The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-03
IN QUA MIDST

oy JEANETTE ARNETT lEEPER'
Once I was a Wild, free spirit; hed
along between towering hills; rough
unshackled, danced and sparkled
and splashed. I was midnight black
where the untouched forests should
cred out the sun. and | was foam
ing white where dived headlong over
the rocky descents. and abrunt shelly
ing declivities. I remember how | wild
ened into tender. circling stillnesseS
here and there 10 dream over past
adventures. and 10 rest for the next
mad frolic.
used 10 call to the deer, a bubbllng
coaxing little song, and watch for
shaking underground, and listen for
the little cautious sounds OF break
ing twigs, or bending branches. that
spoke 10 my many winking, twink
ing ripples OF the responsible see al
asst emerge from the tangled masses
OF wild grape vine, the beautiful slen-
der. antlered head with the graceful
glossy neck and shoulders. Many lit
lie currents would hurry 70 brush a.
way the forest flotsam, and make
clear space III for a sensitive velvet
muzzle
There we're other visitors for whom
! had no song. Awkward, black bear
with incredibly. swift paws. hunted
/ daily over my rocky shadows for fool
/ ish crayfsh. who thought themselves
B invincib'p In suits Oi wa'' w'h I0rr'
liable pincsrs. used 10 loudly chat
: ter sclldiug warning among The
small flat stones. and endeayor 20
carry these silly victims 20 my deco.
safe pools all 10 no purpose. ! hated
these numbering. evil smelling, black
brutes. with their cunning pig eyes.
D. muddying nv crystal person and slay
ing nv people--but the deer ! Low
ed greatly and the flrf'7rirg wings
Of birds in sunsplashed baths ] de-
lighted = give
rem mbcr a pc'nt where ! spread
nv self on :.inl- 'r- 20 SEQ how
widely | could ,eacn. there a path
/ emerged abruptly rom among giant
rhododendrOAa, vanished as abrupt
/ " into the crowding thiCket on nay
other hand. Time and again as ! pass.
ed. the silent savage would MAZE his
7 crossing. like a shadow. 7 used 10 re-
fleet the nod Of his eagle feathers,
/ and the CLINT OF his wampum belt and
/ necklace: il. athirst, he paused for
| drink, ! held 10 his painted face my
mirror. and wCtted the straight, blacT
/ braids interviewer with color.
| remember and rrmember scent
! OF sweet fern, crushed birch le'y'F.
smoke from a camp fire, and the beat
OF a tomtom, remember the call o..
/ the panther to his mate, and the first
/ flash OF an aXe in the forest the first
stamp OF a horses hoof, and the low
OF cattle
What am ] now? A dirty, yellow
/ trickle! An out al the elbows, soiled,
mendicant of 2 stream with evil re.
Dute. My song. my daFhing h"'yado
my beautiful black pools, and milky
cascades, stolen; gone with the
timid deer, my bubbling twInkling in
vitatiOn; gone with the hunted bear
my crystal, scolding chatter.
! gather the rainfall from a sum
mer storm, or melting snow and make
! pitiful endeayOr to show once more
( what | was in the past, even as ny
( beautiful. straight savage, now brood
: filthy in the reservation corner, and
goes amuck in a last wonderful d lid
death hunt with a bow and arrow and
! tOmahawk
Once / was a wild, free spirit, now
people lean from a bridge, an eX.
claim, "What 2 pretty park could be
made around Coal Rum"