The Republican journal., 1886-12-23
Written for the journal.
The Story of Lovers Leap.

Far to the east. in beauty lies
A city fair and slightly,
Near old PenobscOt's wooded shore
Where stately trees bend lightly.
The sparkling river winds its way
Through curves and graceful angles.
Through wooded hills filled with perfume
And f1ecked with dcwy Spanglcs.
Oh, fair queen city of the east.
In grace and beauty moulded,
In grand old arms of living green
Thy stately forms EMBODIED.
I love thy trees and gray old rocks
Deep tinged with legends olden,
love thy fair and purpling hills,
Thy sunsets deeply golden.
Long years before thy landscape saw
The need of art and treasures
There dwelt i'll peace dusky race
Mid rude and simple pleasures.
They lived their lives in natures form,
They knew no other duty.
They loved their loves in simple faith
Mid scenes of homely beauty.
The hadows deepen on the rocks,
The ripping waves are broken,
A slender boat shoots in the curve,
With greetings softly spoken.
It's Winni-Mena, dark-eyed maid,
Born near the sparkling water.
With willow form and bounding step,
The chieftain's loving daughter.
She loved her cousin. He whose step
Was ever first and feetest,
Whose arrow took the keencSt aim.
Whose laugh was always sweetest.
When stars and moon looked smiling down,
They wandered near the rushcS,
And PpnObSppt'S Sfniliur fHrp
Was mirrored back her rlushcS.
Far to the right in grandeur rose
a mass of towering lodges,
With thick wild flowers blooming near
To hide their rugged edges.
Far down the waters Tapped the shore.
tThe tide was cbbing >owly.)
Across the river cleaned the moon.
In aspect calm and holy.
They took their way in silence now
Where reeds and PUSHES CULVER.
And left the winding path below
That led from rock TO river.
At length with painting breath they stood.
On crag and hastiun heavy.
With clasping hands. in faith they told
Once more their simple story.
bright eyed darling of the pine,
Place your little hands in mine.
Let Us take the fatal leap,
In each others arms to sleep.
From passion deemed unholy.
Let us seek I; refuge lowly.
Rest in >lumber without waking
Far from sorrow and heart breaking.
Feed my soul with warm caresses
Cheer my heart with loves own kisses.
Far beyond the mystic river
Love and JOY shall live forever
Where the pain of earth shall cease
And ouT love shall live in peace
One paintve cry rang through the night,
Then all was still and lonely.
" 18th but the Cricket> mournful song
And lap OF water only.
Cla>ped in that last and fond embrace,
Meath wild grass softly creeping,
In far Oft happy hunting grounds
Their spirits trySt are keeping.
Still froWn the crags and rugged peaks.
Above the winding river.
And sweetest VOWS are pIightcd there
And love flows on forever.
The old, old story. ever new.
BY tender maiders greeted,
is told cen now on Lovers Leap
Still new though oft repeated
But still at summer sunsets hour.
When woods and leaves are signing,
There comes The low and muIirnful sound
Of someone softly crying.
Borne Ger the hay purpling hills.
In soft and plainlive numbers
1t wakes the starry echoes round
And breaks the birds light >lumbers.
1t rings with mournful melody
Far down the darkening splendor
OF wooded hill and rocky gorge.
In accents soft and tender
The still night air the cry repeats
DER waves ami star-lit places,
And upward borne the echo lives
In blue. ethereal spaces.
HELEN \. PACKARD,