The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-04-21


Ofall the bliss by fancy wrought,
Until her w%rmcst hopes all seem
Within subtle network caught;
Where orange buds, like drops ofpcar,
Lie scattered on the tccmiug ground
And jascminc's wildsthcir tcndriIs curl,
The grateful tree of hcay'n around;
Where tall magnolia's lift their checks
OF snowy whitcness to the sky.
And Nature, many-voiced, c'cr seeks
To send her praises of God on high.
Long years ago, within this land,
Ere christian feet had marked its stand:
While christian fleets were searching wide,
New treasures DER the western tide,
There stood quiet Indian town,
BY white mans foot Observation-Disclosures
Ocala. kim ruled DER the plain,
And wiscly held his happy reign.
Well ordered fields Of maize arravcd,
Their peaceful arts and wealth displaycd-
The dance and song, in thoughtlcss JOY,
And hospit3ble fcasts their time employ,
Save while they til the fertile fields,
Whose grateful wombs their treasure yields;
Or while upon the hunting ground,
They follow fist the horns shriil sound.
They had not heard how Pcru's blood
Had mingled with her golden dust;
And wh"r" the suns bright alter stood.
Was tenn led DER by Spanish lust;
Nor how the MeXeque's halls Of gold,
Had cchoed with the spoilers tread,
And that dire fate, 50 long foretold,
Its dark md wrathful wings had spread;
Nor how hat bright, but fearful race,
Was hast'ning on from Tampa's shore.
And while they dreamed of love and peace,
Their own sad fate was hanging DER
Calmly and still the morn was breaking,
From ca; hcrpurc and pcarly chambers,
Like some Young beauty just awaking
From her soft and dreamy slumbcrs.
1t was the winter time of wear;
But winter WAS in gentle keeping.
So bright the leaves so soft the mir
You wo"ld have thought that spring was
sleeping.
Tpon OcAla,s quiet wals,n
Feacci"IIy rose the opening day;
The maiden, in her happy halls
Humm"d softly DER the early lay.
The sagcs sat aronnG the fires.
And told the glorics of their sircs:
The young men loitcred on the Green.
Where many sportive game had been;
Twas just that hour ere they begin
The tolls or pleasures of the day.
Which they delight to while away.
A dull deep sound came booming there,
Rendering the morning air asunder-
Which they and theirs should hear again
Hseemcd like distant cchoing thunder:
But ,owcr duller, and far nearer.
1t fell upon the unwary hcarer,
Like some torcboding knell of warning,
When storms break DER the quiet morning.
Unheard to Indian ears before
IT. was the distant musket roar.
The maiden ceased her happy song;
The sire started from his seat;
And on the green the village throng.
In ANXIOUS wonder hast'ning meet.
In deep suspense and quick debate,
They listen for anothcrs sound.
Bnt long and doubtingly they wait,
Unbr"kcn stiffness reigned around.
An hour passed on another note!
A clearer shricr than the first,
Did DER the gentle stiffness float.
And strangely on the list'ncrs burst,
tone ofsweetness, with its swelling,
Came like that soft bewitchng dwelling.
OfRusic DER the waters cast
Hwas the clarion's heightened blast,
Stihswondering mused the Indian tbrono
came these sounds, unheord
before,
w hlch waited now the thunder song,
~ And now the tones of music bore.
Sure from the South some stranger band
Comes visiting our happy land;
why come they thus, unaskcd, unknown?
lgnorantof what risk they run!
Come they in peace or armed for war,
Ihat they are wandering thus afar!
Lest w"rI,Ke be their purpose here.
Prepare Young men the bow and spear:
But II with peaceful mind they come,
plVe them welcome in our bomol
ihos spoke the sres, whose duty. right
Was counsel wise and stern compond.
And thus prepared for peace or fight
A band of faithful warriors stand.
A cloud of dust was in the South.
DE Sotos gallant band concealiQg;
long array they issue forth,
lheir proud and shining forms revealing
they come dnbrave and prancing steeds,
with their bright helms of steel all glanc-
'nC.
Their cresse -
deeds, N0u WIN Knlghtly
Vow in the Indian sunns.. ,,,...,,,
Gay pnmage DER their helmefSe.H feH'iing -
n thatn IL