Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-13
MxECE.IEA *.
TIE LONE INDIAN.

would Jay a lovely spot was mere,
"And praise the lawns so fresh ahd green,
between the hills 10 sheer.
al Ike IT not--l would the plain
"Lay IN its tall Old groves again"
Puwontonamo was the son of a mighty
chief. lie looked on his tribe with such
a fiory glancc, hat they called him the
Eagle of the MolIawks. His eye never
blinkcd in the sunbeam. and he Ieapcd
along the chase like tho untiring waves
of Niagara. Even when a little boy,
hii tiny arrow would hit the !risking
squirrel in the ear, and bring down the
humming bird on her rapid wing. He
was his fathers pride and joy. lie loved
to toss hin high in his sinewy arms,
and shout, Look, EagIc-cyc, look, and
sec the big hunting grounds Of the Mo-
Observation-Disclosures will DO their
chief. Tao winds will tell his brave
deeds. When mon speak Of him, they
viii not speak loud; but as if the Great
Spirit had brcathcd in thunder,
The prophecy was fulfilled. Whom
Powontonamo became a man, the fame
Of his beauty and courage reached the
tribes of I~iliaois, and even the distant
Usage showed his white teeth with de-
light, when he heard the wild deeds Of
the Mohawk Eagle. Yet was his spirit
frank, chiva!rous, and kind. When the
white men came to buy land, he met
them with an open palm, and spread his
buffalo for tho traveller. The old chiefs
loved the bold youth, and offered their
daughters in marriage. The eyes Of the
young Indian girls sparkled whom he
looked on them But he treated them
! all with the stern indifference OF a war
rior, until he saw ~Soonscetah raise her
long, dark cye-lash. Then his heart
melted beneath the beaming glance of
beauty. Soonscetah was the faircst of
tho Oneidas. Tho young men called
her the %Sunny-cye. She was smaller
than her nation usually are; and her
slight, graceful figure, was SO elastic in
its notions, that the tall grass would rise
up and shake off its dew-drops after her
pretty moccasins had pressed il. Many
a famous chief had sought her love; but
when they brought the choicest iurs,
sho would smile disdaintully, and say,
: Soonseetah's foot is warm Has not
her father an arrow" When they offer
ed her food, according to tho Indian GUS
tom, her answer was, 'Soonseetah has
not seen all the warriors. She will cat
with the bravcst.' The hunters told the
young Eagle that the Sunny eye Of the
Oneidas was beautiful as the bright birds
in the hunting land beyond the sky; but
that her heart was proud, and she said
tho great chiefs were not good enough
to dress venIson for her. When Powon-
tonamo listened to these accounts, his
lip would curl slightly, as he threw back
his fur-edgcd mantle, and placed his firm,
springy foot forward, so that the buads
and shells OF his rich moccasin might be
seen to vibrate at every sound Of his trc-
mondous war-soug. If there was vani-
ty in the act, there was likewise becom-
ing pride Soonseeiah beard Of Ills
naughty smile, and resolved in her own
heart that no Oneida should sit beside
her till she had seen the chieftain of the
Mohawks. Before many moons had
passed away, he sought her fathers wig.
wan to carry delicate furs and shining
shells to the young ccquette of the viii
derness. She did not raise her bright
melting eye to his, when he came lear,
but when he said, win the Sunnv-eye
look on thegifts Of a Mohawk? his barb.
cd arrow is swift; his foot never turned
from the foe,' tho color on her brown
cheek was glowing as an autumnal twi.
light. Her voice was like the troubled
note of the wren, as she answered
The furs Of Powontonamo are soft anc
warm to the foot of Soonsectah. She
viii weave tho shells in the wampum'
belt Of the Mohawk Eagle The OK
ulting lover sat by her side, and Offered
hor ~ycnison and parched corn. She
raised her timid eye, as she tasted tho
food, and then the young Eagle knew
that Suuny-eye would bo his wife.
There was Teasing and dancing, ant
the marriage song rang m%errily in the
Mohawk cabins, when the Oneida came
among them. Powontonamo loved hel
as his hearts blood. He delighted
to bring her the latest dcers Of the for.
est, and load her with the ribbons and
beads Of the English. The prophets Of
his people liked it not that the strangers
grew so numerous in the land They
shoot; their heads mourofully, and said
t'Thc moose and beaver will not live
within sound Of tho white mans gum
They will 60 beyond the lakes, and the
Indians must follow their trail.' But the
the young chief laughed them TO scorn.
He said, THE land is very big. The
mountsin-eagle could no, fly over il in
\ MANY days. Surely the vigwans of the