New-York daily tribune., 1842-08-05
Ew-YoeK, FRI IDAY MORNING, AUGUST 5, lsa2.
A SirniIc.
[Ex,rnct from Thoughts on Temperance.,

\
4 | stood upon rocky cliff that overlooked lis
bright waters of a river As ] gazsd along the
slopins valley, watching the meandering stream,
saw mighty OAK that stood upon its margin.
Its lofty top reached the clouds, and its giant
branches spread afar. It's deep-planted roots ran
a thousand ways, and cung firmly to the hill. Its
form was straight and beautiful, tapering like the
delicate finger of her love, and its leaves quvered
in the breeze, like the wavy ringlcts OF the tair
maiden. 1t sprang from genial soil, nurtured by
the dcws OF Heaven and here and there, around
its base, few stray pearls lay half buried in the
sand. The nlurrauiIng stream watered the ver-
dant fields, and gliding through the vale, stole
flowers from its banks, and bore them its bosom.
The scene was picturesque and beautiful The
plaintive moan of The dove, and wild strains that
brcatlled from the harp CT forest maid, entranccd
the soul with It's melody. Delighted, enrapturcd,
gazed with melancholy pleasure upon the va
rious objects around ,nc-hrst upon the giant oak
then through the winding valley, observing the
rivers gentle flow, now curling and breaking i'll
CLASSY surface, then melting into s:noothHess.
Filled with emotions of rapture, l exclaimed,
.. How lovely! how beautiful Oh, Paradise !!
land Of bliss Long have sought thce-far and
wide, thou art here-henceforth thou shalt be my
residcnce-here will WOO, and -
'.Whitc man," said Au-wau- -kash, the savage
chieftain, interrupting me, and speaking in his
native tongue, .' how camest thou here, and what
seekest thou? This is consecrated ground-on
this spo, my father worshiped, and twice every
moon we meet upon this cliff, that our spirits may
commune with each other"
I turned The Indian stood before me. He
was tall, athletic, and arraved in the costume of
war. An arrow was drawn from culver, and
his bow was slightly sprung As caught his eye,
his hand fell, and. with firm, elastic step, he
approached.
Tell me, white man" said he, "what thou
beholdest u
Au-wau-kush," said I, cast your eyes along
the valley, and behold that monument of nature.
Its wonderful size first drew my attention, for its
head is in the Clouds its arms spread wide, and it
stands firm as the moveless hills. F"
"The tree which thou scest," said he, "was
plaated in the morning Of Time. 1t has looked
with scorn on the wrathful hurricane. The burn
ing thunderbolt has quvered harmless around its
trunk 1t stands immcvable 1t was planted by
the Great Spirit to guide the Indian while travers-
ing the wide interminable plains that stretched far
beyond these hills. 1t has stood for ages, and long
since did the arrow of my fathers pluck feathers
from the eagle that perched upon the top. But
mark - continued he, "'tis MONDAY, and ere
thou sleepest its limbs shall trembe, its top shall
shake in the clouds. -
l looked again. hazy mist was fast gathering
over the valley, and as caught, through the eddy
ing vapor glimpse of the giant tree, saw it bend
to the weight ola sparrow. Its broad top no longer
yelled the horizon.
"Tell me, Al-wau-kash," J." said l. " tell me what
means lhis?"
Hearing no response, turned and saw the In
dian descending to his cabin.
looked again, and the mist had faded in the
sunbeam | beheld the broad, clear sky, the sur
rounding hills, and the purng stream. The wild
bird sailed on the breeze, and the Gag scared
high in the heavens, and searched in vain tor q
place of rest, for the oak had fallen! The silent
stream had found secret channel, and its founda-
ton, grain after grain, was washed away. l
hastened to the spo, where it stood, bus the cur
rent had borne it to the ocean,