Litchfield enquirer., 1838-05-24
FOR THE ENQUIRER
SEQUAH THE INDIAN MAID.

Reclining in the forest shade,
] spied Sequah, the Indian maid,
And hurried on to hear her tell
Some savage tale lov'd so well;
When quick she started, wip'd her eye,
*And blanket seiz' d with speed to fly.
"sequah !" ! call'd, seqush, thy friend
Has come with thee an hour to spends
Now do not her SO quickly flee,
But seat thee here beneath this tree,
And once more speak of battles fought,
Or magic deeds by pow-wows wrought"
"The pale face I'd resolved to shun,
But that white maid my heart has won,
And in her there is TRUTH she said,
Then wild she locke, and press'd her head,
But me to her more closely drew,
And round my neck new beads she threw
"You ask" said she, why do grieve?
And why to savage lite / cleave
And say my soul so deeply fraught, ..
With noble, elevating thought,
Should in more POLISHED circles bide, .
And not in forest thickets hide.
"You bid me to your fathers come, ->---
And say there shall find home,
And thou, maiden, thnk'st not the while,
On us the white man cannot smile,
For such a cruel savage race,
Their Good Spirit bids them efface.
"Before the white man hither came,
The red man bore valiant name,
Wnero
Their chieftains burn'd the council fires,
And there their fathers deeds were sung,
While warriors shouts the plains loud rung.
"These were their streams, these were their
grounds, ..,-.
And then their tribes did melt away
Like frosts beneath suns noon day ray,
And soon tOw'rds us the blOod-hounds haste,
And soon our hearths and homes laid waste.
"You say these wrongs were ere my day,
And that they now have passed away;
But E., Just hear my last nights dream
Methought stood beside yon stream,
Where am wont to gather shells,
Near by the cave where Rowan dwells.
"Igriev'd to think my race was gone,
And that stood here all alone;
And then thought your race more just,
And in them there might be some trust,
When from cloud heard my name,
And 10 the seer Sequoyah came!
His gait and mien knew full well,
From what I'd heard my grandslre tell;
And when he spake in tones of wo,
And babe me rise and with him 60,
went, for could not withstand
His with ring look, and firm command.
1.-THE cloud Said on, borne by gale,
Far, far away, DER hill and dale,
Till we approa CHI d a warmer CLINE,
Where grew the orange, lemon, lime,
And streams of fish, and fiocks OF game,
An Indian paradise proclaim.
"Charm'd with the sight, we stopp'd to view
This wild, rich scenery SO new
When 10! the war-who0p loud we hear,
And warriors in array appear,
And forts, and palisades we spy,
And battle fields now meet our eye.
I" As wild beasts cloth'd with power and might,
Their feeble prey to kill have right,
So had the white men right to come
And drive the Indian from his home.
And they had come-but bravely fight
The red men for their country right.
"The Good Spirit, he led them on,
And many victories they won,
And still they fght-that little band
Your country forces, yet unmann'd,
Although your leaders, steep'd in guile,
Have taken their brave chiefs by vile.
"Their birthright they will dearly sell,
If they may not upon it dwell,
And ifyour God is what you claim,
He surely will avenge our name;
And when "oUR COUNTRY" is your toast,
Remember twas the red mans boast
She stopp'd-then upward rais'd her eye
To Him who hears the oppressed's cry,
Great Spirit! grant thy children aid.
And may the oppressors arm be siay'd,'.
She cried, and may deep vengeance roll
Over the guilty white mans soul" e. 8. X.
although her tribe is wholly destroyed she still
aims the Indian dress"-IndiGn Sketches.