THE MAIDEN ON THE PRAIRIE.
The calm and gentle moon
Shone through the clouds that hid her starry train;
The golden flowers of June
Bent in the winds that swept the silent plain.
Shone through the clouds that hid her starry train;
The golden flowers of June
Bent in the winds that swept the silent plain.
No trees their branches wav'd;
No mountain summit rose against the sky;
No whisp'ring waters lav'd
The flow'ry turf, the only verdure nigh.
No mountain summit rose against the sky;
No whisp'ring waters lav'd
The flow'ry turf, the only verdure nigh.
What low and plaintive note
Was borne upon the cold unansw'ring air?
Now near, now more remote,
One living being, one alone, was there!
Was borne upon the cold unansw'ring air?
Now near, now more remote,
One living being, one alone, was there!
Lone wand'rer of the plain!
No home was near, no light, no wreathing smoke;
Thou pleadest but in vain,—
Not e'en an echo thy sweet voice awoke!
No home was near, no light, no wreathing smoke;
Thou pleadest but in vain,—
Not e'en an echo thy sweet voice awoke!
Left in the sudden flight
Of thy red captors, thou art safe and free;
No human help in sight,
A heav'nly guard is now appointed thee!
Of thy red captors, thou art safe and free;
No human help in sight,
A heav'nly guard is now appointed thee!
She was a youthful maid;
Her form was slight, her face so mild and fair;
And there she knelt and pray'd;
And the cold night-wind wav'd her golden hair.
Her form was slight, her face so mild and fair;
And there she knelt and pray'd;
And the cold night-wind wav'd her golden hair.
Hark! a loud rushing sound
Booms like the thunder from the distant west;
The dark and gloomy ground
Gleams in a moment like a shining crest.
Booms like the thunder from the distant west;
The dark and gloomy ground
Gleams in a moment like a shining crest.
The prairie blazes bright!
The storm of fire roars, hisses, round;
The dark and silent night
With wild grandeur is all brilliant crown'd!
The storm of fire roars, hisses, round;
The dark and silent night
With wild grandeur is all brilliant crown'd!
She rushes to the flame!
Her mantle blazes, and she speeds away;
Afar she casts the same;
And a small hillock beams, clear as the day!
Her mantle blazes, and she speeds away;
Afar she casts the same;
And a small hillock beams, clear as the day!
Then soon 'tis dark and sear;
But there she stands in safety! while the moon
Beams on her face, where fear
Has now no home, but joy shines as the noon.
But there she stands in safety! while the moon
Beams on her face, where fear
Has now no home, but joy shines as the noon.
Then as the morning rays
Shine o'er the barren desert, then she knows
Her own sweet mother prays;
And in the east her own bright river flows!
Shine o'er the barren desert, then she knows
Her own sweet mother prays;
And in the east her own bright river flows!
1846.