Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-01-14
From the N. o. Delta, January LIST.
NEW YEARS TALE:
THE PROPHECY OF THE PINE

Do trees talk? Have they no leafy lungs-do
they not at sunrise, when the wind is low, and the
birds are caroling their songs, play a sweet musicg-
Who has ever heard the soft whisper of the green
leaves in spring-time on a sunny morning, who did
not feel as though rainbow CLEANS of gladness were
running through his heart? And then, when the
peach-blossoms hang like rubies from the stem of
the parent tree-when the morning glory, like a nun
before the shrine flood, unfolds her beautiful face,
and the moss-roses open their crimson lips, sparkling
with the nectar that falls from heaven, who does not
bless his Maker2 When autumn comes-the season
Of the ''sere and yellow leaf'-when the wheat is
in its golden prime, and the corn waves its silken
tassels in the air, how those who think bow and re-
member the reaper Death! And then again in win
ter, when the bosom of Old Mother Earth is cold,
and the white snow, like a shrowd, is on her breast,
and the naked trees, with leaves all fallen, stand quiv-
ering in the wind!
Hush! How the torrents of wind sweep over that
majestic river; in the dark and bloody ground -
The waves rise, and the tall trees bow their heads
The sky is as clear as crystal, and millions of stars
are glittering, but oh! the air is freezing cold! In this
drama of life there were but four-on the one side
there were a pine and a laurel tree, and on the other
two small, though stalwart boys. By the motion of
the wind the lordly pine flung his green arms around
the laurel, who seemed to cling to his embrace, and
Whispered, ''See yonder boys!n YES answered
the Laurel, bending gently towards him, Il see two,
and they are going to" A gustof 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 not 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
boys, wiping the cold drops from his brow, said to his
companion, well it was a hard swim, but / made
up my mind to do it, and you know when 1 say yes,
it is yes! I'm goin' down the river tomorrow, but
I'll see them same old trees again, and Ill bet I'll be
doing something else then than l am now Darn
but old Whetsel says it's wrong to curse--come, let's
go back again" M
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 ofHimw who
made me, teach me prophecy. AS l lift my broad
green brow towards Him, when the sun is the color Of
gold, He smiles upon me, and am happy! Then
feel as though knew the secrets of time. Cease,
8cnu6 LAUREL, cease Inc LTeHulOuS action OF thy
leaves, for thou too hast the spirit of prophecy"
The wind was lulled, and the lordly Pine stood
like a chieftain on his mountain home, gazing upon
the river that flowed beneath his feet. A moment
after a swift breeze swept through his green branches,
and again he spoke: Fifty years from now that same
gallant boy will come again to look upon us, but he
will then be a gray-haired man. What will thou
give him, Laurel2"
The Laurel answered timidly: II will give him a
wreath of my brightest leaves: l can do no more."
"AndI, ~ said the Pine, twill give him a portion of
my strength and spirit. | will give him those quail
tiles which will preserve him from the SHOWS of win
ter and the heat of summer | will give him manli-
ness of form and firmness ofmind. But oh Laurel
when he returns again, l shall be withered by age
and scathed by the ligntnings-whilst you will be as
green asever!" A mournful wind swept by. - :
1t was 1903, when a stalwart young man looked
at his commission as a Lieutenant in the u S. Army.
He felt his warrior-soul struggling within him. He
had just been married to a beautiful girl, but, with
tears in his eyes, he tore himself from her white arms,
to do battle for his country. After performing prod
igies of valor, he was rewarded with a Captains CON-
mission, and then commenced his ~eventful career.
| q n L luill9H anu LnC III llCCS dFC d1OUliud
little stockade. Within there are stern soldiers sleep
ing on their arms, and women with their children
~clasping to their bosoms. Without there are dusky
savages, who are creeping stealthily towards their al
most unsuspecting foe. Presently a gun is fired, and
rushing up from their repose, the afrighted inmates
perceive that they are surrounded by savages, and
that the house within the stockade is in flames! All
is confusion-the shrieks of the women, and the hid
eous yells of the Indians, serve 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 was saved, and the
Indians were defeated. = $ Nearly thirty years
after, we see him in the wild savannahs and ham
mocks of the land named by the Spaniards the Land
of Here again he saw the savage foe, and
after innumerable sufferings, chastised and conquered
him. His country rewarded him, and he retired to
his farm, with the resolve, that whenever his services
should again be required, he would be in readiness to
shed the last drop of his blood in her defence. =
There was an old, white-haired mana man who
had battled for his country since his b~oy-hood, and
: who had been rewarded with the highest honor in the
2 gift Of the American people-who felt that he vast asl
Y 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 wrongs2n asked
one who stood by his bedside. The old man pointed
to the Mississippi, and the visitor knew whom he
meant. III
Two years after this, a stout built veteran arrived
o in New Orleans; he seemed to have the nerve and Wig
e or ofhalf a century to come in his constitution, ant
s beneath his gray brows flashed eyes of fire. Withou
S pride, without ostentation. he led his little band to the
e shores of the hostile land. The breaths ofall were re
$ pressed until they heard from the leader of these gall
ant men-but when the news ofPalo Alto came, and
{ the glorious victory of Resaca was received, the admi
ration of our citizens for the hero of the day had M
bounds. Then came a glorious chain of victories
: bought, however, by the precious life-blood of The
! brave. At length, when he had accomplished al
J. that he could, the plain old warrior, liken aother Den
0 tatus, came home. The cannon roared and the gay
flags waved Tens of thousands focked to meet him
and all was Joy and congratulation.
? twas only a few days ago, when an old man, witt
folded arms, stood upon the banks of a noble river
On the opposite side stood a blasted pine; its gray
! arms were motlonless, and it looked like a weirc
and withered object. Nearit, however, there was