St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1881-09-24
from the n. o, Times.
THE LEGEND OF AB1TA.
As TOLD IN VERSE By REHNLE.

few from the nest of his love;
but sweeter. sweeter still. was the cooling s
of the doye. Is
!; And clear the horn of the hunter echoed s
for miles around,
As from his steed, Henriquez. ieaped
lightly to the ground.
I'm weary of the chase" said he, Ill
stop me here and rest;
Tie good old Choctaw chieftain will
welcome me as guest.
Some hundred little wigwens, made of
brush and straw,
skins of the deer and opcssum, and
hung with trophies of war,
Comprised the Indian village, In thek
midst of forest pine
The village of great warriors g braves
OF the Cheetaw lire.
i Now here the young Henriqzez, of poblel
Spanish birth,
Tall and proud and handsome, with
brown eyes full Of mirth,
While chatting with the red men near
by the wigwam, spied
The daughter Of Tchefuncta-the old
chiefs joy and pride.
A tender passion filled his breast; to win
her heart he tried.
And ere three days and seven passed,
the girl became his bride.
My holy rites of Mother Church were
we'd the happy pair,
4 And meier did sun rise up and smile upon
scope more fair.
She wore the costume of her tribs-the
lover wished it SO;
A scarlet peticoat of cloth, and white
2 kamis cut low;
A rich embroidered mantel her chiseied
form concealed,
l. And in her large and lustrous eyes q
modest love revealed.
In dreams of ideal beauty, Canova great,
Tween,
A being half so perfect pe'er bath thy
X fancy seen.
EHenriquez boro her to bis home across
n Lake Pontchartrain-
HWopld that the romance ended hsre;
alas! with love there's pain.
HFGr now great masters were procured
n the Ind an girl learned fast;
r. And riyaled with those Spanish danes
whose beauty she surpassed.
,HAlas! Abita's mental strength, severely
tasked. gave way:
HHcr ruby lips and rosy cheeks grew pale
III day by day.
lHPhysicians came, and all that art AM
NJ learning could essay
pHTas tried, but hope was all in vain; tn
wise men turned away.
h Thus in despair Henriquez sought tn
III great coniurer's aid
yHrhe Medicine Man of the Chostaw tribe
I'LL who lived beyond the glade.
eEHe came and viewed the helpless form
Ii and thus spoke low and grave:
Milf thou dost all that command, Abit
Pa 1 will save;
HEUpon litter place thy bride and bsa
b her to the shore;
HAwaiting there you'll find my bark, 'twi
n wait We gently DER;
ENow where the lofty cypress tree ii
T,E branches stretch across,
'oEWhere floats the streaming banners G
ia the dark and hoary moss,
EWhere bubbles up the fountain-th
III spring the Indians love,
aErhere the Great Spirit wa.oheth an
,iH smileth from above.
,,ELeave there your bride, Henrique
n trust me and say goodbye.
L. Erill one short moon has passed ava.
De then to Abita HE"
Ah, YEARLY and drearily one moon
III month did glide,
Here vet the husband-lover, all care-wol
VI" sought his bride;
ADim vistas rose before him, and throuf
the pine trees toll
aHis eyes were wildly. fastened upon
funeral pail.
osHHe sees the moss-clad cypress-oh, pl
asa ture of despair!
7 oBThe mound is reached; he hastensi Abb
n is not there.
with one wild cry of anguish he sin
'e upon the ground;
he Then, answering to the echo, the Low
he wife, with bound,
yoEHas leaped across the rivulet-is in b
Ia husbands arms.
:, EBeaming with loves beauty, radis
n with loves charms.