiss the rim!
For my hand is steady, my eye is true:
For, like the flowers, drink naught but dew
Oh! water, bright water's a mine of wealth,
And the ores it yieldeth are vigor and health.
So water, pure water, for me, for me
And wine for the tremulous debauchee
Fill again to the brim! again to the brim!
For water strengtheneth life and limb!
To the days of the aged it addeth length.
To the might of the strong it addeth strength.
It freshens the heart, it brightens the sight.
'Tis like quaffing a goblet of morning light.
So, water! I will drink naught but thee.
Thou parent of health and energy
When o'er the hills, like a gladsome bride,
Morning walks forth in her beauty's pride.
And, leading a band of laughing Hours,
Brushes the dew from the nodding flowers
Oh! cheerily then my voice is heard
Mingling with that of the soaring bird,
Who flingeth abroad his matins loud,
As he freshens his wing in the cold gray cloud.
But when Evening has quitted her sheltering yew,
Drowsily flying and weaving anew
Her dusky meshes o'er land and sea--
How gently, O sleep, fall thy poppies on me
For I drink water, pure, and cold and bright,
And my dreams are of heaven the livelong night.
So, hurrah for thee, Water! hurrah! hurrah!
Thou art silver and gold! thou art riband and star
Hurrah! for bright water! Hurrah, hurrah