Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1848-01-11
From the N. o. Delta, January LIST.
NEW YEARS TALE:
THE PROPHECY OF THE PINE


Who has ever heard the soft whisper of the green
leaves in spring time on sunny morning, who did
not feel as though rainbow CLEANS of gadness were
running through his hearth And then, when the
peach-blossoms hang like ubes from the stem of
the parent tree-when the morning glory, like nun
before the shrine food, unfods her beautiful face,
and the mossroses open their crimson lips, sparkling
with the nectar that falls from heaven, who does
bless MS Makerl When autumn comes-the season
of the 'sere and yellow leaf'-when the wheat is
in its golden prime, and the corn waves its sken
tassels in the air, how those who think bow and
member the reaper Death! And then again in win
ter when the bosom of Old Mother Earth is cold,
and the white snow, like shrowd, is on her breast,
and the naked trees with leaves all fallen, stand quiv
ering in the windl
Hush How the torrents of wind sweep over that
majestic river; in the 'dark and bloody groundr-
The waves rise, and the tall trees bow their heads.
The sky is as clear crystal, and millions of stars
glitering but oh! the air is freezing cod In this
drama of life there were but four-on the one side
there pine and laurel tree, and the other
two small, though stalwart boys. By the motion of
the wind the ordly pine flung his green arms around
the laurel who seemed to cling to his embrace, and
whispered, ''See yonder boys!' YES" answered
the Laurel, bending gently towards him, Il two,
and they going to" A gust of wind came up,
and what then the laurel said, no one ever knew.
Oh! how the wind roared, and how the trees rock
ed, as though their roots were fast in the ground
Presently the two boys came painting to the shore
one sat under the Pine and the other under the Lau
rel Then again the trees spoke, but the boys did
not hear them. The shortest but stoutest of the two
1 -.
companion, "Well it was hard swim, but made
up my mind to do it, and you know when say yes,
it yes! I'm goin down the river tomorrow, but
I'll them same old trees again, and I'll bet I'll be
doing something else then than am Darn
but old Whetsel says it's wrong to curse--come, let's
go back again"
| The two boys again plunged into the almost fro
zen stream, and regained the other side. The tall,
dark Pine then bent towards the Laurel, and said:
"See the vigor of yonder youth The winds which
come from the deep blue above, the abode Him who
made me, teach me prophecy. As | lift my broad
green brow towards Him, when the is the color Of
gold, He smiles upon me- and am happy! Then |
feel as though knew the secrets of time. Cease,
gentle Laurel, cease the tremulous action Of thy
leaves, for thou too hast the spirit of prophecy"
The wind was lulled, and the lordy Pine stood
like a chieftain on his mountain home, gazing upon
the river that flowed beneath his feet A moment
after swift breeze swept through his green branches
and again he spoke Fifty years from that same
gallant boy will again look upon us, but he
will then be gray-haired man. What will thou
give him, Laurell"
The Laurel answered tmidly: Il will give him a
wreath of my brightest leaves: can do no more"
"AndI," said the Pine twill give him portion of
my strength and spirit. will give him those quail
tiles which will preserve him from the of win
ter and the heat of summer. | will give him manii-
ness OF form and firmness of mind. But oh Laurel,
when he returns again, l shall be withered by age
and scathed by the ligntnings- you will be
green as ever" A mournful wind swept by. . > =
1t was 1903, when stalwart young man looked
at his commission Lieutenant in the U. s Army.
He felt his warrior-soul struggling within him. He
had just been married to beautiful girl but with
tears in his eyes, he himself from her white arms
to do battle for his country After performing prod
gies of valor, he rewarded with Captains COM
mission, and then commenced his eventful career.
Hark it is midnight and the tall trees around
tte stockade. Within there stern soldiers Sleep
ing - their arms, and women with their children
casping to their bosoms. Without there are dusky
savages who creeping stealthy towards their al
most unsuspecting foe. Presently gun is fired, and
rushing up from their repose, the arghted inmates
perceive that they surrounded by savages, and
that the house within the stockade is in amesl All
is confuson-the shrieks of the women, and the hid
eous yells of the Indians, to make the scene
terrible At this moment the commander of the lit
tie fort showed the COOL calm courage, and indomita-
BILE spirit of a veteran. The fort saved, and the
Indians were defeated. . Nearly thirty years
, after, we see him in the wild savannahs and ham,
Knocks of the land named by the Spanards the Land
ofFlowers." Here again he saw the savage foe, and
after innumerable suerngs chastised and conquered
him. His country rewarded hir and he retired tC
his farm, with the resolve that his services
should again be required he would be in readiness tC
shed the last drop of his blood in her defence. .
There old, white-haired mana who
had bated for his country since his boy hood, and
who had been rewarded with the highest honor in the
gift of the American people-who felt that he was fas
} sinking into his grave. He looked upon his country
as upon his child and he felt that she had been ag
? grieved "Who shall avenge her wrongsl" asked
one who stood by his bedside. The old man pointed
to the Mississippi, and the visitor knew whom he
meant.
Two years after this, stout built veteran arrived
in New Orleans; he seemed have the and Wig