Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-03-06
VOLUME VI.
4 NEW WORLD LEGEND.


OF the many beautiful fancies
With Indian legend wrought,
The bridal of Winds and Waters
Enfolds the happiest thought.
It grew as the forest blossoms,
Without touch or tint of art,
A greenwood spray Of living truth
Fresh out of Natures heart
N the East, that realm of story,
Where even the gods were born,
Was the fairest of all the wigwams
The lodgings of the Dawn;
Behind its rose-red curtains,
In his lonely majesty,
Dwelt the viewless one, the Heart of Heaven,
Soul of the azure sky.
He saw the new world lying
Barren and drear and cold,
Nor voice nor prayer uplifted
To the mornings gate of gold.
He spoke, and four strong Brothers
From his breath had instant birth,
Who came as gods with rushing wings
To each corner of the earth.
OF keen and boundless vision
And swifter than eagles are,
One made his lodge with the daybreak
Just under the evening star.
Jewels of glistening amber
Fastened his garments fold,
And his head was covered with tossing plumes
Yellow as FURNISHED gold.
One flew to the glowing southland,
His garments all of red,
And feathers of lurid crimson
Dropped darkly on his head.
The third to the land of sunset
Sped with the fading light,
And his lodge wascurtained with ebon shades
For the slumber couch of Night
The last to the ice-world FASTENED,
The realm of the Lord of Death;
Snow-white were mis- strong, keen pinions,
And pitiless cold his breath.
Then to and fro unceasing,
Wilder and tiercer still,
Roamed over the earth these four great
Winds,
Each seeking his own rude will.
Then murmured the Heart of Heaven;
Though strong these Brothers be,
They cannot ripen the spring-t time,
Blossom, nor fruit, nor tree.
/ must give them loving helpers
Who, with wiser, gentler hand,
VIII guide their aimless power to bring
New life to the waiting land.
"Coms forth, oh, Falling Waterr
Then a shining one had birth,
And in bright Cascade swift springing
She took her place on earth
Come forth, oh, Beautiful Waterin
And the great blue Lake was seen,
With dripping lilies lifted up
On her breast of azure sheen.
..And thou, oh, Water of serpentsr"
In siuuous, gliding grace
Went forth the queenly River
Unto her chosen place.
Then called he the youngest, the fairest:
''Step softly. Water CT Birds"
And the siiver-footed Brook sole out,
Singing songs that had no words.
Ali wondering, rejoicing,
Were the fierce Brothers four,
The North Wind sung his greeting
Close to the blue Lakes shore.
The East Winds trumpet music
With the Cataract's voice was blent;
And the West Wind down the Rivers tide
His passionate whispers sent
Long under the forest branches
Swift-footed, playful, shy,
Fair Water Of Birds evaded
The South Winds o oIovvino siob
But he gave her the wildwood roses
And violets for her wreath,
And murmur at last of sweet response
Stole on her perfumed breath.
Glad was the watching Father,
The soil of the bending sky,
When he saw this happy wooing
From his hidden lodge on high,
The cloud-birds capped their pinions
Loud over crag and plain,
And the wine they poured for the bridal
cheer
Was the bountiful, sparkling rain.
Now ever in happy union
The Winds and the Waters live,
Blossom, and fruit, and harvest,
And wealth of the maize, they give.
And when from invisible bsakers
Dashes the midsummer rain,
They are keeping the feast of their bridal day
With the wine of heaven againl
Frances L. Mace, in Harper's Magazine.