Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-06-29

10 their glory, as tokens of his as
sent. Tecumseh, thou shalt avenge
the death of thy father, and appease
the spirits OH slaughtered breth-
rem. Already art thou elected the
chief of many tribes, for the promise
Of the Great Spirit is everlasting.
Thy feet shall be swift as the forked
lightning; thy arm shall be as the
thunderbolt, and thy soul fearless as
the cataract that dashes from the
mountain precipice.'
Such were the consultations OF Flo
hama, and she looked anxiously for
ward to the time when Tecumseh
should realize her prophecy.
Three rolling years had marked
his birth when she led him to the
grave of his father. 1t was at the
close of the day, and the most per-
feet silence reigned around the hill
lock of death.
sSeest thou that little mound OF
earth 2 said the savage.
The boy fixed his steady gaze on
the spot, and was silent. Elohama
threw herself on the wild grass that
grew rank round the grave, and drew
her child towards her.
My son, thou art dearer to me
than the strings of my heart-thou
art the sweetest flower that greets ny
eye as | wander through the forest
thy voice is the music of my ear, anil
| it is thy affection which cooIs my
scorching brain when it turns in
frenzy. My son, who like thy mo.
| Their would have cherished thy help
less infancys who like her rsjoices
| in thy growing beauties?
The boyrolled his dark "ye on Eio-
hama; it shone in all tho radiance of
gratitude and filial affection.
My son. she resumed, mark me
and remark all I say. Thou hadst
once a father who would have bern
more to thee than the mother that
bore thee. He would have sloried
In thee, Tecumseh, and thou wouldet
have been the light of his soul-fnr
thee, he would have climbed the
mountain steep and braved the an
cry storm, when the Great Spirit
| frowned in darkness-he would have
taught thy infant feet to explore the,
hiddcn paths of the forest. and guid-
ed thy young arm, when i, first aim
ed the arrow at the bounding bnffa.
le-he would have taught thee 10
build the light canoe, and ride the
deep waters in safety. But he is no
more: in the summer Of Iifa hos he
fallen; ana nc Sleeps In tito earth be-
fore u.s.
Elohama paused-Tecumseh for a
moment seemed lost in thought, then
suddenly exclaimed,
Mother, why does he not awaken!'
My sou, his is the sleep of DEATH
DEATH said the boy
day. resumed EIohama, you
saw deer bounding through the TO-
rest; he was lovely in strength and
beauty, and fleeter than the winds,
Suddenly the hunter crossed his path
and an arrow cleft his heart. I led
you to the spot. and babe you look
at the dying animal; a short time
passed away, and the warm blood
that flowed from his wound grew
dark and chill; he was stiff and cold
and his beauty was departed. Such
is death, and such is the sleep Of thy
father
An awful pause ensued; the fea-
lures of Tecunseh assumed a ghast-
" ferocity.
Mother, whose arrow cleft the
heart of my father1'
"My son, thou hast been told Of y
people beyond these wilds who arc the
enemies of thy race; their souls are dark
10 treschery, and their hands are red in
blood. They came with the pipe Of
friendship to our forests, and smoked
the calumet with our nation; but they
met thy father alone on his hills, and
pierced his bosom with their arrows.-
| He was warrior, and bis arm was the
arm of strength. Great would have
been his deeds; but be 10 now low ia
| the dust
Tecumseh heard, and the livid glare
| Of his eyes changed suddenly to flashes
Of lightning.
Mother he exclaimed, give me my
! Ratchet. and lead me 10 the villages,
will drink their blood; | will consume