The Press., 1890-08-28

old home, was called on and spoke of th' fact that that no matter where man ma, live he will lead happy life If only hi relations are right with his fellow mel and his God. An original poem, whicl we give below, was read by George Law son:
 MAsHAPAUG. Up among the hills of Union Lies lake of sparkling water. Mashapaug, the Indians called it, Quinnebaug they named the outlet. Near the lake the Indian warrior, Seated in his dusky wigwam, With his campfire blazing near him, With the young braves seated round him, Used to tell strange tradition Which his fathers told before him, Which his sons should teach their children As they sat round future camp fires. Once, in days long since forgotten Save in stories of old warriors, In the place where now the water Pictures the surrounding forest, Stood a mountain high and rocky, With it's summit clad in pine trees. Near its foot little stream run, Swift and sparkling down the hillside. By this stream there lived people, Once powerful warlike nation But their strength had now departed, And their warriors were like women. For they loved their feast and revel More than warfare, more than hunting; They were cowardly in combat, And they feared not the Great Spirit. And their queen, the young Nokemo, Fairest of the Indian maidens, Ruled them not as wise queens govern, But she led them in their feastiDg. Near the summit of the mountain Dwelt the prophecies Nakentis, An old woman full of wisdom Gathered through her eighty winters. Her the Mighty Spirit honored With the secrets of the future; Secrets which the night-owl taught her; Secrets which she read in storm clouds. Many times had fair Nakemo Visited the strange old woman; Many questions had she asked her Of the future of her people. But Nakentis gave her only One reply to all her questions, Saying, ssThe Great Spirit tells me That his anger has been growing; 'sAnd his anger is not fruitless It is ripe and full of poison Which will kill out wicked people, And will show that he is powerful. ssWhen swan shall sing his death song, Sinking from the sky above you, Falling at your feet and dying, Then comes vengeance swift and mighty. But the beautiful Nokemo Paid no heed to old Nakentis Still her people grew more wicked, Sill ohn lad fhoTro in fhoir fooo%irnry Once Nokemo in October, When the ash was tinged with yellow, And the maple dyed with crimson, Made feast for all her people. Venison she had provided, Fish and nuts with corn just ripened Many other things they brought her, Filled her lodge with food of all kinds. Then their festal fires were kindled Half way up the leaf strewn mountain, And the older women gathered, Eager to prepare the banquet. But the youths and maidens gathered In g. glen among the pine trees, There to dance and sing and wanton, Led on by the fair Nokemo. Thus they reveled through the whole day, Wildly cursing the Great Spirit; Till they gathered round Nokemo, Listening to this song she sang them: Life is like 8 river rolling Swift and silent to the ocean. We are like the warriors sailing In their light canoes of birch bark. s,sSome glide smoothly down the river, Joyous in their lives bright sunshine. Some are toiling up the current, Weary with the work of rowing. SsD,.A &E,o o,,I A<> x,l,snl, xr,, 1,on&o,n The great hunting ground of nations, Can be gained by floating downward, Can be reached by toiling upward. Glow much better then, my people, That we make the easier voyage; Let us feast and dance and reyel, Reyel as our boat glides down stream" As Nokemo ceased her singing, Suddenly the sky grew darker, Thunder rumbled in the distance, And the wind roared through the forest. Then between the peals of thunder, Louder than the tempest's raging, Heard they old Nakentis chanting Wildly from the crag above them: ssSee the hour of wrath approaching See the dragons in those storm clouds! Hear the Mighty Spirit speaking Words of anger in his thunder! ''See the fated bird approaching From the blackness of the tempest! o my people O Nokemo!
 Too far down stream have you foated ]" Then sharper crash of thunder Answered this wild hymn of warning, And between the high pine branches Sank 8 bird of snowy plumage.
 Then the rocks began to tremble, And the ground to heave and open; How the thunder pealed above them! How the lightning flashed around them Then came hurrying and screaming; Maidens clung to helpless brothers Some rushed one way, some another, Some fell fainting in their terror. But Nokemo made no motion,
 Save to turn her eyes to heaven.
 There she sat in wreaths of gentians, As her youthful friends had crowned her. When she saw the swan descending From the sky, where all was biackness, Sinking at her feet and dying,
 Then she thought of old Nakentis. Then she thought of all her evil,
 How she had not helped her people, When she should have been their guardian And she clasped her hands in anguish. And the mountain with its people
 Sank. And round its grinding edges PnurAd mn wafar in craef k0rranta