New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-07-15
THE TRIBUNE.
from The Bridal Of Pennacook IN the Democratic Re
view for June
THE INDIAN WEDDING.
BY JoHv cRErNLEAF wmrTIER.

Cool and dark fell the Autumn night
Bot the Bashaba's wigwam glOwed with hgn,
For down from It's roof by green withes hung
Flaring and smoking the pine-knots swung
And along the river grea, wood fires
Shot into the night their long red spires
Showing behind the tall, dark wood
Flashing before on the sweeping Hood
In the changeful wind. with simmer and shade
Now high. now low that freight played,
On tree leaves wet with evening dews
On gliding water and still canoes
The irappcr that night on Turee : brook
And the weary fisher on COntoocook
Saw over the marshes and through the pine
And down ON the river the dance lights sbine
For the sauyus Sachem had come to WOO
The Bashabas daughter WeetaInoo'
And Law at her fathers feet that night
His soiiesi iurs and wampam white
From the Crystal Hills TO the far South East
The river SagamOres came to me ieas''
And chiefs whose homes the sea WINGS snooh'
Sat down on the mats OF Pennacook.
They came from Sunapce's shore OF rock
Prom the snowy sources Of Snooganock'
And from rough Coos whose thick WOODS snake
Their pine cones in Umbagog lake
From Au:monoosuck' = mountain pass
Wild as his home came Cbepewassi
And the Keenomps OF the hills which throw
Their shade on the Smile OF Mantle.
With pipes OF peace and bows unstrung,
Glowing with paint came old and young,
In wampum aud furs and feathers srrayed
To the dance and fcas, the Bashaba made
Bird Of the air and beast of the field.
All which the woods and waters yield
On dishes OF birch and hemlock piled
Garni-hed and graced that banquet wild.
Steaks Of the brown bear fat and large
From the rocky slopes Of the kearsarge;
Delicate trout from Babboosuck brook
And salmon speard in the COntoocooki
SQUIRRELS whi.h fed where nuts fell thick
In the eravelly bed Of the Oiternlc
"A mali Wild hens in reed .snares caught
From the banks of Sondagardee brought;
Pike and perch from the Suncook taken,
Nuts from the trees of the Black Hills shaken
Cranberres picked in the Squamscot bog
And grapes from the vines Of Piscataquog'
And. drawnfrom that great stone vase which stands
In the river sCOOped bya spirit hands
In white parcbcd pile. or thick suppawn'
Stood the birchcn dishes OF smoking corn
Tins bird of the air and beast of the field
All which the woods and the waters yield
Furnished in that oldeD day
The bridal feast Of the Bashaba
And merrily when that feast was done
On the fire liz green the dance begun,
With the sauaws' shrill siave. and the deeper hun
OF old men beating the Indian drum.
Painted and plumcd, with scalp locks flowing
And red arms tossing and black eyes glowing
Now in the light and now in the shade
Around the fires the dancers played.
The step was quicker. the song more shrill
And the beat of the small drums louder still.
Whenever within the circle drew
The Saugus Sachcm and Weetamoo.
The moons of forty winters had shed
Their snow upon that chieiiains head,
And toll and care and battles chance,
Had scanned his hard dark countenance.
4 fawn beside the bison grim
WHY turns the brides fond eye on him.
IN whose cold look is naught beside
The triumph OF a suilcn pride
Ask why the graceful grape entwines
The rough Oal. with her arm OF vines
And why the grey oaks rugged cheek
The soft lips Of the MOSES seek
WHY, with wise instinct Nature seems
To harmonic her wide extremes
Linking the stronger with the weak
The huupiiy with the -vit aud mech
There are rocks In the River At the Falls OF Amos
kcag IN the cavities Of which tradition says the Indian
formerly stored and concealed their corn.