The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-06-18
HI pRulp.s SACRIFICE.

A thousand years, perhaps, ago, when Brit
aims mountains rose
There never yet had trod the feet of fierce
When Cymric chieftains led their bands in
freedom through the wales,
And Cymric bards their triumphs sang among
When village harpers tuned their Tyres with
joy that seldom ceased,
Where all we're happy and content, while
f1ocks and herds increased.
There came a messengerin haste, who served
To bid the people ali attend the greatest Of
Then gathered they from near and far to Mo-
Where lived the oracles beyond dark Me-
And where the mystic circles built of sacred
Had witnessed many a sacrihce, heard many
a victims groans.
So when the day at last appeared, in thou
sands gathered round,
Behold the multitude arrayed upon the hal
lowed ground;
Three pillared rings of mighty stones around
the affairs swept
While leaf-crowned priests with watchful
care the fires upon them kept;
Far out beyond the mountains rose, with
handicapped submits free,
And Like a chanting choir was heard the an
them of the sea.
Then came the oak-crowned Druid priests,
with slow and solemn tread,
A white-veiled maiden with her guards be-
fore them slowly led,
While harps and reeds, with silver tongues,
in sweetly solemn trills,
Brought echoes of the death-song back in
answers from the hills.
With garments white as drifted snow and
The patriarch of the Druid chiefs was pray
ing at her side.
Then, as each watcher, stilled and hushed,
f.Qnt with nncnyarad head.
The patriarch. with reyerent voice, the sa'
cred mandate read,
Which told that she, their maiden choice wa
From every blemish free and clear, and filled
With every grace;
Who watched their victim since the maid wal
rescued from the sea.
Then came the moment when her form wal
lifted from the grounds;
Her feet and forehead swift and safe upor
Close-veiled and gagged in dumb despair up
on her bier she lay,
As priests intoned their solemn chants ant
people kneeled to pray.
Then as q priest with rapid hand her gar
ments tore apart,
The patriarch turned and plunged the swort
of Merlin through her heart.
There, as they watched with bated breath thu
fated maiden die,
lH6 pdtTldTcu pf1cSt urSJ tuTueu AIT lOOhct
into her glazing eye:
Then, as his form shook like a reed, his fea
lures pale as snow,
He fell upon the bleeding form, and with
shrek of woe,
Cried out: 30, God, whomI nave served, sa.
this can not be truth,
That thls is not the daughter who was stolel
in her YOUTH"
Then, raining kisses on the face, so palli
now and fair,
The while her blood encrimsoned deep hi
robe and flowing hair,
He called her fWinifred" once more, an
kneeling softly there,
Bent down his head upon her breast as If
The Druids spoke unto their chief, in accent
But be, their patriarch, was lead as she hi
only child.
They buried them with solemn rites, besId
the moaning deep,
There where the waves which brought he
home their restless vigils keep,
And many a solemn chant was sung by white
robed Druid priests,
And many a sacred offering made at festival
and feasts.
Long since rave passed away those feast.
the Druids and their rites,
The Cymric dynasties and power, the VOL
shippers and knights;
But still against that rock-bound coast tn
restless ocean means,
While still mistaken stand the gray and al
cient Cromlech stones.
Inc still the Cymrii by their fires on wintt
ewes beguile
Their children with this legend old of Mona
sacred isle.
~. Edgar Jones, In Boston Post.