The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-09-18
lFOr the ADVANCED
TIE INDIAN LAMEIVT.

EDITOR ADVANCE: On my grandfat1 er's farm
IN the county OF Chemung and town Of ElMira !,
! or "Newtown" as it was originally called by the
first settlers who went In there after Suilivxn's
famous march ard battle Of what was after.
wards named Households, stood the remnant
OF an Indian Orchard quite near the banks OF the
beautiful Chemung river which Is a branch of
the legendary. noble Susquclianna. Among
that remnant Of trees stood one much larger
than the others and which bore nice fruit. The
apples were small but rcd, rich and juicy. My
grandfather gave the tree good care and in time
grated it with two kinds OF apples. These
CRAFTS lived and flourished, so that the fine old
tree became the parent of three distinct kinds
Of apple.
Fourteen years ago, while visiting 1T my old
home, Elmira, N. Y. l went down to the old
homestead of my grand parents, and behold {!
| there stood the noble old tree, still bearing
fruit, having grown to an immense size. TO
those memories and others Iinscribe these lines:
wandered alone on the banks of tile river,
And far to my right stretched the meadows
away;
| Happy birds were were In tune, warbling thanks
to the Giyer
OF every good GIFT for the bounties OF May.
In all old Indian Orchard still pruled and pro-
tectcd,
Bright blossoms dropped round me in Odorous
showers;
| II flOuriShed before the first settler erected
His cabin of logs in the valley OF flowers.
Thick moss pale adorner OF ruin, was cinging
To the trunk by the winds Of 4 century bowed,
And tongues not Of earth in the branches were
singing
OF times ere one furrow by white man was
plowcd.
My feet were aweary, for far had ramble;t,
10 rest on the turf Of the meadow found;
Where OFT in my youth with brother I'd gam
boled
Ind eaten the fruit that lay scattered around
Composed by the ,nurmur Of waves gently flow
ing
A slumber stole over me. haunted by dreams,
1 thought that around me the forest was grow
ing,
Its floor by the sunlight touched only in
CLEANS.
With organ like tones its dark canopy trembled,
While timing to low. mournful measures their
tread,
The Sachems of old in their war dress assembled
A shadowy throng from the land of the dead.
"How bitter" they chanted. "our deep desola
tion:
The trails that we loved are erased by the plow
How changed are the wide hunting grounds OF
| our nation,
The herds of the stranger range over them
Gone hence are the children to whom we trans
I mttted
Traditions that match the gray mount,ins in
! age,
And by, like vision of midnight, hath fitted
The glory of warrior, sachem and sage.
I'VE longcd. in land where the leaves never
wither.
To visit our ancient and kingly domain,
And, sunsets red portal unfolding, came htllcr
TO look on the scenes Of our childhood again.
The river that freshens this valley hath shifted
| It's channel, and rolls where it rolled net OF
| yore,
| And fallen are dark, solemn oaks that up!i!tcI
Like sentinels tall, their pluuled tops on til.
! shore.
1.-THE Mohawk and Seneca bowman no longer
Preserve at the door posts uns!unhe, in:
| guard:
We fought, hut the pale .browed invaders were
stronger,
Our knife. blades too blunt, and their h,son
| too harl
Alas! for the heart broken remnant surviving!
The deeds of their fathers arouse them NJ
| more!
His team DER their hearth stones the fIrmtr i
driving,
UnrOofcd are their wiswams OH meadow an,
| shore"
l woke when their lay had the sagamons chant
/ cd,
And traced on my tablets each musical word.
Long after that vision my memory h.unted,
Long after those wild w.iiing numbers heard
i nd oft when the cares of existence oppress lie
To the old Indian Orchard in fancy l stroll,
While the balm breathing winds there most gen
tly caress me
With murmur most solemn to strengthen N
SOUL
| Mrs. II. X. ARNOLD.