Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-10-07
Original Roetrp.
Written for the Enquirer.
THE FORTUNE HUNTREss.

The moon was in the silver sky,
And scarce the South-wind heaved q Sigh,
The night-bird woke his plaintive song
Which bore the charmed soul along,
The summer air, the star-lit hour,
The voice of song, the balm of flower,
The broad blue armament above
Seemed to invite the soul to love.
Then she was fair-in woman kind
Whate'er is bright in face or mind
Whate'er can charm the gladdened eye
Whate'er can soothe the lingering ear
Whatever seems too bright ~ die
All found embodiment in her.
Angels would gladly stoop to press
Her rosy cheek, her rounded breast,
And roses never looked so fair
AS when they clustered in her hair.
o she was bright, there's not q gem
In India's proudest diadem
Which could adorn her bosoul's snow
VI lCuu SuCudulucuI u ueT DTOH.
No flower in Cashmere's fragrant vs,le
Would with her richer lustre vie
No star whose beauty would not pale
Before her, glitters in the sky.
Search through the earth for what is fair,
Or call the spirits of the dir
And Peri, Houri, star or flower
Weld no such beauty.dazzling power;
To her, to her alone was given,
The brightest tints of earth and heaven.
1t was, we've said, the witching hour
When dew-drops sparkle on the. flower,
Owaeso fingered by her side;
For she was all the world to him,
His daily dream, bis darling pride,
The star ,chich made all ,tlers din.
In words tremulous and low
He told Of loves delightful glow,
"How she had taught his heart to pine
To think of her as one divine,
To dream of her and her alone,
To pray that she might be his OWN
His own dear Nina-his to love,
Tho other hearts might faithless prove,
His to cherish and adore,
Until his hearts last throb was o'er!"
She heard his vows-perhaps she felt
Her bosom for moment melt,
And love seemed glistening in her eyes
Like starlight on the summer skies:-
A moment-and her looks grew cold,
The chilling thought that instant came,
Of one who profered land and gold
Then died away her bosom's flame.
Her answer was in cautious zone,
"That she would live-would die alone,
Her parents with her would not part,
That she would keep her love and heart"
They parted on chat star-it night,
The one downcast, the other bright,
The one with pallor on his brow
Which marks true loves rejected vow,
And in his heart secret grief
For which the world has no relief,
With which it scarce can sympathize
So deep the hidden anguish lies.
All! those who never felt the woe
Cannot this burning torment know:
'1is not that love was true, yet vain,
Which forms alone the blasting thought;
'1is that heart for paltry gain
Could thus like merchandise be bought
For thus will come, like withering blast,
In human virtue unbelief,
The skeptic's curse, despair at last,
And lifelong, misanthropic grief.
When those whom We have loved and prized
HIVE all our love and truth despisei-.
lave beauty, heart, and virtue sold
For the poor, dazzling cheat of gold,
How like fatal arrow flies
The truth we would not realize
That what on earth seemed most divine,
Was but black falsehood's outward mask,
In which Elusive splendors shine
Where Hope may for moment bask!
Alas! Alas! Dahlonega,*
For Love thou art baleful star,
And virtue cannot long deny
What victorious wealth would buy.
o ye with glittering dowers blest
Let no vain fears invade your breast,
For beauty, youth, and rosy health
Will bow to you-or to your wealth.
Since first in Eden's snless bower
The serpent stole with hidden guile,
To Mammon has belonged the power
Of kindling woman's sunniest smile.
Strange that within land like ours
Where Nature spreads her fairest bowers,
And plenty teens on every hand,
As in some far.off fairy-land-
Where woman's cheek seems bright to bless,
Where woman's eye with rosy light
Melts every heart to tenderness,
Eurapturing with wild delight
Where Science holds her queenly reign,
And through the oceans trackless wild,
Binds with strong electric chain
The parent to her grateful child
Where Freedoms splendid banners wave
From ocean shore to mountain cave.
That mon should prize his birth-right less
Than the base minions of distress
Who never knew the boon We prize
Who to tyrant bend the knee,
And send up to the blushing skies,
"Hosannss to his Majesty"
For they would gladly spurn their chains
And build up Freedoms sacred fanes;
*Dahlonega-in the Indian language 81,