Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-19
For the Staunton SPECTATOR
AID. LAWRENCE, OR THE FAMOUS RIDE
AND LEAP.

IThe following lines are metrical reproduc
ton of stirring incident in Texan oorde
life. as related to me by Rev: W. A. Mason: wh'
has been conversant with the history OF Tn
Lone Star State and a resident of the same
for forty years. Ad Lawrence was, l believe
a gift of Tennessee to Texas.
Ad Lawrence! Have you heard of him?
The daring frontiersman;
The Indian fighter, 1.-THE and trim;
The leader born for border clan,
Who made very famous ride,
And leaped into the Brazos tide
Into the River, deep and wide!
Well, listen to tale of truth
About this hero old;
For men who knew him in his YOUTH
The Texan Ranger bold
And who his feat remembered well,
Told me what in metre tell,
Nor is it mere bagatelle.
AID was a truly valiant knight,
With raven locks and eyes;
Could sit his saddle, day and night
And was in warfare wise,
Well suited to nomad life
Where perilS are forever rife,
And knew the arts of savage Strl1e-
One day he ventured out to roam,
Upon the redmanS ground,
And wandered sixty miles from home,
As it was later found;
Rut with his weapons at his side,
And past experience for guide,
He thought it not lonely ride
Tennessean bay,
With slender neck and coupled long,
A racer we would say,
And he was mettle to the hoof
In every tissue-warp and woof,-
And could give any time the proof.
Some redskins on the second day.
ComancheS, we presume
Detected him, while far away,
And fixed upon his doom;
So now the famous race began;
The wager was the pale-faceQ man,
And for his life the Trooper ran.
As swift as eagle on the wing,
Or as the bounding roe,
Ad wheeled his gelding with spring,
And said to Arab-"Go,'
While braves, as fleet as feathered dart
Whose ponies seemed of them part,
Made ready, too, to make the start
Four hundred PAGES in advance,
The hardy Ranger flew,
And for time, with bow and lance,
No savage nearer drew;
So on they sped for miles amain
Without foot of loss, or gain,
Like flying figures in train.
On, on, they dashed DER hill and plain.
Through brushwood and mosquito;
On, on, the doubtful to attain,
They swept on winged feet;
On on, by not a mortal seen;
On, on, the earth and sky between,
Through all the wildneSS OF the scene.
By skillful turning in and out
In the exciting chase,
The warriors narrowed, with ShOut,
The intervening space
In spite of all that Ad could do,
And soon the poisoned arrows flew,
And yellS of triumph did enSue.
Forefeet and head aligned,
And so aligned in every steed
The feet and tail behind;
Then paralleled, like touching tines,
The men were knitted to their sp1nes,
Away went powder-horn and hat,
As sea-foam from the morse;
Away from Ad went this and that,
Who rOwelled well his horse;
And yet the human hounds in view
Seemed more determined to pursue,
And closer in their frenzy drew.
The sun was setting in the West;
Long, long, had been the chase
And Ad, with charger at his best,
Was losing in the race.
While on the painted furieS came,
Whose lances almost pierced their game,
And who were certain OF the same.
But bark! the Brazos rushed to view;
Arab was rowelled deep;
On to the beetling brink he flew
Out into space to leap
Far out and dOwn-Ad still DeStrlde-
Down forty feet into the tide
Into the River, deep and wide.
A moment buried out of sight,
The horse and rider rose;
Then swan awav the happy wight
From his indignant foes,
Who howled, Though not bow was bent,
And not poisoned arrow SENT
And gaZed in wild astonishment.
Now saved, Ad with thankful heart,
The magistrates coming down,
Ere turning southwark to depart,
The right hand to his crown,
Saluted, and in triumph bowed;
The braves then cheered him long and loud,
And vanished like an angry cloud.
Ad Lawrence, after this event,
Lived many years, they say,
And always, whereSoe'er he went,
Rode on his trusty bay;
But horse, and rider, and the foe,
Are numbered with the long ago,
And mingle with the dust below
Il. M. FUTILE.
Cisco, Texas.