Litchfield enquirer., 1844-10-31
SALISBURY, Oct. 18th, 1874.

The following lines, written by gentleman Of
this place, were recently published in the " New
England Puritan" As that paper has limited
circulation in this region. I think BY giving it a
place in your Poets corner" you will oblige a
number Of your Salisbury subscribers, and especial
ly your friend, &C., s..-. LIN %
THE COUNCIL PINE FALLEN.
Thou Father of the trees, thou sylvan king,
Among whose boughs the eagle plumed his wing,
Or from whose waving top, his piercing eye
Shot far abroad, and ranged the azure sky;
Fair was thy form. and sacred was thy name
The Council-pine, unheralded by fame.
Long hadst thou stood with mighty roots outspread,
And rock-based, reared thy venerable head
On yonder rising cliff, mid natures bowers,
While distant years rolled on their circling hours
While Winter howl'd, and Spring her garlands wore,
And Summer teem'd, and Autumn reaped her store,
Among thy leaves the zephyrs breath'd soft lays,
And storms played solemn strains, through cheer
less days,
While near thy foot, there shone mirror bright;
Woononscopomue" with its silver light, -
Where oft the nimble bark sped DER the wave,
To yonder shore, that ripping waters lave;
And there the swan oft dipped her snowy breast,
And in the tangled reeds conceal'd her nest,
While mingling songs rang sweet from shore TO
shore. H.=
And echo wild, rehearsal the carols Ger.
DO ancient chiefs, the mobiles of the land .a
Around the council fire convene their band,
To weigh with gravest thoughts affairs of state,
And raise their voice, in eloquent debate.
High nodding plumes were gayy in the air,
And shaggy rebes the warriors might declare.
The listening senate hears Of glorious deeds,
How some tall foe, beneath the war axe bleeds,
How willy bands struck by the twanging bow
And feather'd shaft, are sent to shades below.
Here tidings strange Of pale-faced men are told,
Co. l,1s- horoe w, Abo ,al
bold, ,..
And mighty questions wake the labsuring mind
* Are these SEINE mortal foes, or brothers kind
AGreat Spirit, come they on the work oflove,
do the mandates sent them from above,
=" Or as some fearful messenger Of woe, .-#H
"Whose spreading power will seal our overthrow
SO Who sent their great canoe to yonder strand,
"To light their fires upon our fathers land? -''
sTahcanius swelling hills. wifi We our sway disown!
"Shall Housatonic flow, for lords unknown?"
Those ancientthemes declered, thou Council. tree,
And to our ears report each bold decree.
Alas, from thee, no voice, no sound returns.
BY thee at night. no holy watct-6se kurns- -s
Among thy leaves, no summer breezes sigh,
Nor autunn's gale chants natures lullaby,
Nor winters storm sounds out solemn knell,
On fancy's ear some mighty deed to tell.
Thy deepest roots are mould'ring in the ground,
The keen-edged steel has dealt the deadly wound,
Thy tasted stems lie crumbled in the dust,
And through thy heart the ruthless son is thrust
And death, and direful desolaton resigns,
To swell the white mans pride and sordid gains.
What arm profane has laid thy glory low,
And doom'd thy fragrant buds no more to grow,
No more to greet the musing travellers eye,
And DER fallen race draw forth sigh!
Mad spoiler! did no fear thy heart dismay,
No voice cry out thy reckless hand to stay,
And from the ground arose no weeper's prayer?
SO Our fathers aged Ceuncil-pine, o spare,
i" Lest thine uplifted arm the lightning sinite
And hutl thee swift, to deepest shades of night;
And while eur sires in dark oblivion sleep,
A' No friend remain, DER thy cold dust to weep"
*Indian name Of circular lake in Furnace VIII
lage, Salisbury, c. J. L.
Sept. eth, 1874.