Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-22
THURSDAY. JUNE %, 1926.
POETRY.

POETRY.
E,.rv American is acquainted WIN inc s'o'
.DN.o,or,,s the daus liter OF Powha'ah, an
Ind;an chief of Virginia. In 1907, sOoh az
.ha, colony was planted by the Englisn, "heI
.nv,aes had captured Captain smith, anu
80. in The act of putting him to de atm, sne
49, herself on him, and protecting MIN ''ol'
~. W.. r,o,, of the executioner, persuaded ner Id
-. - 80 sr,re his life In the following iines
III WE COW from the April number OIL 'ne
Tnndon New Monthly Magazine, this Story -
6nslv told by Mrs. Hemans The piece Is o"e
g ser;es entitled "Records OF women.
THE AMERICAN FOREST GIRL.
BIT MRS. HEMASs
WILLY and mournfnlly the Indian drum
o. ,hs deep hush of moonlight forest broke:
&C., =. death. song, for thine hour Is come
81. I'd Warriors to their Captive spoke.
eel, and amidst those dusky forms alone,
. youth. a fair.hair'd youth Of England $1,000
-, L;,r,s SON. though from his cheek had howh
The mantling crimson of the is'and-oio0u
-. n-.ss,d Inns look'l marble. Fiercely orisn''
Al h;rh around him blsz'd the fires Oh his"'
pock;np beneath the cedars to and ITO
A. tho wind pass'd and with fitfui glow
= ;,,h,ng the victims face:-but who couio 'eh
&c what within his secret heart befe''
y.,,n hu, to Heaven that hour Perchance 'hous"'
,s ~. e,r home. then so intensely wrought
That its full image, pictured TO MS eye
Or the dark ground of moral agony
Rose clear as day!-And he might see Tue o"h'
of his Young sisters wandering hand IN mana
whore the laburnums droopd; or happy o"'u"e
The ;esmine, up the doors low pillar winnings
or. as the day faded on their gentle nf'a'
Where sat their mother;-and that mothers face
Its grave sweet smile yet wearing in the place
Where so il ever smil'd! Perchance the prayer
I.earn'd at her knee came back on his despair;
Thu blessing from her voice, the very tone
of her GoOd ght' might breathe from boyhood gone!
He started and look'd up:-thick cypress boughs,
Full of strange sound, waved DER him, darkly red
In the broad stormy freight; savage brows'
With tall pumes crested and wild hues o'erspread'
Cir. aim like feverish phantomsi and pale stars
Iook'd through the branches through dunSeon-bars
Shedding no hope!-he knew, he felt his doom
Oh! what tale to shadow with its gloom
That happy hall in Engand.-Idle fear.
Would the winds tell it,-who might dream or hear
The secrets of the forest' To the stake
They bound him; and that proud young soldier srove
His fathers spirit in his breast to wake
Trusting to die in silence!-He, the love
of many hearts,-the fondly -reard--the fair,
Gladdening all eyes to see!-And fetter'd there
He stood beside his death pyre, and the brand
Planned up to light it, in the chieftain's hand!
He thought upon his God Hush! hark!--a cry
Breaks on the stern and dread solemnity!
A step hath pierc'd the ring! Who dares intrude
On the dark hunters in their vengeful mood!
A Girl--a young slight Girl-a fawn-ike child
of gree savannas and the leafy wild
springng unmarked till then, as some lone fiower
Happy because the sunshine is its dover;
Yet one that knows how early tears are shed,
For hers had mournd playmate brother dead
She had sat gazing the victim long,
Until the pity Of her soul grew strong;
And by its passions deepening fervor sway'd,
Ev'n to the stake she rush'd and gently laid
His bright head on her bosom, and around
His form her slender arms to shield it wound
Like close Liannes; then raised her glitterng eye,
And clear toned voice that said-"He shall not die"
-''He shall not die!"-the gloomy forest thrilPd
To the sweet sound A sudden wonder fell
On the fierce throng and heart an hand were stild,
Struck down, by the whisper of SPELL
They gazed-their dark souls how'd before the maid,
She of the dancing step in wood and glade!
And as her cheek Aush'd through its olive hue,
As her black tresse to the nighs.wind few,
Something o'ermastered them from that young misn;
Something of Heaven, in slerce felt and seen;
And seeming to their child-hke faith, a token
That the Great Spirit by her voice had spoken
They oosed the bonds that held their capves breath;
From his pale lips they took the cup of death,
kana ~.
AWAY. they cried, young Stranger! thou art free"
From Parliamentary Document it is prov
ID, tha, the labouring classes of England have
for some years, exhibited gradual decline to-
wards state Of utter poverty and humiliating
dependence! While the population, since R76,
has increased as only l TO 8, pauperism has in