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A Drop of Drink Magnified.

E'en as beneath the wondrous misroscope
The myriads of animalculæ,
That in a drop of water, live and move,
Are plainly to the human gaze displayed,
So will a little drop of drink disclose
The foul, yet truthful things that lurk within,
When seen beneath the Microscope of Truth.

Examine closely, and stay not your eye
To mark such poisons as the "fusel oil,"
Or "grains of paradise"—a happy name!—
But with the eye of Truth pierce through these things,
Discovering what "worse remains behind."

What does the youth find in a drop of drink!
An idleness, a laziness, and then
A burning thirst that, aye unceasing, craves
More drink, and still more drink, and yet toe more
Of drink he takes, the more of drink he wants.
Neglect of business—still more drink—At last
Dismissed for drunkenness, he starves or begs.
Still seeking drink, he hurries into crime,
And in a prison cell, with bitter curse,
He rails against the fiend that racks him—drink.

A drop of drink. The patient, loving wife,
That tends her drunken husband in his cups,
Receives in payment for her kindness, blows,
Until she curses too, the demon drink.

The maid that might have been a happy wife,
Perchance will take the fatal drop of drink;
What will she find in it?—a life of shame,
Heart-broken parents—a dishonoured name,
The scorn of all, the love of none, and then
The wretched ending of the suicide.

No love of God—no happy children's smile,
No filial obedience or sweet love,
No aim for higher things in times to come,
No duty or respect—No single thing,
In which man should be his Creator's image,
Is found within that little drop of drink,
When seen beneath the Misoroscope of Truth.