O Have Ye Not Heard

                                 I.
       O have ye not heard,
Ye sad devotees to the cup of despair,
Who quench the flame of humanity there,
       Say, have ye not heard
       Of the gladdening word,
    How the drunkard, burst
    From his chains accursed,
    Is standing once more
    Where he stood before,
With his heart unbound by its crime and care?

                                 II.
       Say, have ye not heard
That the chain which bound him down, he broke
With his own right hand, at one quick stroke;
      And have ye not heard
       How his hops deferred,
    That sickened the soul
    With and control,
    Now cometh with rest
    To his troubled breast,
As he spurns the weight of his cruel yoke?

                                 III.
       O have ye not heard
Of the joy which comes to the drunkard’s wife,
As he turns away from his path of strife,
       While his soul is stirred
       With the blessed word
    Which called him back
    From his downward track,
    And led him to pour
    His love once more
On her who was ever the light of his life?

                                 IV.
       Then if ye have heard,
Again to the joys of life turn back,
Retrace the steps of your devious track,
       Or soon will be heard
       The fearful word,
    On the air to boom,
    Which tells of your doom
    At the terrible goal,
    Where the sin-sunk soul
With its groans o’er sounds the red waves’ wrack.