The Fair Fiend: A Poem

THE FAIR FIEND. {For the Improvement Era.) Beware a fiend in angel form, A demon in disguise, Who spreads his snare for human souls, The foolish and the wise. He wears a mask — a winning mien. And seems a friend, not foe; Appears descending from above, While rising from below.

. ; 984 IMPROVEMENT ERA. His favorite weapon is a smile He ne'er was known to frown; He never yet used violence To throw a victim down. But oh beware this demon fair, ! This fiend in angel guise, Whose deadliest dart, a loving look From soft and siren eyes More fatal far than golden lure, Than Bacchanalian bowl, Than all beside that charms the will And wantons with the soul. Resist — repel this f oeman fell. And drive him to his lair, But never thou the gauntlet hurl, Never this demon dare. Should he in strife the stronger prove, One way is open — flee. 'Tis no disgrace when overmatched; Retreat means victory. Recruit thy worn and shattered strength, And in some future fray Thy might shall make thee conqueror- The demon thou shalt slay. Well known this universal foe; World-wide his evil fame; The human heart his battle-ground; Temptation is his name. Orson F. Whitney. SaltXake City, Utah.