The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-02-08
THE AMERICAN FOREST GIRL.
BIZ Mrs Hemans.

ny Mrs HeHdnS.
Wildly and mournfillly the Indian drum
On the deep hush of moonlight forests broke;
Sing us death-song, for thine hour is come
So the red Warriors to their captive spoke.
Still and amidst those dusky forms alone,
A youth, fairhair'd youth, Of England stood,
Like kings son; though from his cheek had
hown
The mantling crimson of the island-blood,
And his press'd lips look'd marble Fiercely
bright,
And high around him, bla2ed the fres of night;
Rocking beneath the cedars to and fro
AS the wind passed, and with afitfu glow
Lighting the victims face:-but who could tell
Of what within his secret heart befel
Known but to Heaven that hour '-Perchance a
thought,
Ofms far home, then so intensely wrought
That its full image, pictured to bis eye
On the dark ground of mortal agony,
Rose clear as dayl-And he might see the band
Of his Young sisters wandering hand in hand
Where the laburnums droopedi OF happy binding
The jasmine, up the doors low pillars winding;
Or, as day faded on their gentle mirth,
Gathering, with braided hair, around the hearth;
Where 81, their mother;-and that mothers face
Its grave sweet smile yet wearing in the place
Where so it ever ilcd!-Perchance the prayer
I.earn'd at her knee came back on his despair;
The blessing from her voice, the very tone
Other 'Gao2,nigh' might breathe from boyhood
he started and looked up:-thck cypress
boughs,
Full of strange sound waved DER him, darkly
red
In the broad stormy fire light; savage brows,
Withtsll plumes crested and wild hues DER
spread,
Girt him like feyersh phantoms; and pale stars
Looked through the branches a, through dun.
geon-bars,
Shedding no hope!--fIe knew, he felt his doom
Oh! what tale to shadow with its gloom
That happy hail in England Idle fear
Would the winds tell t'-who might dream or
They bound him; and that proud young SOL
der strove
His fathers spirit in his breast to wake,
Trusting to die in silence!-He the love
Of many hearts!-the fondly -rcared--the fair,
Gladdening all eyes to see;--And fettered there
He stood beside his death-pyre, and the brand
Flamed M to light it, in the chieftan's hand,
He thought upon his God! Hush hark!-s
cry
Breaks on the stern and dread solennity!
step hath pierced the ring! Who dares intrude
On the dark hunters in their vengefil mood
A Girl-a Young slight girl--a fraan-ke child
OF green savannas and the leafy wild,
Sprnging nnmark'd till then, as some lone flow-
er,
Happy because the sunshine is its dover;
Yet none that knew how early tears are shed,
For hers had mourn'd playmate brother dead.
She had sat gazing on the victim long,
Until the pity of her soul grew strong;
And by its passions deepest foreyer swayed,
Fen to the stake she rushed, and gently laid
His bright head on her bosom, and around
Ills form her slender arms to shield it wound
Like close Lannes; then raised her glittering
eye,
And clear-toned voice that said--tIe shall no
de!'
He shall not dien-the gloomy feres.s thrilled
To that sweet sound. A sudden wonder fel
On the fierce throng, and heart and hand wer
stilled--
Struck down as by the whisper ola spell
They gazed---their dark souls how'd before TIL
maid,
She ofthe dancing step in wood and glade!
And as her cheek flushed through its olive hue
As her black tresses to the night wind few,
Something o'ermastcred them from that youn
mien-
Something of Heaven in silence felt and seem
And seeming to their child like faith token
That the Great Spirit by her voice had spoker
They loosed the bonds that held their captive
breath;
From his pale lips they took the cup of deaths
They quenched the brand beneath the cypre'
tree
fAway" they cried, Young stranger thou art free