Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-07-07
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THE AMERICAN FOREST GIRL
Ia Nus. MENINvs.

Wildly Dud mourntuly the Indian dunn
On the deep hush ct moonlight forest broke:'
'S."g us death song, for thine hour is come
80 Nhr Re, Warriors to their captive spoke.
ga aud amidst those dusl5v forms alone,
youth, Il fair-haircd youth OF England STOOD
,>, kings sol" though fom his cheek had flown
Tin" mantling CRIMSON of the island- blood
-rd his press q lips ooAd marble hcrcely bright,
Anu high around him hlaH'd the fires of night;
Rocking beneath the ccdars TO and iso
AS the wind pass aui with titrul glow
Lighting the victims lace-but who could tell
OF what within his s->yet heart bcfc
Known but to Heaven that huur! FerChauce though
Oi bis far nome, then 50 Intensely wrought
That its full image pictured 10 his eve
On tie dark ground of mortal agony,
Rose clear day-Aud he might see the band
or his young sisters wandering hand in hand
Where the l0burmums droop'd; or happy binding
The jcssamimc, upthe doors low pillar windiug
Or "a day faded ON the geltlc mirth
Gathering with braided hair, around tlq hearth
here sat their mot, cr;-and that mothers face
It's grave s"cct smile vet wearing in the place
" Aere So IT ever smiiC! Perc50ncc the prayer
learn'd at her knee came back on his despair;
The blessing from her voice, the
OF her good n1gtt might breathe from boyhood gone
He started and look'd up; thick cypress boughs,
Full %! stfans' sound wav'd DER hn, darky red
In the broad stormy firelight; savage brows,
With tall plumes crested and wild hues oerspread,
Gift him like feverish phantoms; and bale stars
Loo&'a thro the branches thro' dungeon bars
Shedding no hopo!-he knew, he fell his doom
Oh.-wiiat tale TO shadow with its gloom
That happy hall in Engand,-IdIe fear.
ou!d tire winds tell C-vhn might dream or hear
The secrets of the forests? To the stake
They bound him; and that proud young soldier sroyc
Ills father Spnit in his breast to wake,
1rustin. 10 die in sileucc!-IIe, the love
OF many hGart>.-thc foudIy rGHr'd-the fair,
GIadicnmg all eyes to Sce!-Aud fctter'd there
he stood beside his death-pyrc, and the brand
Planned up to ligii! il III the chieitain's hand!
lie thought upon his Got. Hush! hark!-acry
Breaks on the stern and dead solemuity.
y step hath pierced the r.ng VINO isIcs intru!e
On the daik hunters in their veuscui mood'
CHA yoCug Slight Gill, lawn like Child
OF green savammas aud the lealy wild
Sprinsins UNMARKED Till then, some lone flower,
Happy because the sun shine is its dover;
Yet one that knows how early tcaIS are shed,
For hers had muurned a playmate brother dead
She had sat gazing on the victim long,
tuti! the pity Of her soul grew strong;
And by IFS Passions deepening forN ors swav'd,
tTen to the stake she rus,'d aud gently laid
His bright head on her bosom and around
HIS form her slender arms tn shield /; wound
Like close Liamnes; then raised her gtcrilg eye,
And clcar-toucd voice said-'iIc shall NOT lic,"
ale shall not dic.''-;ho gloomy forest thrilll
To that sweet sound. A sudden wonder fell
On the kercc throng and heart aud maud was stild
Struck dcwn, rs by the whisper of a spell.
they gazea-tfeir dark souls bowed before the ma d.
SIZE OF tie dancing stem in wood and glade!
And as her check fuSh'dthro its olive hue
as her black trcsscs to the nigh, wind flew.
Something oerrastar'd them from that vouug rlien;
Something Of Heaven, in silence felt aud seen:
And seeming - their child-iikc faith, token
That n" Great Spigi; by her voice had spoken
They o"Scd the bonds tna he'll! their captive's bfea tn;
From his pale lips they took the cup of death;
They T"enCncd The brand beneath the cypress tee
Away they cried, "y"uns Stranger thou art fee"