The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-10-16

Where, by the dim reflected light,
Transporting beauties met his sight.
The walls, which ample space confined,
With alabaster flowers were lined;
While pendent from the arch oeThead,
Stalactites pure their luster shed;
Feldspar and gems, in festoons neat
Scatter'd their beauties meath his fcet
And all in all, the place would seem
More lovely than poets dream;
A spot tit for the dwelling place,
OF wood nymph, fairy, elf or grace,
The pass the waters shut from view,
The cave no other entrance knew
And the young Chief his counsel kept,
With him alone, the secret slept.
Not far away village stood,
Embosom'd in the forest wood.
Where pioneers their lots had cast,
SHELTERED secure from mountain blast;
Where iron wills and hearts OF oak,
The stiffness of the forest broke;
And sawart arms their axes swung,
While through the Willis the echoes rung;
Along the vale the opening track
From rock and mountain gave them back;
Til larger space, where erst had stood
The giant monarchs of the wood,
Was barred, the purchase Of their toll,
And treasures relp'd from generous soil.
Their equine servants browsed the glade,
And lowing kline rich tribute paid;
Their red skim d neghbors true AMI kind,
Their roofs would often shelter find;
Would oft partake their cheering fare,
And bring Of hunting spoils full share.
BY toll, the richest currents rife
Coursed through their veins in active life;
And sweetest draught of mountain air,
Moulded them comely, brave and fair.
Among the hardy jewellers here,
Who gave the Indians welcome cheer;
Whose cabin door stood open wide,
unfit o.. md oh -, la. hv .il
Whose sweeping herds the valleys trod,
Aud who could count his acres broad,
On hill and vale and mountain round,
Without limit, stint or bound,
Vas one who own'd a treasure rare,
With which has wealth might not compare,
A daughter, lovely, young and fair.
But now, 'twcre needless waste OF time,
70 tell her charms IN measured rhyme;
And shouid try the task absurd,
NY muse would fail me fitting word
70 paint her beauty, bloom aud grace,
Proud Queenly form, and winsome face;
And the soul charming subtle skill,
BY which she conquered hearts at Will.
Though all unpractised in the arts,
That maidens use, to wound the hearts
OF pOlSh'd beau, or city swain,
Ana sought by these, not power to obtain;
And though unconscious Of her reign,
Her wounded victims writhed in vain,
The silken letters to divide,
That drew them helpless to her sldc
BY gentle rein, yet firm command,
The willing stced oteyd her hand;
And proud in pace, by steady guide,
Would scale the dizzy mountain side;
Nor ever devate from The trail,
But bear her safe, DER rock and dale.
Her riaI, with unerring aim,
Would check the race OF mountain game;
Her hand would ply the steady oar,
That shot her shallop from the shore;
And while her boat the waves would skim,
She'd boldly dive, and sportive swim;
Like mermaid, dripping from the main,
Would rise, and soon her craft regain.
Thus grew she active, brave and strong,
The queen Of all the village throng.
Though many wood, with soft device,
This maid, her heart seemd naught but ice;
And none could win her smiles,-save one -
The noble, dusky forests son,
To him alone, her soiten'd heart
Bdtrayd a touch from boy.god's dart.
He saw her gentle, good and kind;
9 For Indian Cupids are not blind;")
And pressd his suit, by glance and word,
The pale-taced maiden willing heard
Ills VOWS and pr0testat!ons; and
TO him, though life, pledged heart and hand.
But when her doting parents learned,
That she, TO whom their bosoms yearn'd
so fondly, thus had made her choice,
They could not yield asserting voice
Twas then, our lovers lcarn'd, per force,
That true love NEVER runs its course,
With smoothness; yet in thls their strait,
The daughter must obey and wait.
Now, on the peaceful village pcur'd,
From the far North, a hostile horde,
Of savage bandits, in whose march
Was lett the trail Of busy torch
SO still and sly their rapine sped,
The unrelenting demon fed,
Aud with his blasting tongue licked up,
Without remorse, the settlers hope;
Who, from the scene, with eager haste,
For life, escaped the burning waste!
Far, in the wilder forests sped,
Aud refuge found beneath the shade,
Where friendly allies wigwams stood;
Deep SHELTERED in the dcnscr wood
Here, mastering force, they quick returnd,
Ana Tor revenge, each bosom burn'd;
While side by side, white man and red,
BY the young hero Chieftan led,
To meet the bandit horde, rCsh'd on!-
They heard, ard saw, and soon were gone,-
And while our friends brave onward sped,
Back 70 their haunts, the towards fled;
Nor stayed they, In their hasty flight,
Til cross'd the flood, were lost to sight
And wen no longer might they track
The willy foe, themselves turn'd back,
To seek again she wasted void,
And build anew the homes destroyd.
Bot where was now the maiden queen,
For whom all hearts beat quick and keen:
Ne'cr since that night OF horrors dire,
They fed the vandals' torch Of fire,
Had any seen her lovely iacel
And none could learn the slightest trace
And though they searchd the forest round,
Yet still, no vestige could be found.
the thought came clear as CLEAN Of day,
The foe had stolen the maid away
And captive, helpless now she pinned,
With robbers, savage, grim, unkind!
Her mother mOurn'd in accents wild,
That such sad fate should meet her child!
And then Il sire, though brave aud proud,
PROCLAIMED abroad, with trumpets loud!
" III freely give my daughters hand,
With half the wealth may command
TO him, successful, who shall dare,
TO brin,, me back NY jewel rare"
A score Of Warriors, brave ard tried,
Declared they'd win the lovely bride;
Aud Msllahalla, noble chief,
sO"'d yengeasce on the crafty thief,
Who'd forced the damsel TINS 10 part,
From him WHO held her treasured heart
Aud vow'd, in curses ioud and deep,
No time he'd waste in rect or sleep,
Nor should his keen blade gather rust,
Till he'd redeem'd the sacred trust
And ALL impatient OF delay.
Each took him OF, his several way.
Can any doubt or fail TO guess
1.aNN