American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-07-18
Volume V.
TIE AMERICAN FOREST GIRL.
BY MRS. REMAINS.

Wildly and mournfuy the Indian drum
On the deep hush Of moonlight forests broke -
Sing us dea,h-song, for thine hour is come
So the Red Warriors to their Captive spoke,
Still and amidst these dusky forms alone,
youth, fair.hsir'd youth, Of England, stood,
Like a kings son though from his cheek had flown
The mantling crimson of the island BLOOD
And his press'd lips look'd marble Tiercfly bright,
And high around him bsz'd the fires CT night;
Rocking beneath the cedars to and fro
As the wind pass'd and with fttul allow
Lighting the victims face but who could tell
Of what within his secret heart befel
Known but to Heaven that hour ?-Percapce 4hougts
OF his far home then so intensely wrought
That its full image, pictured TO hla eye
On the dark ground Of mortal agony,
Rose clear as day And ne might see the bsnd
OF his young sisters wandering hand in hand
Where the laburnums droop'd OF happy binding
The jasmine up the doors low pillars winding;
Or as day faded on their gentle Inr.
Gathering with braided hair, around the hearth
Where sat their mother and thai mothers tsee
Its grave sweet smile yet wearing in the place
Where so it ever smiled !-Perchance The prayer
Learn'd al her knee came back on his despari
The blessing from her voice, the very tone
Of her Good n,ght might breathe from boyhood gone
HE started and looked up: thick cyprus boughs.
Full of strange sound, was'd DER him, darby red
In The broad stormy frelight savage brows,
With tall piumes crested and wild hues o'etsPreai,
Grit him like feyerish phanloms; and pale stars
Looked through the branches as through dungeon bars,
Shedding no hope He knew, he felt his DOOM
Oh! what tale to shadow with its gloom
That happy hall in England !-Idle fear!
Would the winds tell who might dream or hear
The secret Of the forests To the stake
They bound him and that piond young soldier stroge
His fathers spirit in his breast to wake,
| Trusting to die in slence!-He the love
of many hesrtsl--the foudly rear'd--the fair,
Gladdening all eyes so see! And fetterd there
He stood beside his deahpyre, and the brand
Flam'd up to light If, in the chleftan's hand!
He thought upon his Cod Hush haik acry
Breaks on the stern and dread soennity
A step hath pierc'd the ring Who dares intrude
On the dark Hunters in their veDgeful mood
A GirlA-a young slight girl-a fawn.lke child
1 Of green sayannas and the eafy wild,
Sprnging UNMARKED till then, some lone flower
Happy because the sunshine is lis dower
Yet one that knew how early tears are shed,
J For hers had mourn'd play mate brother dead.
She had sat gazing the victim long,
Until the pity of her soul grew strong;
! And by its passions deepening fervcr sway'd
| Ey'n to the stake she rush'd and gently laid
| His bright head on her bosom, and around
| His form her slender TO shield it wound
Like close Ilannes then raised her glitterng eye.
And clear toned voice that said He shall not die.
= He shall not dien-,he gloomy forest thrilpd
To that sweet sound. sudden wonder fell
On the fierce throng and heart and hand stilld~
Struck down as by the whisper of SPELL
They gazd---ther dark souls howd.b before the msd,
} She of the dancing step in wood and glade!
And as her cheek flsh'd through its olive hue,
As her black tresses e. the ngbtwnd flew,
Something o'ermaser'd them from that young mieEs
Something of Heaven, in silence felt and seem
And seeming, 10 their chd-hke faith token
Tina, the Great Spirit by her voice had spoken
They loosed the bonds that held their Captyes breath
From his pale lips they took the cup OF Deaths
They quench'd the brand beneath the cypress tree;
Away they cried, young Stranger thou art tree