The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1884-06-12
THE MERMAID's COMPLAINT.
BY MARY ISAAINGER,

The day had come 10 the UWlIlgnt uouT
Der lovely earth the moonlight lay,
Poured from out the silver ship
That follows after the king OF day.
The Hooking river rolled In its bed,
And tossed and moaned and would not
For it was filled with troubled dreams,
And would only murmer and sigh ana
weep.
Along the banks the ieafy trees,
Were casting shadows deep and wide;
And in the shadows the restless waves
Their fearful faces sought TO hlde.
Among the caves along the shore,
The Sprites and Naiads and Merlnaids
And when the stars are twinkling bright,
They often meet in d shady dell.
To gambol and gossip among themselves,
To run and ski in gieeful "iay,
Until the great white day returns,
When they grow shy and hide away.
Tonight they meet not as of old,
To sing and dance within the dale;
The air is filed with signs and grOans,
And every face is sad and pale.
Neptune stood in his pearly boat,
And waved his trident DER the stream, ,
And bade the river cease her strife,
And wake up from her troubled dream.
And when he spoke the noise was stilled !;
The waters rolled in peace along;
The sighs were hUshed and silence relgned,
With powersupreme.among the thrOug.
One Mermaid boider than the rest,
Rose and addreSse" the ocean God;
"Our home is in the old canal,
Which runs adOwn this valley broad. !"
Upon the lock at Boartlman's Mill,
For many years I've combed my hair,
And never have molested been,
Nor troubled with q single care.
But now the hand of mighty man,
Has snatched from me that throne SO
dear,
And torn My soul with anguish such,
That 1 can not even shed j tear.
And am not the only nymph,
That by his hand has suffered 50,
For every one that dwelt therein,
From out the placid stream must 60.
The stream itself is doomed to death
1t is not swift enough for man;
And in its place he needs must put
An iron railroad THAT'S his plan.
Over which the cars will rush,
So that we can not even see,
The spots we all SD sacrod hold,
And where our lovely homes should be.
The Mermaid looked upon the God,
Ii from his aspect, sh o could learn,
Whether he would interfere.
And fortunes fickie wheel would turn.
His face with indignation burned,
His eyes flashed fre; his breath came
He e,nashed his teeth and cureses rained,
On those whose hand their peace had
marred.
His grand. impassioIesd5 ed eiognence' eiol;,eI
Althpnyl tleV knew the cause OF III,
Was mans transgressiOn o. their rights.
curse upen tile man who dared
To doom the old canal to death;
May all the air grow hot and dry,
And he not get cen one pure breath.
Nav every fish pond that he makes,
Grow stagnant in the solar heat;
May all his cattle die of thirst-
And thus deprive him OF his meat.
May drought lay hold on all his crops,
To scorch the wheat stocks graceful
head;
To ruin all the other grain
And thus deprive him OF his bread.
Nav chills and headache hold him fast;
And when the fever is burning SO,
Then may the springs and wells all fail.
To yield one drop of H2O.
Let cruel ague shake his frame,
And let him thurst and pine and sigh,
And call for lemonade in vain,
And take his quinine powders dry.
Go to your homes in the old canal,
And l will plead 'gainst cruel man,
And with the help Of Jupiter,
Will turn him from his direful plan.
With joyful hearts they went away.
With lightsome step and faces bright.
DriZing their native stream much more,
Since passing through that dreadful
night.
The Hooking river lay in its bed,
And laughing, playing, tossing along,
Over its clean and pebbly couch,
To itself it sang low sweet song,
For all its troubles were past and gone;
It's dreams of terror mad flown away,
as over the top of the eastern hills,
Arose the herald OF The Day.