Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-09
H0@ The following lines were written, as we
by the intelligent correspondent OF
the .Delaacare Gazette, and are repubished at the
request of friend :
Lines--The Potomac.
BY JAMES MONTGOMERY.

By JAMES MONTGOMERY.
Twas night, and on the ripping stream,
The moon had cast her sweetest beam,
While /, in aught but gayest mood,
Stood by the mild Potomacs flood;
The beauteous stars were shining bright,
And all the countless lamps OF night
Were beamng in the azure blue,
Shedding around their silvery hue;
The limpid waters silence kept,
And every wavelet noiseless slept.
Metnought how changed this lovely scene,
From what it once had proudly BEEN.
Before the red man deigned 10 roam,
To seek in wilds safer home;
Before the e-cad, lofty hills,
And murm'ring brooks, and gurgling rllls,
Had heard the voice of ruthless man,
Or change had first its work began;
Before the white mans foot had trod
The verdant green, or pressed the sod;
] saw the sleeping waters lay,
Rejecting many silvery ray,
And on the shore the nodding flower,
Spread forth the charms of Natures dover;
No barque had ploughed, with Tapping sail,
The walry waste or kissed the gale;
And while unused thought sprite
Arose before my 'wildered sight;
II was not beast, nor fish, nor man,
That thus his varied tale began;
Look! stranger, on this beauteous scene
This wat'ry realm--yon rolling green;
Behold those hills that tower on high,
And seem TO kiss the blushing sky;
Yon waving fields of golden grain,
That spread across the distant plain,
Ere savage man, with ruthless hands,
And barb rous axe, and fiery brands,
Laid waste this native, 10y ely spot,
Where chance had reared the red mans cot,
Proud Nature in her mountain wild,
In all her glowing beauty smiled.
Upon this gently sloping shore,
No flashing waves in tumult roar;
Untaught by art device to scan,
Here roamed, in peace, the savage man.
Beside the margin of yon wood,
Within the shade, his wigwam stood;
Here monarch of his native soil,
Love filed the home where none need toll
His household gods beauteous squaw,
Whose love ne'er knew r.brack or faw,'
And bronze papoose, with flashing eyes,
Like stars that flicker in the skies,
His hopes, his fears, together shared
For these alone he only cared.
With friends around he seemed allied,
And nature all his wants supplied;
To skim the wave and breast the tide,
Seemed best to please his simple pride;
For here in search of food or fame,
He sought 10 earn noble name.
A thousand braves with bow in hand,
Rushed 10 the field at his command
Proud of their chief, their foes defed,
And at his mandate fought or died.
/" Beneath the trees along yon glade,
Within that lovely beachen shade,
When birds were singing in the boughs,
There lovers often plighted vows;
The stripping youth, with brow serene,
There met his modest mountain queen;
And while around the shades of even,
Drew forth the beauteous gems of Heaven,
Wrapt round her soul the magic chain
That none can ever burst in twain
The ties that nature never parts,
Where love is constant in the hearts.
And when the moon had sunk 10 rest,
Adown the hills OF yonder west,
Their parting words, with accents clear,
Unclaimed the oft enraptured ear;
This lovely stream, with modest pride,
Bore on its breast the red mans bride;
Along its shores the timid deer
Drank of the waters bright and clear,
And viewed his image in the wave,
That round our footsteps softly lave.
"But oh, how changed! The white man came
He brought the faggot and the flame,
And spread around his fearful wrath,
Along each haunt and sylvan path;
The red man sadly passed away
From all those scenes so loved and gay;
His wigwam now no longer stands
Where Won proud hill the west commands
His constant squaw no longer keeps
Her silent vigils while he sleeps;
The tangled sward and green grass waves,
Above their long forgotten graves.
No plying eye 10 shed one tear
For those. in death, who slumber here;
Perhaps some GENEROUS willows weep,
Where those forgotten natives sleep;
But man, so proud of bis estate
Selfconstituicd nobly great
Deigns not 10 view the resting place
or a fast fading, noble race.
Go, stranger, go, aloud proclaim,
To every cline, the white mans shame;
Tell how he shed the red mans blood,
Along this very silv'ry flood,
And 10 the world the truth impart,
That casts shadow DER each heart,
That conscience quickens into grief,
But kills before il gives relief"
The phantom pass'd like mist away,
Amid the shades Of evening grey.
! paused--no voice was on the stream,
To charm again my waking dream
And turning homcward sad and drcar,
dropped DER fate one silent tear.
The moon was sinking down the west,
And all the world had sunk 10 rest,
Ere ], with aughi but merry heart,
Could from the sweet Potomac part.