Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-08-25

NJ square for zach continuance
July Ist Ist5.
lCossuNcAIrD
ktruMrE WA. or THE PHANTOM HoRsEMAN.
r.tr. BY g. n. rARxrR.
Whllome. in that wild province OF the West,
Where Allegheny his misty crest.
Lake some proud monarch Of imperial brow,
Lord Of the illimitsble wales below;
Where giant oaks sbroad their branches threw,
And Towering vines and shrubs luxurant grew,
Aud round the moss green rocks in daIkling shade,
Clear purling brooks their devious winnings made
Deep IN the shadow OF The pristine wood.
kITuhrtwA's rude lonely dwelling stood.
Adventurous Britain. with her reckless host,
Had not invaded then ilesperis's coast
Nor cen Columbus. in his visions, seen
Her mountains, rivers, glens and forests, green.
her vast and irackless pFaiIies. lakes and streams
The latent wealth with which her bosom teens
Were then her own. No arbitrary claim
VI Eastern patriots-Psiriots but in
Was levied on her stores: Her native brood,
The wild and rowing Indians Of the wood
The rightul heirs TO all her rich domains,
Her tempted hills, her caves aud granite fanes.
fe venerable rocks oil rugged forms,
unscahed by tempests, needless OF the storms
In all your peerless grandeur We have stood,
Since time began, the monarchs OF the wood.
A million suns have circed round the skies,
Since the creating fiat babe you rise.
How often, ere the desolating brands
OF civil discord, piled by factous hands,
Were stamped with burning impress on the breast
OIL your fair mother-islano Ut tue West,
Have the wild whoops Of the exciting chase
Rolled up your sidcs and echoed from your base,
While the proud stag, from sounds So dire and dread
Up To your peaks III iancied safety sped.
And ye bright which round the mountains iow
And mingle with the deeper streams below,
As pure and sparkling rs in days gone by,
Ere blood had stained you with its crimson dye
How OFT the psnting deer has saked his thirst
Beneath the cH whence into lie We burst!
Far down beneath the clustering shade 50 cool,
Where your sweet waters form a nirrord pool
Inc Indian maid, atnoontide's glowing hour,
Each day tript gaily with her iayurite ho- CT,
To view her iaudess, boosted image there,
And twne the how'ret in her flowing hair:
Pleased with her charms Diana's sister stood,
A lair aud besutcous goddess OF the wood
At blush Of morn the chant high and wild:
XXI TUN TL-wA! the Spirirs favorito child!
"Our Prophetchief. commissioned from the skies
ITO rule aud bless the hrst young that dies
"To.day beneath these arrows, IL shall smoke
IAN Offering round ogr Prophets sacred oak"
This the tribute superstition paid,
And at the feet o frantic Ignorance laid:
But he TO whom these blinded votaries knelt
Had felt ut tmes-Or strangely deemed he felt
Prophetic inspiration III him glow;
And when he turned his broad and daIkllns brow.
While brightly flashed his suick and brilliant eyes,
In wild, unearihIy rapture To the -kics,
HIS savage clan oi more than spartan blood,
In silence bowed them, as before a God.
The night wns clear, and mountain. glen and
Slept in the iul moons soit and dcwy beams
The eaglcrs cries hushed and all was still
Save the low nurmurs OF the dreaming ril.
kI.TUS TIE WA, beneath his Holy Tree
Sat mute and still IN mystic reveTc
One moInent-and he fixed his sieadfast eyes
High on the mountain, lowering to the kies.
One long and quiVerIng blast-a bfuzeu tome
was oGr Tho beriiHg cfags IN echo borne
And elancins IN the moon light, high and tar.
a crimson banner hurtered through the air.
Held 10y Phantom Horcman DER his head,
Asup the sterile peaks he swiftly sped.
Like some huge meteor on fiery stecd
But those dark eyes that looked aud could read
la those strange characters but dimly seeu
On that dread flashing banner, well ween,
An awful mystery, and IN them trace
Some dark and dismal omen OF his race.
sudden tremor shook the Prophets frame
a chilling sadness DER his spirit cume
A dark forcbodng, like a troubled dream
OF evil poren,, which he could but deem
The prelude l. rome fearful, bloody strife,
With scenes OF warfare, battle murder rife
And then, as II tho spirit DER him broke
Ia rapIurous inspiration, thus he spoke
Great spirit Of the mighty mind,
The Father OF our tribe and rscs,
The Ruler Of the and wind,
The leader Of the chase!
Oh I. list thee TO thy Propbet's cries.
Aud bend iheo from the glowing skies
And with thy glorious hand
Shield thine own children from the doom
Which DER them hangs IN threaI'ning gloom,
And shield our beautiful land.
Which thou TO US hast kindly given!
Oh shall we from our own be driven
BY murder blood. and fire,
And DER our much loved hunting ground
The notes Of W and battle sound
Forbid, forbid, Great Spirit Sire
feel, from what I've seen 10 night
(Oh! twas a Wild and fearful sighD
feel, foel that some dark fate
Our tribe, our lands. our all await.
Spirit, TO ihec to thee alone,
The mystery Of tins omen's known:
To thee, TO thee Olone we bow.
Whistler for good or III shall DC
The future, only thou dost know;
Whaio'cr LOT good or III betide
Us, we the advent will abide
We bend US to thy wise decree.
Another moon around the council FIRE
Inc chieis were gathered. In their midst the sire
And Prophet Of the tribe, Ki-TuM-rE-wG
whose words were oraces, whose nod was law.
Silent aud still they sat with Blended head
For ersi at meeting their quick eyes had read
dafksOmo mystery on the Prophets brow
VI unknown import which they feared to know.
A. length ki-TUN-rG-wI the silence broke,
And thus In deep, sepulchral accent spoke
Chieftains and Warriors, strong and brave!
Would We tale OF horror hear,
FOfeshsdowing nations gfaye1
Then list-it claims warriors car.
One morn agono, beneath tic Tree,
sat at midnighrs holy hou---
An hour when Thought, unbound aud free,
With more than finite mortal power,
High through the distant pofisls soafs,
And heavens eternal plains explores
Bright and rcspondent was the scene
Oi mounisin, stream, and vale, ween;
And while unused, through all my franc
siekening fear Of evil came
MY spirit bled-my heart was toni
] felt az n some demon spnte
From the internal world had prcst
His burning hand upon my breast.
Then 10 my listening ears were borne
Through the still cir and silent night
Tho laundering sounds Of prairie steed
In reckless, wild, resisiless speed,
While through tho forest, loud and shriI
Der glen and elsde. DER mount and hill,
Rang out a mournful, ochoing blast.
Up to yon peaks quickly cast
My eager eyes, and as gazsd,
starry banner upward blszcd,
Borne by mounted warrior high
In bold outlines against tho sky
One moment seen-and then twas gone
but In that transient glance, methOueht
The downfall Of our was shewn
In characters suPernal wrought
The Prophet paused Each sIswsu warrior bowed;