The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-11-19


Powontonno was the son of a mighty chief lie
looked on his tribe with such a Gery glance, that
they called him the Eagle of the Mohawks. HIS eye
never bl.nlCd ia the sunbeam aud he leapcd along
the chase Ike the unlirug waves of Niagara. Even
when little boy, his tiny would hit the frs
king squirrel in the car, and bring down the hum
ming bird on her rapid wing. He his fathers
pride and Joy. lie loved to toss him high IN his SIN
envy arms and shout, Look EagIc-eye, look, and
see the big hunting grounds ofthc Mohawk Pow
ontonamo viii he their chief The winds will tell
his brave deeds. When men speak of him, they
viii not speak loud but as if the Great Spirit had
breaihod in thunder,
The prophecy was fulfilled. When Powontona-
mo became man, the fame of his beauty and C ur-
agc reached the tribes of Illinois, and the dis
tant Usage showed his white teeth with delight,
when he heard the wild deeds of the Mohawk Ea-
gle Yet was his spirit frank chyalrous, and kind.
When the white men came to buy land, he met them
with an open palm, and spread his buffalo for the
traveller. The old chiefs loved the bold youth and
offered their daughters in marriage. The eyes of
the young Indian girls sparl,cd when he looked on
them But lac treated them all with the stern ndii-
icrancc OF warrior, until he SoOnsectah raise
her long, dark eyc-lash. Then his heart melted
beneath the bcaming glance of beauty. Soonscctah
was the fauest Of the Oncidas The young men
called her the Sunny-CyC. She was smaller than
her nation usually are; and her slight, graceful fir
would rise up and shake of its dcw-drops after her
pretty moccasns had pressed it, Many famous
chief had sought her love; but when they brought
the choicest furs she would smile disdainfully, and
say, Soonseetah's foot is warm. Has not her faith
or an arrowP When they offer her food, ac-
cording to the Indian custom, her answer was,
'sSoonsectah has not all the warriors she will
eat with the bravcst.' The hunters told the young
Eagle that the Suuny-cye of the Oncidas was beau
tiful as the bright birds in the hunting land beyond
the sky but that her heart proud, aud she said
the great chiefs were not good enough TO dress ven
isOn for her. When PowOntonamo listened 90 these
accounts, his lip would curl slightly, as he threw
back his fur-cdgcd mantle, and placed his trm
springy foot forward SO that the beads and shells of
his rich moccassin might be seen TO yibrate at every
sound of his tremendous War-song. Ii there was
vanity in the act there was likewise becoming pride.
Soousctah heard of his naughty smilc and resolved
in her own heart that no Oneida should sit beside
her till she had seen the chietain Of the Mohawks.
Before many moons had passed away, he sought her
flther's wigwam TO carry delicate iurs and shining
shells to the young coquette ofthe wilderness. She
did not raise her bright melting eve o'hs, when he
came near, bus when he said, VIII the Sunny-cye
look on the Gifts of a Mohawk his barbod arrow
is swift his foot turned from the foe the col
or or her brown cheek was glowing rs an autumnal
twilight. Her voice was like the troubled note Of
the wren, she answered. The iurs of Powou-
tonamo are soft and warm TO the foot Of Soonsccah.
She will weave the shells in the wampumbelt Of the
Mohawk Eagle The exulting lover sat by her
side, and offered her vouson and parched corn. She
raised her timid eye, she TASTED the food aud then
the young Eagle knew that suuny-eyc would be his
wife.
There was feastiug and dancing, and the marriage
song rang merrily in the Mohawk cabins, when the
Oneida came among them. Powouiouamo loved
her as his own hearts blood. lie delighted 20 bring
her the atteSt dcers of the forest and load her witt
the ribbons and beads of the English. The proph.
cts of his people liked it not that the strangers grow
numerous in the land. They shoo! their hcad
mourniuly, and said, The moose and beaver vii
not live within sound of the white mans gun-The,
viii go beyond the lakes and the Indians must fol
low the trial. But tie young chief laughed thou
to scorn. lie said, The land is very big. Th
mountain Eagle could not fly over it in many days
Surely the wgwums of the English will never cove
IT, Yet when he held his Son in his arms, as hi
father had done before him, he sighed to hear TN
strokes ofihe levelng the old trees ofthc woods
Sometimes he looked sorrowfuly on his baby boy
and thought he had perchance done him muc
wrong; when he smoked pipe in the wigwam G
the stranger
One day. .he lcfl his home before the grey mist G
morning had gone from the hills, to seek food ia
lls wife and child. The polar star was bright in Il,
heavens ere he returned yet his hands were cmpt,
The white mans guu had scared the beasts of III
forest, and the arrow of the Indian was sharpene
ia vain. Powontonamo entered his wigwam with
cloudy brow. lie did not look at SoonsoCtAh Il
did not speak to her boy; but, silent and sullcn i
sat lea-ng the head Of his arrow. lie wcpt no
for an Indian may not weep; but the muscles of h
face betrayed the struggle within hssoul. The Sun
ny-eye approached fearfully, and laid her little han
upon his brawncy shoulder, "a she asked, Why
the Eaglcs eve on the earh What has Soousecto
,oae, that her chill dare no: look in the face of h
f,;hcrl" Slowly the warrior turned his gaze upo
bcr.-Thc expression ofsadnoss decpened as he al
n..oraI u,l,n nlc Ia. On a arnL. q. L.. -.