Rhode Island Temperance Herald

POETRY.
From the Boston Pearl.
THE RUINED ONE.

Ay, gaze upon that marble face—
That lip so richly curved, but pale—
That form of more than angel grace,
Though shrouded dark in sorrow's veil.

A smile is on that brow of snow,
A smile which others weep to see—
So full of patient, thrilling woe—
From selfish plaint so meekly free.

I knew her when in girlhood bright
She sang and danced the hours away,
A thing of loveliness and light,
With nought to mar her cloudless day.

Her spirit rose so pure and high,
It seemed the world could blast it not;
Yet there was in her deep soft eye,
A shade which told her future lot.

A dream came o'er that spotless soul,
A maddening dream of love's young birth;
Through every burning vein it stole,
And drew her heart from heaven to earth.

And few have loved like her beside—
So fond, so free, so deep, so wild,
She yielded up her maiden pride
With the sweet meekness of a child.

She gave him all without a thought—
Herself too pure to dream of guile,
Behold the wretched ruin wrought,
Yet see the martyred angel smile!

'Tis he, that loved and worshipped one,
Hath dimmed the brightest gem of earth,
And boasts the deed which he hath done,
While revelling in heartless mirth.

MARY.