Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-23
For the Spirit Of the Age.
A SKETCH ---BY EsTELLE.

n UEIuLUuI XIII TGCTICU UCLCdIu JIG SIuU
of a stately forest oak, which showered
its leaves of crimson and gold upon her
loose black ~tresses, as If to cover her with a
canopy. She vas a child of the Red
man, and her dainty moccasin had often trod
the rocky cliffs fearlessly, with her stalwart
sire, heights that would have turned the brain
of the pale-faced maiden dizzy at a glance
But twas the pride Of NINA, or "the FI0wer
of the Forest" as she was called by her tribe,
to plunge into the painless ocean of the will
derness, and to bring down from the tall trees,
with her keen arrow, birds of brilliant plu-
mage; or plunge into the singing streams and
gather from its margin the wild blossoms.
Nina had often been to neighboring towns
and villages, with parties of her tribes on
their trading excursions, and was treated
there with the greatest attention and respect.
The rare and wild beauty of the Forest
Flower won all hearts. The white ma.dens
1ocked around her, and many were the
strings of glittering beads and gay presents
that she carried back to her rude home; and
they even begged her to stay and have a home
amongst them but she shook her head and
sa~id-''Though the heart of the Flower of the
Forest is filled with love for her pale.faced
sisters, yet she cannot stay with them, for
Nina loves her forest home: she loves to lis
ten to the voice of the Great Spirit in the 5.
wind, as it roars through the dark woods, or
whispers in the low, gentle murmurs of sing
| ing brooks. The touches of the pale-faces
are very soft and beautiful, but Nina had rath-
err recline on the fur of the buffalo, or sit on
/ the banks of the stream and listen to her song
as it winds among the mountain. But the
voice Of the white maidens is very soft and
pleasant to the ears of the child of the forest,
and she will sometimes come and see them;'
and she turned her steps homeward.
Aftersone of these excursions Nina seemed
changed. Her merry laugh was lower and
5 softer, and her step was more gentle and
/ sometimes a sad and painful expression would
c fit across her brow, as she met the piercing
gaze of the stein old Chief, her father.
Twas early morn as the sun was just
peeping up there was unusual hustle in the In
5 dian wigwams. The warriors were loaded
with their furs and skins, and the squaws and
maidens were preparing to follow in their
If wake with lighter burdens. Nina stepped
a gaily forth to join them, when she heard the
Q, voice of her sire called her to his tent. The
aged Chief was standing in the door and gaZed
> at her with a stern look: THE Flower Of the
q Forest goes no more to the white wigwams.
ia The Son of the White Chief has been pouring
q. a sweet song into her ears but she will hear
al it no more! The Red men can sell their furs
O, to the pale-faces, but there is no love in their
1@ hearts for them. The heart of the Red man
~ must be filed with hatred for the whole tribe
= of the pale faces"
" Nina listened in establishment and despair,
lie for she knew not how her father had discov-
to cred her secret. AS he turned and went into
the hut, she darted forward and whispered q
to few words into the ear of one of the women
the last one of the traders that remained in
,ts sight, and then turned and walked slowly
back to her fathers hut. The day before
" while Nina was out with her bow and arrow
ore a messenger had arrived from the Governor
her with presents to the Chieftain, asking tina
rem the ''Flower of the Forest" be sent as a wifi
yer for his son. The old Chief sent back th
ere presents and messenger with scorn and cor
tempt.
,;od Days passed away: the heart of Nina wa
sad- She no LONGER lagad tbehbaBt &NFiftthf hf]
eat oft repaired, Her eyes grew fearful, and sb
ten no longer joined in weaving CAV feathers i
she the moccasins of her warriors.
first One day, as she was leaning against til
and old oak, her faVorite bower, she started as
it'll an arrow had pierced her. She beheld til
Son of the White Chief at her sidc! TT
gloomy light fled and the rich glow of 10
oVerspread her features, as she gazed upo
| a him. And he poured forth into her wiliin
had ears the tale of love "Mina," he said. ssyo
know your father treated my messenger wit
scorn and contemplate hates the white ma
and would see US both cold and ~lifeless b
D fore he would consent to our marriage. S,
dearest, fly with me from this dark. gloom
place, to a home where all will love thee, an
read will make thee happy" The light of ioy fe
zone from the eyes of the maiden, as she reptile
ma sadly: 1.-THE heart of the Flower of the Fo
est" loves theel Thy song of love has falle
avs very sweetly upon her ears but she cam,
the go with thee; she cannot forsake her age
iris father. Go back to the white wigwam.
t to is not safe for thee to remain here" In va
llity did he implore her to fly with him. 81
the lifted her bowed head a moment and listene
thy to a distant sound, then quickly slipped h
4lso. hand from his grasp and darted down Il
In path that led to the wigwam.
! in The winter had passed away and with
and the old Chieftain sank quietly to rest. I'll
n of Flower of the Forest was very sad, and h.
my footstep was heavy; for she loved her fathe
And She was sad too, from another cause for
ls?" long time she had seen nothing of the Viii
olor Chief. She had caught herself listening
nest every falling leaffor his footstep-but in val
and Perhaps he was angry with her.
| re- She determined to pay a farewell visit
back the place of their last meeting, and then fl
low her tribe to the far west. She started ar
t do had gone but a few steps, when she heard
well-known voice, and her faithful Low,
nam sprang to meet her., Now, she ioyfully gree
&c a ed him, and IN a moment all her sorrow ";
row. forgotten.
for "Wil the Flower of the Forest go with n
now :" he said with a bright smile. "
tory know not what her answer was, but in a fe
S in moments he was seen leading her away to b
tori bark canoe.