The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-15
ORIGINAL POETRY.
WEIRD TALES OF THE 0IOUNTA

WEIRD TALES OF THE MOUNTAINS.
TALE THE SECOND.
Once on a time when folks now old were young.
When virgin woods their spicy breath cuthung,
When people lived in cabins built OF logs.
And bears and wolves We're plentiful as dogs.
The wild deer bounded through the forest free
While lesser game thrived in unshacIlIed giee.
And wild bees filled the hollow trees with honey,
Which bears and folks did claim without the mo-
The fresh burnt clearing filed the harvest vain
with numerous dozens of the fuII-eared grain.
With maizepatch near the house brought golden
To feed the brawIing porkers fun and more
Besides for corn-cake. mush and smoking poue,
Which made the long pine tables fairly groan-
T was CHEEKY to the heart in winter weather,
The settlers family to see together.
All seated round the board at evening hour.
The great wide fireplace breathing genial power,
While kittens. cats and dogs, the warmth enjoyed,
and little criekets there themselves employed
In chirping cheerilv the livelong eve.
While "muzz' and girls the worsted socks did
The father thanked the Goi Of all the earth,
While all the smiling youngsters checked their
The purring puss sat by IN coy nook,
And watch in play an antic kitten shook;
Nor was the scene outside less full and warm,
For all was fortified against the storm.
The cattle housed in straw up to their eyes,
The horses busy with their oat supplies,
The poultry on their roost were high from fear
OF furry night-marauders wandering near.
From such homo one sparkling starry night,
Before the moon gan 10 dispense her light,
robust youth whose blood did freely course
Tbro' veins enlivened BY the vital force,
His steps inclined to some near husking frolic
Where all the neighbor youth could husk and rol-
lick:
First stripping golden corn Of feathery husk
And then, at midnight. came the tea and -usk,
With all such daintfes as the heart could wish
High henped upon the merry husker's dish.
But we must trim the sails OF fancy's boat,
And in the true course of our story float;
He wended on his course meath towering pine,
Where gloom and grandeur did with night com
btne.
The tall and warm-leaved mullin by the road
OFT met his furtive glance he strOde
ct in the virgin forests bosom grew
The tangling thicket. and the wild vine, too
Ion FFrrnsa In n
Lay prone and rotting by their offspTing's side.
Now, as the stout young wOOdsman onward h1ed,
fearsome place beyond he soon deserted,
Where off, as eve was darkening into night,
Some ghostly sounds had given the traveller
fright
For many times in deep and silent wood,
Where Quietude herself all IlwLvS broO I.
falling sound was heard to break the spell,
As 'twere some ponderous something downward
fell:
AS home the tired woodsman trudged at night,
This fearsome sound was sure to give him fright.
Sometimes the eerfe scene would take change,
For sounds and sights took place exceeding
stranger
Ofghostlv iibbering from the wooded glen,
Weird. hickerfng gleamings met the wOodsman's
ken,
And misty fre-clouds roll among .he trees,
Then all would cease and melt by slow degrees.
This was the spot youth had now to pass.
And all alone, without n strengthening glass;
For folks in those days thought it never harm
To take brew to keep the stomach warm,
But far ahead. a sOund now smOte his ear,
of horse and rider fast approaching near!
A bright idea then illumed his mind,
That he might personate the RhOstly kind.
To climb n tree DER head was his Intent.
And to that end his powers he nimbly bent.
So in our next we'll tell you well in brief
How this young fellow played the Indian ehief.