Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-03
n1isrellanp.
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman.
The Mountain Garden.
A LEGEND.
ny s. T. NORWAY.

beautiful sleeping wave of Willoughby Lake,
whose quiet waters lie embowered among the
Green Mountains, and whose summer mists
creep stealthily up from its bosom, watering
the ovcrtopping hills, while in return the little
mountain rills rustic down to its shore, ming
ling their murmuring voices with the glad carol
of oyous songsters, and where the light breeze
bears away the echo of their song, rnfling all
the silly night, the limpid deep. white-capplne
those lesser waves, while anear the rocky shore
there luls the list of miniature breakers, as the
ripples kiss the branching roots, and beckonins
smile to the wild flowers watercd at its brim -
far above this pcllucid lake, there blooms
beautiful Mountain Garden, where the wild
vine clings in festoons along the rocky precipice,
and the grape hangs in tempting clusters upon
its branches, where the wild rose kisses upon
the ambient air its soft perfume and the sweet
briar clusters around, a protecting lord to the
numerous tender buds and sweet smelling flowers.
Ruthless hands have torn away much OF Its
original beauty, and borne away its falrest How
ers, to bloom under the care of their gardening
hand. But the lovely spot overlooking the quiet
surface of the sleeping lake. and the still strange
variety of its flowers tempt many foot to as
cend the rugged pathway to its presence
While there the visitor instinctively asks, how
came this singular spot SO decked with the rarest
flowers, and that without the aid of human
hands for certainly no human hand shaped
the sloping spot, and no hand could have planted
these beautiful flowers, so long time ago
When first the travellers eye beheld these scenes
and the hotanist climbed these lodges, then, in
all their vigor, they blooned and shed their fra
GRANGE upon the air.
From the first sunny ray offspring that warns
the bowery bed, to the nipping frost OF winter,
there blooms each month its chosen flowers and
while the icice hung from the craggy o'erpend-
ing rocks, and the pure white snow warmly
wrapped the germs, I've seen the cold petals of
still blooming flower, peeping out from its
abode among the SHOWS. Yes plucked that
winter blossom, and seen it fade.
What planted this fair garden and nurtured
its bossoming petals, may be learned from this
Indian Legend, the facts Of which are often
narrated to the forester.
While the savage footstep still roved among
these forest-cad wales and padded the light
conoe upon these waters Warrior from dis
tant tribe sought the hand of the Sachem I
daughter. The old man refused the request
nor was his daughters peadings and the prom
ises of the young warrior of any avail. But the
&C Bird of the Thicket determined to escape
and join her lover.
Years passed with no opportunity to accom-
plish her intentions when, upon the return
from hunting excursion, the warriors bore tht
corpse of her father on u litter to his wigwam
The daughter learned that in the chase they
had met another hunting band, and that an ar
row from the bow of tall warrior had drank th
blood of her father. Big tear-drops crept from
her eyelids for her loss and she feared who's
hand had loosed the quiver Her fears were re
allied when, at the next noontde, the remande
of the band led the young warrior bound t
their council fire. From brother she learne
that he was 10 die on the morrow from the e
feet of score of poisoned arrows
When the campfire burned low, and tt
guard, tired of the chase, profoundly slept, 81
approached the captive, and, loosing his limb
bade him fly. He refused, until she would CO.
sent to Join him. He was the murderer of h
father; still she loved him. though dread
his presence, while knowing his crime, almo
prevented her from accompanying him. But
last her love persuaded her to rescue him frol
dath, and together they fed
When the sun arose, an old man, who hs
overheard the proceeding of the previous nigh
narrated the manner of their escape, and ga
himself up to the fate Of the young man, as
forfeit for the escape of the lovers. But, Q
though for the time accepted, the young men
the tribe were by no means satisfied; and eve
means were employed to learn the whcrcabou
of the captive and his bride.
Years passed away, and no traces of them h
been discoye, ed when criminal, escaped frC
ulo'"ho eiioe, oouShu euoii ptOtccVlou, anu
formed them Of the abode of their former ca
tive But, said he, he is great sachem, a
has mighty band of warriors Still the des
for revenge urged them to the attack
bloody war was waged for long season.
AT length stratagcm succeeded. The sach
was called out and surrounded, pursued and
arrow from a sure hand pierced his heart wi
cry of despair and an appeal to the Cir,
Spirit, Noomo slept. His pnrsners cloft
skull, and bore it aloft, while their war-whot
rent the air in search of the i" Bird of
Thicket." The royal abode was for Ii
time bravely defended by the well trained gu
but, finding their defence useless, they burr
their wigwams, and escaped.
By her retreat near the sweet waters
Young bride was discovered. As her pursu
neared her she entreated the gods of her fate
their protection, who interposed, and tra
formed her into young fawn, and she quic
vanished from their presence.
From the wild haunts in the thicket, she
followed by hunting band, and approachin
precipice saw that there was no chance of
cape. But disdaining to become the victim
her pursuers she leaped from the overhang
steep, and was killed by the fall Her WI