Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-23
THE LEGEND.

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You have heard, mostlike. the legend OF the
Indian cheftGin's grave
In the Vale Of shenandoah, in tho wondrous
How for ~ love young Nesslnetto left his tawny
Left H hi. 'e au.Sy .quaw wahuona for pale eau
caflau face
How hts brothers. moody, sullen, silent, from
their wicwams strobe
How Gisdainme all her pleaaings, silent still,
they bound him fast
Back unto the mountain led him, on the sun 10
look his last:
How. within the cave Of shadows doomed and
nrched and paved 30 rsre,
Crystalfroref. !cwel-stuldcd, more than NOR
tai fancy fair
Did ias s close brave Messnetto there 10 and bis
fate, his grave.
Thus ;he wise Catawba chieftans, for The insult
tOtEeir race.
Did entOmp alive their Dfother-he had lOved a
white doves face.
But Inc legend is unfinished. leaving thus tho
And the other haf was told me by the spirit Of
the cave.
As wandered. Wonder-stricken, through those
crystal corridors.
Midst those mystic-caryen columns rich from
AS I Ta,cned The thousand shade-wraiths Hitting
ey0r from nay light;
A. raised my rayished vision each time 10 a
rarer sight;
Az heard the darkling river cOursing through
its hidden ways
As feit the chillsone wina-waves Of that mar
bic world, where days
Glad igbt pe'er mad come 70 bles. II, but where
darkness 0vermoro
DrcIsth, save when man inyadeth with his arti-
hcial store;
As ] wslked.-a constant dropping, dropping.
dropping caught mine car;
There was path0s ia the dnp-drop, ana l could
not do but hear.
Fancy l8d mo whore the waters IN that dark pool
over fell.
What saw and what / heard there. harkon.
while strive ~ tell:
Pendent from that marvellous ceiling was
marvellous heart OF stone
Halfway hidden by aveil that Natures art had
round il thrown;
And, amid the stygian shadows OF that palace
Thst poor keart seemed bleeding bleeding
from d cruel cu-eless wound.
"Strange." I murmure1; "strangen an echo
murmured back weird refrain
"LSt. o stranger, will tell thee Of this poor
hearts love and pain"
And listened 70 the story OF the Indians pale
faced BRIDE
Love ill-Inated. love Inflated woman's love Gnd
nations pride -
"When the young Brave. Messnetto, met his
strange aud awful doom,
Mona wandered forth 10 fiud him mid the forest
depth ana gloom
Calling TO the trees she sought him. calling 70
the river there.
Calling to tho wonted pathways, calling 70 tho
a.. needless air:
40 my Chief my Messinettol my young
Love. strong and brave
| o my Wild stag Il the mountain doth the forest
hold thy grave
Sweet. yon trees. who them lead him from
our lodge adown the vale,
Tell me where his brothers hid him-whsper
me this little tale
- o thou river. iimpid- tosomed did they give
l. thee his form
Didst thou hear their curses on him fall as leaves
rush down IN storm
o thou Air. thou sweet hfe-G iyer surely thou
cAnst tell TO mo
Where tho he'd Men hid my husband-whero his
grave or lodge may be
"'O 70 trails amid the woodland tracing vale
aud mountain DER.
Lead me unto Mosslnetlo, lead me TO his prison
door -
o my husband, hessineitoi will ind thee,
We'll or al
o .ny brave. my swarthy Chieftain, love shall
conquer vengeance suii y
Formed and found in Luray (vA) Cayerns.
and is now ia Richmond lNal College Museum.