Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-07-27
Mlstellaneous.
From the New England Offering.
The Wounded DOVe,-An Indian Tale.

upon this wigwaml Behold. his last red glance
is upon the water, yet the brow Of the Cunny.
Cloud reflects not its ray. And thou Talking.
Bird, what hath hIshed Thy ever Joyous yoicel
Tell me. have ye been upon the track Of the
wolf to.dayl"
Thus spoke the Indian mother to two dark
maldens, who came and rested before her as
she rested at sunset from her labor.
Talking. g.Bird, the younger Of the madens,
replied
NAY, We were but thinking Of newly found
friend. We are sad, because he is of race
that our mother loves not. Bendng-Oak is a
wise squaw, Her words are mild and fearless
as the south wind over the prairie. Sunny.
Cloud and Taking-Bird will tell their tale aud
then listen 10 the wise words of Bending.
Oak"
"The sunbeams had not warmed the stream
when we entered the Canoe 10 90 and seek med
cine herbs in the great prairie far down the river
Every thing was calm and glorious as the smile
Of the Great Spirit Sunny.Cloud and were
happy; we Knocked the birds that sang above
us. we repeated The wild legends of our tribe,
and talked Of all we had ever enjoyed, or no.
ped 10 enjoy. So the time passed, ull the sun.
beams fell upon our heads and the burning
waters dazZed our eyes. We rowed into the
shelter of willow grove, and rested. As we
sat in the canoe, listening 10 The low wrippIes
of the stream and thinking pleasant thoughts,
there came u flash like lightning through the
trees, then a sound, quicker and sharper, than
thunder; and a pretty dove fell wounded into
the canoe beside me. | took the poor bird
and smoothed down its feathers, It painted for
one moment aud then its breath was gone.-
Just then hunter appeared under the shade Of
a papaw tree. His robes were curiously fash.
ioned, and he bore upon his shoulder load Of
the choicest wild game. He was not like our
cheIlans, for his face was of the hue of Jan.
uary snow, when the yellow sun shines upon it.
and his eye was bright as the depths Of the
moon.lit sky in summer"
"a white hunter! Why does TaIkng.Brd
use golden words when she speaks of himl"
said the aged squaw, pcerlng into The maiden's
face. "The brows of our young men are like
the wings of night and mehinks that the dark
forest girl should admire them more than the
bleached visages of her nations roe.''
The maiden turned and averied her eyes, and
Sunny-Cloud spoke in her defence.
"The pale hunter was bold and kind. He
laid his burden down upon the grass and spoke
as brother speaks. III smiled 1pon Talking.
Bird, and told her that it grieved him 10 have
killed warbler gentle as herself-whose voice
was musical and tender as her own"
"And did the silly Talking Bird return his
smilel Those were not the words OF a broth.
er, but demon. The ratllesnake but knows
too well how to lure the mocking. bird. His
charm is bewitching, but he hath deadly
sting"
"Yct surely this is no waitor," persisted
HE spoke of his home in a
far off land, as beautiful as the hunting grounds
of our dead warriors. And he called us sis
tors, saving that we had onr Faher-,hen he
laid dazzling ornaments into our baskets, and
promised. boGore another moon 10 bring richer
gifts to the wigwam."
"Have We put the white foe on the Indians
lail!" said the squaw angriIy. "Doth the
dove uncover is nest to the glaring eye of the
hawk! Bending-Oak is rightly named. She
is like You tree that leans from the crag across
The stream. A few more storms will how
around her head, and she will fall broken and
But she will fall from high place.
She has looked over the treo tops, and seen the |
tempest sweeping up the valley, while others
stood quiet nor dreamed Of danger. And she
can tell her simple daughters that in the track
Of the white man the red race have ever been
swept away like leaves before the winter blast.
The tongue of the pale face hath Two sides;
one is as smooth as oil, the oher is like Goals OF
ire. If Talking Bird listens to him, her fate
will be like that of the bird that fell by his ar
lows. II was a token from the Great Spirit 10
warn her."
"But the Indian girl must not forget to be
grateful" appealed TaIking.Brd, who had been
sanding listener "As stood in the canoe,
o turn its course down the stream, my blanket
taught in a dead bough, and fell. | could
nave swan to the shore, but the blanket Choked
ne, and | hung like a reed in the deep water
But for the strong hand of the white hunter,
Talking Birds voice might never again have
mingled in the songs of the youths by the wig.
VAN fire. Surely, when he comes, we must
1--WE him venison and shelter
The Indian moher's heart almost Welded
'ut the lrown fingered on her brow, and she
departed, muuering, "Where is The brave that
'nce dwelt in the tent of Bending Oak? He
ell long ago in that distant white village and ,
he buzzurds have picked his bones. May the {
anne fate come upon every one Of the murder ,
ng race. The curse of Bending.Oak is upon :
he white wolf and all who smile on him."
The next day the aged squaw talked with the +,
hels. conceruing the expected intrusion into
heir camp, and besought them oy removeing to '
he eorders Of ofadstantriver to evade their vsiters.
Sut the girls Of the tribe had preceded her with =,
lowing descriptions Of the treasures which the
'hiIe trader would bring to offer in exchange E
Or their furs, that, curiosity and avarice over
anne all her warnings and maledictions, Z
At the appointed time the boat of Elliot, the