American Old Time Song Lyrics: 25 The Two Glasses

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 25

THE TWO GLASSES.
By Ella Wheeler.

There sat two glasses, filled to the brim,
On a rich man's table, rim to rim;
One was ruddy, and red as blood,
And one was clear as the crystal flood.

Said the glass of wine to his paler brother,
"Let us tell tales of the past to each other.
I can tell of banquet, and revel, and mirth,
Where I was king, for I ruled in might.
And the proudest and grandest souls on earth
Fell under my touch, as though struck with blight.
From the heads of kings I have torn the crown,
From the heights of fame I have hurled men down;
I have blasted many an honored name;
I have taken virtue, and given shame;
I have tempted the youth with a sip, a taste,
Which has made his future a barren waste.
Far greater than any king am I,
Or than any army beneath the sky:
I have made the arm of the driver fail,
And sent the train from its iron rail;
I have made good ships go down at sea,
And the shrieks of the lost were sweet to me,
For they said, ' Behold, how great you be!
Fame, strength, wealth, genius, before you fall,
And your might and power are over all.'
Ho! ho! pale brother, " laughed the wine,
"Can you boast of deeds as great as mine?"

Said the water glass: "I can not boast
Of a king dethroned, or a murdered host;
But I can tell of hearts that were sad;
By my crystal drops made light and glad;
Of thirsts I have quenched, and brows I've laved;
Of hands I have cooled, and souls I've saved.
I have leaped through the valley, dashed down the mountain,
Slept in the sunshine, and dripped from the fountain,
I have burst my cloud fetters and dropped from the sky,
And everywhere gladdened the landscape eye.
I have eased the hot forehead of fever and pain,
I have made the parched meadows grow fertile with grain;
I can tell of that powerful wheel of the mill
That ground out the flour, and turned at my will;
I can tell of manhood, debased by you.
That I have uplifted and crowned anew.
I cheer, I help, I strengthen and aid,
I gladden the heart of man and maid;
I set the chained wine-captive free,
And all are better for knowing me."

These are the tales they told to each other,
The glass of wine and its paler brother,
As they sat together, filled to the brim.
On a rich man's table, rim to rim.