The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-05

of peculiar aggravation. On the morning of June z7, 1859. about day break, our family was aroused from sleep by violent noise the doors were broken down and the house was filled with armed men. saw my father in the hands of assassins. He endeayored to speak to them, but they shouted and drowned his voice for they were ordered not to listen to him for moment. for fear they would be persuaded not to kN him. They dragged him into the yard and prepared to murder him. Two men held him by the arms while others stab bed him deliberately with a dirk twenty nine times. My mother rushed out to the door, but they pushed her back into the house with their guns and prevented her egress until their ac, was finished. My father fell te the earth but did not expire immediately. My mother ran out to him. He raised himself on his elbow and tried to speak, bu, the blood flowed into his mouth and pre- vented him. In few moments he died without speaking the last word which he wished to say. Then succeeded scene of agony, the sight of which might make one regret that the human race had ever been created. It has darkened my life with an eternal shadow. In a room pre- pared for the purpose lay pale in death the man whose voice had been listened to with awe and admiration in the eoun- cils of his nation, and whose fame had passed to the remotest of the United States, the blood oozing through his winding sheet and falling drop by drop to the floor. By his side sat my mother with her hands clasped, and in speech less agony. She who had given him her heart in her youth and beauty, Jeff the home of her parents and followed the husband of her choice to wild and dis tant land-and bending over him was his own afflicted mother, with her long, white hair flowing loose over her shoul- ders and bosom, crying to the Great Spirit to sustain her in that dreadful hour. And in addition to all these, the wife, the mother and the little children, who scarcely knew their loss, were the dark faces of those who had been privy to the assassination, who had come to smile over the scene"
 ohn Rollin Ridge, or Chees-quat-a law-ny. his Indian name (signifying Yel- low Bird) was educated at Fayetteville. Ark. and graduated with distinguished honors at Great Harrington, New Eng land. He was a cousin to tke gallant Colonel E. (. Boudinot, so well known to the people of Texas, and now the rer- resen,ative of of his people at the national capital. At the breaking out of the Cal lfornia gold fever in I84o he emisrated to that country and engaged in mining in Shasta county, where this writer, then mere boy. first learned to love him for his manly virtues. his kindly sympathies and brilliant intellect. His idle moments were devoted to the muses. and his poems. published in the provincial papers of that day, were extensively reproduced in the literary journals of the country and me, with distinguished popular favor Gifted with a commanding physique, great personal magnetism and a classical edu- cation, combined with an exceptional wealth of imagery, and fiuency of lan- guage, he became one of the most pop ular writers of the day. He was vigor- ous and inclsise political writer. and ed- lted with marked ability one of the lead ing daily journals of the state: but his devotion to the arts and sciences and the higher branches of literature. disinclined him to engage permanently in the par tisan warfare which prevailed in Cali tornia in the early years following its ad- mission into the federal union.
 Some of his fugitive poems possessed such remarkable literary talent. as to at tract the attention of the profoundest thinkers and ablest writers of the age. A few years since, while our poet was visit ing the national capital. Miss Winnie Ream. now Mrs Hoxie, q lady kfo VII to iane for her genius IS a sculp,ress. and whose cunning hand created from cold marble some of the most beautiful s,atuary which now adorns the most stately capital of the world. requested Mir Ridge to write her li:,le Indian love song. Without thought. on the impulse of the moment. he wrote this little gem. which was set 10 music and became one of the most popular melodies a, the cap ital. IL has never appeared in print
 LOVE THEE.
 love thee as ,he soaring bird.
 The brigh, blue morning
 When he sins>
 In cTctlnE. etrciing melodies.
 With Heavens sweet sunlight
 On his wings.
 love thee as the pillows love
 In tropie lands the
 Pearly shore.
 They come and go, they come and go,
 With answering kisses
 Ever more.
 love thee as the mariner
 Far-driven Ter the
 stormy sea
 The bright and silver rising star.
 Which tells him where his
 f.-