Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1858-03-04
Al Nimiln.


/ stood upon a rocky cliff that overlook
ed the bright waters Of a river. As
gazed along the sloping valley, watching
the meandering stream, saw mighty
Oak that stood upon its margin. It's lofty
top reached the clouds, and its giant
branches spread afar. Its deep-planted
roots ran thousand ways, and clung firm
ly to the hill Its form was straight and
beautiful, tapering like the delicate finger
Of her love, and its leaves quiver in the
breeze, like the wavy ringlets Of the fair
maiden. It sprang from a genial soil,
nurtured by the dews Of Heaven, and here
and there, around its base, few stray
pearls lay half buried in the sand. The
murmuring stream watered the verdant
fields, and gliding through the vale, stole
flowers from Its banks, and bore them on
its bosom. .r.q r- s
The scene was picturesque and beautl
fbl. The plaintive moan of the dove, and
wild strains that breathed from the harp.
of forest maid, -entranced the soul with
its msalsdy. Delightef, enrapaHed Igaz-
ed With a. melancholy pleasure upon the
various objects around me-first upon the
giant -oak-then through the winding val
ley, observing the rivers gentle flow, now
curling and breaking its CLASSY surface,
then melting into smoothness. Filled with
emotions of rapture, exclaimed, "How
lovely! how beautiful Oh, Paradise !
land of bliss! Long have / sought thee
far and wide, thou art here-henceforth
thou shalt be my residence-here will l
aattfWhite man,'' said Au-wau-kask, the
savage Chieftain, interrupting me, and
speaking in his native tongue. show cam
est thou here, and what seekest thou ?
This is ,consecrated ground--on this spot
my father worshpped, and twice every
moon we met upon this cliff, that our spir-
its may commune with each other"
| turned The Indian stood before me.
He was tall, athletic, and arrayed in the
costume of war. An arrow was drawn
from his quiver, and his bow was slightly
sprung. AS caught his eye, his hand
fell, and, with firm, elastic step, he ap-
preached. "Tellme, white man" said he
''what thou behOldest
.'Au-wau-kash," !" said l, ''cast thy eyes
along the valley, and behold that monu-
.ment of nature. Its wonderful size first
drew my attention. for It's head is in the
clouds, its arms spead wide, and it stands
firm as the moveless hills"
"The tree which thou seest," said he
twas planted In the morning of Time. /
has looked with scorn on the wrathful hur
ricane. The burning thunderboIt ha,
|, quivered harmless around the trunk.
stands immovable. 1t was planted b.
the Great Spirit to guide the Indian whiE
traversing the wide, interminable plain
that stretch far beyond those hills. 1t ha
stood for ages, and long since did the ar
row of my fathers pluck feathers from
the eagle that perched upon the top. Blu
mark, It's noon-day, and ere thou sleepes
, its limbs shall tremble, its top shall shak
in the Clouds"
/ loo ed again. A hazy mist was fas
gathering over the valley, and as l caugh
through the eddying vapor, glimpse o
of the giant tree, | saw it bend to tht
. weight of a sparrow. It's broad top M
longer yelled the horizon.
''Tell me, Au-wau-kask," ;" said l, "wha
means this ?''
{ Hearing nc response, turned and saw
/ the Indian descending to his cabin.
l looked again, and the mist had fade
, in the sunbeam. Ibeheld the broad, clea
sky, the surrounding hills, and the curlin,
stream. The wild bird sailed on the breeze
and the eagle scared high in the heavens
and searched in vain for a place of resi-
for the oak had fallenI The silent strear
had found a secret channel, and its foun
dation, grain, after grain, was washe
away. fastened to the spot where
stood, but the current had borne it to tn
g ocean, oe l-..t ,sI5..naL ..#
sy-. -ENOr trace left behind,
/ Sovo forrv oQooK,