The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-17
Alta Wayne.
A LEGEND OF THE COAST RANGE.

Where the snow-cad mountains lifted high
Their heads sublime in the vanlted sky;
Where over the wild rocks, gray and brown,
The crystal waters came leapng down;
Where the towering pines by the winds were
stirred;
Where the growl of the grizzly-hear was heard;
Where the fierce wolves followed the frighten-
ed deer
Stood the low hut of a pioneer
Its walls we're rude, and its roof was low;
Twas built for safety, and not for show,
With thatch Of boughs with puncheon-lioor,
With windows barred, and a massive door;
Twas simpe--'twas picturesque and plain
The forest-home of brave Alta Wayne.
Her form was tall, and her skin was brown
As an Autumn-acorn when dropping down;
Her look was lovely; her limbs we're strong;
Her ebony hair was thick and long;
Her fun, red lips were az sweet TO see
As ripening cherries upon the tree;
Her cheeks like tho hue of an opening rose,
Or the crimson flush when the sunset giows
Her teeth were white as the oceans fo0m
And her voice as sweet as the thought or
home.
She had followed her husband across tho
plains;
She had shared his losses and golden gains
With her pretty babe on her hopeful breast
The trackess forests her feet had pressed.
Love made her needless of toll orr pain;
A faithful wife was brave Alta Waynel
'Tis near the close OF Summer-day,
And Alta Wayne, in the twilight gray,
Sits sweetly humming an old tune Ger
With her young child playing before the door.
She thinks of her husbands golden pile
With hopeful look and happy smile
She dreams of pleasure twin bring some day,
TO friends in the dear home far away.
There is nothing selfish or proud, or vain
In the noble nature of Alta Wayne.
But bark! A sudden and piercing cry
On the shuddering air goes echoing by.
She SnrilQg to her feet with trlgMpnpQ
bound;
Her heart stands still at the awful sound;
Her lips grow llvid; her cheeks turn pale;
She trembles; her courage begins TO fan.
She hears plash in the mountain-stream-
Then another cry. 'Tis panther's screaml
She leaps through the doorway-her child is
gone;
Then into the thicket she rushes on
She fances his form in the panther's jaws.
Or manged and torn by its cruel claws
Her soul is filled with an awful fear.
But listen! A light laugh grects her ear
A laugh that thrills through her trembling
form,
Like sunshine that breaks througha dreadful
storm.
She peers through the boughs with look of
joy,
| And sees, unframed, on a bank, her boy!
But look Above on the rocks she spies
| The crouching panther with angry eyes;
| She sees the fangs in its quiyering jaws.
| jaws.
| 1t lashes the rocks with its tawny TAIL
| The soul Of the mother forgets TO quail,
| And courage flashes from heart and eyes
| AS the child laughs loud at the panther's cries
Ali mother-love, in the hercesti Ill,
| What strength you give to woman WIFI
| What heroism, what self-control,
| You bring to a trembling womans SOUL
| What power In moments of deep despairl
! What wondrous burdens You help her beari
| No man 30 cruel, no beast so wild,
She will not dare for darling child.
Loud screams the panther; its fierce eyes
| glare
| With savage wrath on the bright boy therel
The mother springs from her hiding-place,
And clasps her child in a close embrace,
With fearless look of exultant love.
Then, with flashing eyes, to the beast above
She turns and gazes with bated breath;
The hollow is hushed us the halls of deathl
The crack of rifel A shout! bound!
The panther tumbles upon the ground;
Its strong limbs quiver-its fierce eyes pale
| II ashes the leaves with its tawny tail.
The hunter leaps from the forest wild,
And clasps and kisses his wife and child!
Eugene j. Hail. in Chicago Tribune.