Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-08-27
For the Vermont FARMER.
TALE OF AN INDIAN GIRL.

Her home was on the boundless prairies west
Where cearstrcamod waters from the mountain flowed,
And where the scented air It's fragrance owed
To beauteous flowers Of varied hue,
More charming from the crystal drops Of dew.
BY chance this maiden falr ] saw, oft times,
She is no myth, outgrown from poets brain,
But truly breathod, and lived and in the main
prototype Of what shall here be said,
Though now she sleeps among the cherished dead.
Her form was slim, we'll made and Indan-like,
But naught uncommon marred her outward mlen
Except her eyes which, darkly black and koen,
Bespoke an honest heart, and love for truth,
heritage Of worth in age youth.
One fall, when autumn winds were blowing wild,
Her tribe, and manJ more, ceased hunting game,
Forsook their sports, and In large numbers came
To get supplies dealt out through agents hands,
Where them as now, q noted city stands.
Twas here the fret she saw a man,-nay, brute,
Who wore a uniform, aud had a beard
Wavy and long and on parade appeared
To her young heart, sublime, and greatly grand,
While on his horse he rode, and gave commando
For troops were stationed here though westward bound
And while pause was made, with eye askance
The villain this girl and with glance
At her sweet eyes, profanely uttered love,
And wooed her as hawk would WOO dove.
IT'S true he married her, and called her wife,
And in the sense Of law the two were wed,
But shame on kindred men, for less were said
In truth, Of not small and motley crew,
Who long have bid to virtues name, adieu.
This Indian girl-Rozela was her name
Gave all in confidence aud holy trust
To him she loved, dared TO think Of lusti
But womany, and true TO marriage vow,
Deemed forever synonymous with now.
few days more and westward moved the troops;
"Red Beard"-f0r often by this name he went
Pretended to his bride that he sent
To do great deeds Of valor for the state,
Nor need she mourn though they must separate.
These are the words Of blandishment that he used
"Rozella, dear, all yours still shall be,
Weep not my sweetest love- nor care for me,
For, surely, when the moon her course has run
Ten times, I'll come as certain as the sum-"
Observe how we'll hypocrite can speak
He went with great eclat, mid fife and drum,
Unstung by pain, nor cared to come
Again to that dear whose woeful lot
Himsefhad caused, and whom lac soon forgot,
Ro1ella wept. Her Indian heart was strong
With hope that she should see him yet again,
When home once more, with thronging crowds Of mel
His beard still red, and with his promise kept;
And yet poor girl, she sighed, she sighed and wept
The evening orb ever in her sight;
Ten moons" she said and when their course was ru
She came from far and in her arms little one,
The fruit of vows made this very spot,
Where they were now to meet,-but he was not!
For six long years Rozella sought this man;
When, by strange circumstance, 1t CHANGED one day
Some union troops were passing through that way
And Us they came apace, and full appeared,
She gazed, and truly saw her own Red Beard.
Ecstatie joy lit up her saddened faces
She ran, mid dust, and noise, and trampling feet,
Direct to him, and, trembling, sought to greet
With loving kiss, the lost, whom she had found,
But with fierce oath he cast her to the ground.
Beside the Platte, in fair Nebraska's cline,
Unmarked by gaudy show Of chiseled art,
And from the cty's din somewhat apart,
You there may a little rise Of ground
1t is her grave,-Rozella's Indian mound.
L. w. PEEr.