Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-12-29

cended with the fortune-tcller into the garnet,
where the veil of futurity was thrown aside.
Such vile prostitution of the noblest pow
efs OF man to superstitious credulitJ ought to
call forth the severest reprehensions of an en-
iightened and intelligent people. know not
which to pity most-the old bag who pretend
ed to reveal the mysteries of futurity, or those
whose stupidity lead them to believe in such
vile nonsense"
ne letter then goes on to give very a.
muslng account of haunted house (near
Quobbin Meeting House, which we shall pre-
sent our readers in some future number.
AT the late anniversary of the Fraternitq of
oda FeuO'oS, "a literary association in this
town, Poem was delivered, the subject of
which was the death of .Massasoit. a Mar
raganset chief, friend OF the whites. from
which we have been allowed by the author
to make the following extract. In il we
think our readers will readily recognize the
writer to whom we have been indebted for
the articles which have appeared in the
SPY, under the signature off.
For the Massachusetts Spv I
There was time, when, unmolested here.
The rude and untaught Indian chas'd the deer.
when, on his lakes of soft and sunny blue,
ne launch'd, at morning, his light bark canoe,
10 hunt the seal and beaver, or to fling
Ills well-pois'd arrow at the wild birds wing.
His was life unstain'd by crime and guilt.
FOR then his brawny hand had never split
A nrother's blood-no angry passions dwelt
Within his breast-and he no hatred felt:
Hls path was bright with joys divinest fame.
For he had never known the white mans name:
There was in him proud sublimity of soul,
That spurn'd, with indignation, ali controuI:
tie never how'd beneath the iron rod
VI iawless power, or despotism's nod:
Misfortune's bearing arm of wo might rend
Ills towering spirit, but it could not bend.
Has life richer zest Is it more bright,
Where Learning and where Culture shed
their. light?
Can stern and proud Philosophy impart
Its ooasted magic TO the human heart?
Can awful Wisdom teach the soul to bear
Lille s varied ills, and wrestle with despair?
Can genius-ioster'd Genius, with its power,
Plant on life's path one SOLITARY flower.
No: these may teach soft Pleasures rose to
bloom,
But ali! it sheds its fragrance DER the tomb :
They may her sparkling goblet offer up,
But dregs of death are in the golden cup.
For one brief fitting hour here let us pause
Ere blank forgetfulness her curtain draws
o'er all things past; while yet there inter
One ray OF light, between us and the scenes
That SlGan'd our earlier day, and brightly shec
A 1-l, L, H., Isl.
What have are done to brighten or to grace
With truth or friendship this benighted race
What have we done-save only to defame,
And wrap in death or intamy his name?
The billowy tide of time rolls onward vet,
And soon their nations last pale star shall set
! And dark Annihilation's wand shall rest
On all those children of the rosy west.
Ere long shall dim Tradition only tell
| How Philip fought, or brave Tecumseh fell:
| And round their names, unhonour'd anc
untold,
Shall dark oblivion his black mantle fold.
| Then, ere the close of that approaching day,
That shall behold their last sun fade away,
Ere yet those clouds, still ting'd with rays O.
light,
Are wholly lost in one unbroken night,
Let song throw round each high, heroick name
| Its own pure light, its glory and its flame:
And keen-eyed History on its page ins cribe
The proud achievements of each valiant tribe
Although yon pillar'd dome, yon solid pile,
On Times approach seems scornfully to smile
| And plants its columns, classic, chaste, AM
fair,
On his destroying scythe, thrown broken there
And in its halls those trophies there are PLACID
| That once the wa:-chief and his people grac'd-
All ! Chat nUatlS al /? Times coroding rust
Shall give its walls and pillars to the dust.
Ask where is Babylon mo answer comes
From her fair palaces, or brazen domes
| Her tower that met the sky no longer tells
| Where the bright Queen of Chaldean glor,
! dwells.
| Go to the Listing Pyramids, and ask
How they have done TO royalty their task I?
Rear'd firmly as the everlasting rocks,
| Defying Times and Wars unceasing shocks
Design'd, IN undergoing light, to keep
! Their builders names from Deaths Oblivion
sleep,
And, in their bold and their preSltnl0tltoLs trust
Deny the truth, that " dust returns 10 duSt''-
/ Go ask them nolO, the names their collins bore
Silence shall answer, they are klolcn no more
| -
Referring to the Antiquarian Hall. On tn
seal Of the Society is represented view OF tn
Hall, and Time sitting near to it, with his scyth
broken and thrown at the foot OF the pillars.
(PTown Clerks are requested
to forward us a return OF The Votes Civ
en- in their respective towns, as early a
possible,