Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-03-28
Miarfllanroug.
NIToMEMA; OR, GENTLE DOVE.
AN INDIAN LEGEND.


there lived young woman who for beauty and
for tenderness of nature was called the Gentle
Dove. The savages in the wilderness felt her
power, though revealed only in the majesty of
I her motion and in the music of her voice.
Crossing over the stormy deep, and pursu-
| ing his journey through trackless country,
| came the brave and good missionary Mar
| quette, bearing in his hands the Gospel of
Peace. Gentle Dove was drawn irresistibly by
the attractions of the cross, she was sprinkled
with baptismal waters and became a Christian.
If when she was without the ark of safety, her
| spirit scared above the troubled waters, how
lovely when its wings were CLOSED in the Sun
of Righteousness, and when she bore the
| Olive Branch.
The fate of the good Marquette was this.
| Self-sacrificing and devoted he went upon his
errand, proclaiming to the benighted children
of the forest the glad tidings with resolution
which despised all danger, and which knew no
fatigue. How sublime is the life of such fol-
lower of Christ. But alas! the disciple was
| treated like his Master. His benevolent de-
signs were soon mistaken, and ascribed to mo-
| tives base and mercenary. The savages sur
rounded him with clubs and arrows, but slip
ping away from their midst he went into the
forest and prayed. When they came upon
| him he was in kneeling posture they fit
| ted their arrows on their bows, but perceiving
| that he made no motion they approached, and
found him dead.
Soon after this the Gentle Dove was espous-
ed to Omaint-si ar-nah son of the Nations
Chief. Beautiful and manly in his person, tall
and athletic, with features regular and hand
some skilful and adroit in the use of the bow,
in battle bold and daring like his sire, he was
moreover the faithful friend, the kind hus-
band. the generous host. But he was in tenn
per sauguinc, credulous, and jealous.
Scarcely had Gentle Dove become his bride
when he was called away to the wars, and hav-
ing first committed her to the protection of his
friend Que-la-wah, he clasped her to his heart,
and in tears badc her farewell. Many and ma
nv a message did he send from his distant en-
campmcnt by the hands of courier, for the
art of writing to the Indian tribes was unknown.
But at last Que-la became enamored of
Gentle Dove, and sought by every means to
win her from her rightful lord. She indignant
ly spurned him from her presence. Meantime
being much perplexed in spirit she had dream.
An awful form stood before her, and told her
| that the Virgin loved her, and promised to re-
veal the future to her. What she had suffered
| from ue-la-wah was but beginning of great
er woes to come, for he in whom her soul de-
| lighted should be deceived, and forsake his
| faithful wife, and she should narrowly escape
with life. Moreover, there was about to be
strife for empires and race OF white men who
| had gained footing near the rising sun, from
small beginnings, should sweep over and sub
| due the entire continent. Still, her nation
should not be without renown. A prince
should arise who should bear sway over many
chiefs, and many tribes. He should lead his
warriors to successful battles, and when at last
| his person should be bound in fetters, his soul
would DC unsubducd. Moreover his name
should not perish, being embalmed in immor-
tai verse, and the Holy Virgin should be with
the Gentle Dove.
Que-la-wah finding that his proffers were re-
jected vowed revenge. He bribed the messen-
| ger whom the chieftan sent with tdings to his
love. She received them not and sent no an
| swer but he bore back word that he had de-
| livered them, and that Gentle Dove had treat
ed them with marked contempt. She was a
| abandoned and inconsistent and had violated
| her pledge.
| Omaint-si-ar went into paroxysm of
rage. He commanded those who stood around
to draw their bows and shoot him. AS none
| obeyed, he was about to drive q dart into his
own breast, but the weapon was wrested from
his hand. The flame of love being extinguish-
ed, he passionately vowed revenge. He sent a
messenger, commanding him to entiee her iu-
to some secret place, saying that lie had bro't
tidings from her lord, then to slay her, and
bring back lock of her hair. When they
were come into the wood, Gentle Dove, who
carried her babe with her, pleaded so touch
ingly that the messenger of death relented,
and spared her life, if she would but retreat
ny no more. Then he cut lock from her
jet-black hair and peaceably departed.
How she wandered unhurt amid the beasts
slept in hollow tree-how wild buffalo be-
came tame and gave milk from its udders fol
her sustcnance,-how the Virgin took her I'M
der her sweet protection, and the birds sang
for her, and the corn and fruits Iipened in hel
retreats, all these things forna part of the his
tory of. Gentle Dove.
Meantime her lord returned unhappy. II
moodv melancholy he walked among the we'll