The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-18
THE DRUID'S SACRIFICE.

a thousaPd years. perhaps, ago, when Brit
ain mountains rose
There never yet had trod the feet Of fierce
when Cvmric chieftains led their bands in
freedom through the vales,
And CTmric bards their triumphs sang among
the hills of Wales;
When village hsrpers tuned their Tyres with
10Y that seldom ceased,
Where all were happy and content, while
Hocks and herds increased.
Thcre came messenger in haste. who served
the Druid priests,
To b rhe people all attend the greatest of
the feasts.
Then -aracred they from near and far to No
Ti's sacred isle,
va lived the Oracles beyond dark Me-
T-li's deep defile,
AuL where the mystic circles built of sacred
FrOmlech stones
Had --tEeSSed many sacrifice heard many
4 victims Croan5.
So wien the day at last appeared, in thou
sands gathered round,
Be-oII the multitude arrayed upon the hal
lowed ground;
Three pli2red rings of mighty stones around
tLe aitars swept,
Will leaf crowned priests with watchful
care the fires upon them kept;
Far out beyond the mountains rose, with
C'Oud-caDped submits free,
And -,.e a chanting choir was heard the en-
them OF the sea.
With slow and solemn tread,
3 whl-e-veiied maiden with her guards be-
fore them slowly led.
NLi4e harpS aud reeds with silver tongues,
~ sweetly solemn triliS,
Drc ut echoes of the death-Song back in
answers from the hills.
VT garments white as drifted snow and
slow majestic st-,de.
The patriarch of the Druid chiefs was pray
I2g at her side.
-T'l,o., % oocb ,ya+cbo- ctftlad and bushad
bent with uncovered head,
The patriarch, with reyerent voice, the sa-
cred mandate read.
Which told that she, their maiden choice, was
From every blemish free and clear, and filed
with every grace;
Al his reported By those priests, the hre-Se-
iectPd three,
who watched Their victim since the maid was
rescued from the sea.
Then came the moment when her form was
lifted from the ground;
Her faet and forehead swift and safe upon
inc altar bound;
ClOse-ye. led and gagged in dumb despair up
or her bier she lay,
As priests intoned their solemn chants and
people kneeled TO pray.
Then - priest with rapid hand her gar
ments tore apart,
The patriarch turned and plunged the sword
of Merlin through her heart.
There. as they watched with bated breath the
fated maiden die,
The patriarch priest first turned and looked
into her glazing eve;
Then q his form shook like reed, his fea-
lures pale as snow,
He feil upon the bleeding form, and with
Shrek of woe,
Cried out: 80, God, whom have served, say
this can not be truth,
That this is not the daughter who was stolen
il her YOUTH
Then raining kisses on the face, so pallid
now and fair.
The while her blood encrimSoned deep his
robe and flowing hair,
He called her "Winifred" once more, and
kneeing softly there,
Bent down his head upon her breast as if in
silent prayer;
The Druids spoke unto their chief, in accents
sad and wild.
But he, their patriarch, was dead as she his
only child.
They buried them with solemn rites, beside
the moaning deep,
There where the waves which brought her
home their restless vigils keep,
And many solemn chant was sung by white
robed Druid priests,
And many a sacred Offering made at festivals
and feasts.
Long since have passed away those feastS,
the Druids and their rites,
The Cymric dynasties and power, the wor-
shippers and knights;
But still against that rock-bound coast the
restless ocean moans,
While still unshaken stand the gray and an
cient Cromiech stones.
And still the Cymrii by their fires on winter
ewes beguile
Their children with this legend old of Mona's
sacred isle.
j. Edgar Jones' in Boston Post.