The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-11-24
rHE BALLAD OF B-REAKNEcK.


THarperis Magazine Tor DcccmDcEJ
me sun shines out on the mountain crest
gar down the valley tho shadows fall:
An crimson and sold = ,ae s, tbs eagies car.
The good ship rides win . Mining SAIL
The ssIlors are calling, Away! away
We wu.f .tam ths tide ere the north wind fah;
The night and the breeze brook no delay.
The vouns mate lingss upon the strand
Near q d1sky maiden with flushing cheek;
And es4sr and low an the words they speak.
aWeep not Nekama; lshall return;
Wait for me hsrs on ne mountaln-sluS,
when the woods In thdr autumn glory Durn'
L shall coae again to slsim my BRIDE.
Slowly the Indian lifts her head;
Dry is her cheek and dear her eye.
"Nekama win wait as tlou mast saio'
the SON of the pale-fae can not lie.
Seeking thy sails on tnestream below,
hinder the shade of thetal pine tree,
When the beeches are gold and the sumacns
From the mountain ,op l shall watch for
thee"
Tho sailors are calling: tie broad sails flap:
From his neck Dirck l'osens his great gold
chain,
Then springs 10 the shalbp's stern again.
The stout ash bends TO ther0wers VIII
Till the small boat reaches the vessels SIDE,
When he turns to Nekama,w waiting still,
Sad, but calm in her savage PRIDE
Sails the ship under high CrD' Nest,
Wearing and lacking in Martyrs Reach,
While Dirck looks back with a mans unrest,
And Nekama fingers uponthe beach.
Fade the sails 10 a vague Whle speck'
Loom the mountains hay and tall;
Dirck watches still from the VESSELS deck,
And the girl moves not, though the night-dews
fall.
A year has passed, and upon the hills
Scarlet and russell have faded to brown;
No sound is heard but the flowing rills;
The summers voices are hustled and gone
A late sad crow on a bare beech top
Caua and qTinOS in an anIunm wind.
The dead leaves fall, and the acerns drop
Breaks the stiffness and scares the hind.
Wrapped in her blanket Nekaml stands,
Scans the horizon with eager eFe-
Late he fingers. She clasps her hands,
Ard a sadness dims her wide dark eye.
h 10 a mist DER the distant shoref
Look how the maiden's dusky lace
CLOVIS and brightensi Amomentmore,
And the white speck changes,ah grows apace.
"He comesl he comesl" From the wigwams
Gather the braves and squaws again;
The men are decked with arrow and spear,
and the women of wampum and feathers vain.
Fleked is the river with light canoes,
hden with gifts for the welcome guest;
Thtspoils of the chase let him freely choose;
Cbse to the ship are the frail barks pressed.
Brorn and still as a bronze relief,
S1ly Nekama keeps her place
Behhd her father, the Mohawk chief,
Mb. plumed and tall, With a painted face
LoQtng in vain one face to see,
Turnand utters his proud demand:
"Dik Brandsen comes not:where fingers he?"
s"Dircstays in Holland, :" the sailors say;
"Heas welded a dame OF wealth and state;
He sci no more for many a day
God Snd US all like happy fate!'
Dark giws the brow of the angered sire:
Can To white man lie like Huron knave?
The eyeof the maiden burn like fire,
But hemein is steady, her words are brave.
From hebosom she drags the great gold chain ;
DQSDGQt the CQnf1fOig feet IL lipCs
Take oa< to the traitor his gift again.
Nekamhas learned how a p~ale-face lies!7
Proudly - steps TO her light canoe;
Bends n paddle at every stroke;
The grace1 bark DER the waters flew,
Nor w1stley a woman's heart had broze.
Up the moltain Nekama HES;
Stands lnle pine trees shade again;
Scans the sac with her wide wild eyes;
means nAi creature in mortal pain.
The DARK euds crowd ound the mountain
peak;
Caws the cE on the Dough o'erhead:
The great nns bend, and the branches creak-
"Ah, why q live? He is false p she said.
Shrek is he'd through the gathering storm;
A rushing nse darkens the air;
Out from the CT springs a slender form,
And the mslds grief lies buried there.
Towers the gTaSag grim and high;
Drlps the oio0rom its rugged side;
Ger the muttesg wash Of the angry udeI .
But Storm King Hs to cd Cro'Nest,
"here tne PinSe1 wave and the hoarse
Though the hohs sleeps meath tina rocky
crest.
While the leaves, his ruined castle fall.
Under the shadow Rreaknee Hill
we Tell the legend, s. heaye n sigh.
"hehe NeASmas imory fingers still.