130
miscellaneous poems.
The Indian tribes, by treaties, bad been won
Afar to wander—where the setting sun
Claims as his own the vallies, fields and wood
Glowing beneath—of light a glorious flood.
Not then had murder loosed her fiendish train,
But peace and plenty ruled the fertile plain.
Afar to wander—where the setting sun
Claims as his own the vallies, fields and wood
Glowing beneath—of light a glorious flood.
Not then had murder loosed her fiendish train,
But peace and plenty ruled the fertile plain.
One stilly eve we sat within the porch,
Watching our child—as , eager for the torch
Of the fire-fly, that, circling round his head,
Flashed tiny lightning, after it he sped,
(My fearless boy) bounding within the gloom
Of the deep forest. Faded then the bloom
From his fond mother's cheek—"Oh, haste!" she cried,
"The prowling wolves within the forest bide;
No later than this morn their steps were nigh
Our cottage door." I listened to her cry,
And sought the child with undefined alarm—
A fearful trembling—could our boy meet harm
In the dark wood? Hark! was it Mary's scream?
I flew to meet my child lest she should deem
Watching our child—as , eager for the torch
Of the fire-fly, that, circling round his head,
Flashed tiny lightning, after it he sped,
(My fearless boy) bounding within the gloom
Of the deep forest. Faded then the bloom
From his fond mother's cheek—"Oh, haste!" she cried,
"The prowling wolves within the forest bide;
No later than this morn their steps were nigh
Our cottage door." I listened to her cry,
And sought the child with undefined alarm—
A fearful trembling—could our boy meet harm
In the dark wood? Hark! was it Mary's scream?
I flew to meet my child lest she should deem
