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Through the dark pine-grove let thy voice be heard. The light of his eye was a joy to see,

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The path of his arrows a storm to flee!

But there came a voice from a distant shore:
He was called-he is found 'midst his tribe no

more!

He is not in his place when the night-fires burn,
But we look for him still-he will yet return!
-His brother sat with a drooping brow
In the gloom of the shadowing cypress bough,
We roused him-we bade him no longer pine,
For we heard a step-but the step was thine.
We saw thee, O stranger, and wept!
We looked for the maid of the mournful song,
Mournful, though sweet-she hath left us long!
We told her the youth of her love was gone,
And she went forth to seek him-she passed alone;
aze, We hear not her voice when the woods are still,
From the bower where it sang, like a silvery rill.
The joy of her sire with her smile is fled,
The winter is white on his lonely head,

He hath none by his side when the wilds we track,
He hath none when we rest-yet she comes not
back!

We looked for her eye on the feast to shine, breezy step-but the step was thine!

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Through the dark pine-grove let thy voice be heard, The light of his eye was a joy to see,
And tell of the shadowy band!

We know that the bowers are green and fair
In the light of that summer shore,
And we know that the friends we have lost are there,
They are there-and they weep no more!
And we know they have quenched their fever's thirst
From the Fountain of Youth ere now,*

For there must the stream in its freshness burst,
Which none may find below!

And we know that they will not be lured to earth
From the land of deathless flowers,

By the feast, or the dance, or the song of mirth,

Though their hearts were once with ours;

Though they sat with us by the night-fire's blaze,
And bent with us the bow,
And heard the tales of our fathers' days,
Which are told to others now!

But tell us, thou bird of the solemn strain!
Can those who have loved forget?
We call and they answer not again-
-Do they love-do they love us yet?

Doth the warrior think of his brother there,
And the father of his child?

And the chief, of those that were wont to share
His wanderings through the wild?

We call them far through the silent night,
And they speak not from cave or hill;
We know, thou bird! that their land is bright,
But say, do they love there still?

THE STRANGER IN LOUISIANA.

An early traveller mentions a people on the banks of the Mississippi who burst into tears at the sight of a stranger. The reason of this is, that they fancy their deceased friends and relations to be only gone on a journey, and being in constant expectation of their return, look for them vainly amongst these foreign travellers.

Picart's Ceremonies and Religious Customs. "J'ai passé moi-même," says Chateaubriand in his Souve nurs d'Amérique, "chez une peuplade indienne qui se prenait à pleurer à la vue d'un voyageur, parce qu'il lui rappelait des amis partis pour la Contrée des Ames, et depuis long-tems en voyage."

We saw thee, O stranger, and wept! We looked for the youth of the sunny glance, Whose step was the fleetest in chase or dance!

The path of his arrows a storm to flee!
But there came a voice from a distant shore:
He was called-he is found 'midst his tribe no
more!

He is not in his place when the night-fires burn,
But we look for him still-he will yet return!
His brother sat with a drooping brow
In the gloom of the shadowing cypress bough,
We roused him-we bade him no longer pine,
For we heard a step-but the step was thine.

We saw thee, O stranger, and wept!
We looked for the maid of the mournful song,
Mournful, though sweet-she hath left us long!
We told her the youth of her love was gone,
And she went forth to seek him-she passed alone;
We hear not her voice when the woods are still,
From the bower where it sang, like a silvery rill.
The joy of her sire with her smile is fled,
The winter is white on his lonely head,
He hath none by his side when the wilds we track,
He hath none when we rest--yet she comes nct
back!

We looked for her eye on the feast to shine,
For her breezy step-but the step was thine!

We saw thee, O stranger, and wept!
We looked for the chief who hath left the spear
And the bow of his battles forgotten here!
We looked for the hunter, whose bride's lament
On the wind of the forest at eve is sent:
We looked for the first-born, whose mother's cry
Sounds wild and shrill through the midnight sky!
-Where are they?—thou'rt seeking some distant
coast-

Oh, ask of them, stranger!-send back the lost!
Tell them we mourn by the dark blue streams,
Tell them our lives but of them are dreams!

Tell, how we sat in the gloom to pine,
And to watch for a step-but the step was thine!

THE ISLE OF FOUNTS.

AN INDIAN TRADITION.

"The River St. Mary has its source from a vast lake o marsh, which lies between Flint and Oakmulge rivers, and occupies a space of near three hundred miles in circuit. This vast accumulation of waters, in the wet season, appears as a lake, and contains some large islands or knolls of rich high land; one of which the present generation of the Creek Indians represent to be a most blissful spot of earth; they say it is inhabited by a peculiar race of Indians, whose women are * An expedition was actually undertaken by Juan Ponce do incomparably beautiful. They also tell you that this terresLeon, in the 16th century, with the view of discovering a won- trial paradise has been seen by some of their enterprising derful fountain, believed by the natives of Puerto Rico to spring hunters, when in pursuit of game; but that in their ende in one of the Lucayo Isles, and to possess the virtue of restor- vours to approach it, they were involved in perpetual 'abying youth to all who bathed in its waters.-See Robertson's rinths, and, like enchanted land, still as they imagined they History of America. had just gained it, it seemed to fly before them, alternately

pearing and disappearing. They resolved, at length, to leave the delusive pursuit, and to return, which, after a number of difficulties, they effected. When they reported their adventures to their countrymen, the young warriors were inflamed with an irresistible desire to invade, and make a conquest of, so charming a country; but all their attempts have hitherto proved abortive, never having been able again to find that enchanting spot."

Bartram's Travels through N. and S. Carolina, &c. The additional circumstances in the Isle of Founts are merely imaginary.

SON of the stranger! wouldst thou take

O'er yon blue hills thy lonely way,
To reach the still and shining lake

Along whose banks the west-winds play?
-Let no vain dreams thy heart beguile,
Oh! seek thou not the Fountain-Isle !
Lull but the mighty serpent king,*

'Midst the gray rocks, his old domain;
Ward but the cougar's deadly spring,
-Thy step that lake's green shore may gain;
And the bright Isle, when all is passed
Shall vainly meet thine eye at last!

Yes! there, with all its rainbow streams,
Clear as within thine arrow's flight,
The Isle of Founts, the Isle of dreams,

Floats on the wave in golden light;
And lovely will the shadows be
Of groves whose fruit is not for thee!
And breathings from their sunny flowers,
Which are not of the things that die,
And singing voices from their bowers

Shall greet thee in their purple sky;
Soft voices, e'en like those that dwell
Far in the green reed's hollow cell.

Or hast thou heard the sounds that rise
From the deep chambers of the earth?
The wild and wondrous melodics

To which the ancient rocks gave birth?t
Like that sweet song of hidden caves
Shall swell those wood-notes o'er the waves.
The emerald waves!-they take their hue
And image from that sunbright shore;
But wouldst thou launch thy light canoe,
And wouldst thou ply thy rapid oar,
Before thee, hadst thou morning's speed,
The dreamy land should still receda!

Yet on the breeze thou still wouldst hear
The music of its flowering shades,
And ever should the sound be near

Of founts that ripple through its glades;
The sound, and sight, and flashing ray
Of joyous waters in their play!

But wo for him who sees them burst

With their bright spray-showers to the lake Earth has no spring to quench the thirst

That semblance in his soul shall wake
For ever pouring through his dreams,
The gush of those untasted streams!
Bright, bright, in many a rocky urn,

The waters of our deserts lie,
Yet at the source his lip shall burn,
Parched with the fever's agony !
From the blue mountains to the main,
Our thousand floods may roll in vain.

E'en thus our hunters came of yore
Back from their long and weary quest;
-Had they not seen th' untrodden shore,

And could they 'midst our wilds find rest?
The lightning of their glance was fled,
They dwelt amongst us as the dead!

They lay beside our glittering rills,
With visions in their darkened eye,
Their joy was not amidst the hills,

Where elk and deer before us fly;
Their spears upon the cedar hung,
Their javelins to the wind were flung.
They bent no more the forest-bow,

They armed not with the warrior band, The moons waned o'er them dim and slow-They left us for the spirit's land! Beneath our pines yon greensward heap Show where the restless found their sleep.

Son of the stranger! if at eve

Silence be 'midst us in thy place,
Yet go not where the mighty leave

The strength of battle and of chase!
Let no vain dreams thy heart beguile,
Oh! seek thou not the Fountain-Isle!

THE BENDED BOW.

The Cherokees believe that the recesses of their mountains, overgrown with lofty pines and cedars, and covered with old mossy rocks, are inhabited by the kings or chiefs of the rattlesnakes, whom they denominate the "bright old inhabi It is supposed that war was anciently proclaimed in Britants." They represent them as snakes of an enormous size, tain by sending messengers in different directions through the And which possess the power of drawing to them every living land, each bearing a bended bow; and that peace was in like creature that comes within the reach of their eyes. Their manner announced by a bow unstrung, and therefore straight. neads are said to be crowned with a carbuncle, of dazzling See the Cambrian Antiquities, brightness.-See notes to Leyden's "Scenes of Infancy."

The stones on the banks of the Oronoco, called by the Fouth American missionaries Laras de Musica, and alluded

to in a former note.

THERE was heard the sound of a coming foe, There was sent through Britain a bended bow,

And a voice was poured on the free winds far,
As the land rose up at the sign of war.

"Heard ye not the battle-horn?
-Reaper! leave thy golden corn!
Leave it for the birds of heaven,
Swords must flash, and spears be riven!
Leave it for the winds to shed-
Arm! ere Britain's turf grow red!"

And the reaper armed, like a freeman's son,
And the bended bow and the voice passed on.

"Hunter! leave the mountain-chase!
Take the falchion from its place!
Let the wolf go free to-day,
Leave him for a nobler prey!
Let the deer ungalled sweep by,-
Arm thee! Britain's foes are nigh!"

And the hunter armed ere the chase was done,
And the bended bow and the voice passed on.

"Chieftain! quit the joyous feast!
Stay not till the song hath ceased:
Though the mead be foaming bright,
Though the fire gives ruddy light,
Leave the hearth and leave the hall-
Arm thee! Britain's foes must fall!"

And the chieftain armed, and the horn was blown,
And the bended bow and the voice passed on.

"Prince! thy father's deeds are told,

In the bower and in the hold!

Where the goatherd's lay is sung,
Where the minstrel's harp is strung!
-Foes are on thy native sea-

Give our bards a tale of thee!"

And the prince came armed, like a leader's son,
And the bended bow and the voice passed on.

"Mother! stay thou not thy boy!
He must learn the battle's joy.
Sister! bring the sword and spear,
Give thy brother words of cheer!
Maiden! bid thy lover part,
Britain calls the strong in heart!"

And the bended bow and the voice passed on,
And the bards made song for a battle won.

HE NEVER SMILED AGAIN.*

It is recorded of Henry the First, that after the death of his son, Prince William, who perished in a shipwreck off the coast of Normandy, he was never seen to smile.

THE bark that held a prince went down, The sweeping waves rolled on;

• Originally published in the Literary Gazette.

And what was England's glorious crown

To him that wept a son?

He lived-for life may long be borne

Ere sorrow break its chain;

Why comes not death to those who mourn? -He never smiled again!

There stood proud forms around his throne,
The stately and the brave,

But which could fill the place of one,
That one beneath the wave?
Before him passed the young and fair,

In pleasure's reckless train,

But seas dashed o'er his son's bright hair-
-He never smiled again'

He sat where festal bowls went round;
He heard the minstrel sing,
He saw the tourney's victor crowned,
Amidst the knightly ring:

A murmur of the restless deep

Was blent with every strain,

A voice of winds that would not sleep-
-He never smiled again!

Hearts, in that time, closed o'er the trace
Of vows once fondly poured,
And strangers took the kinsman's place
At many a joyous board;

Graves, which true love had bathed with tears,
Were left to Heaven's bright rain,

Fresh hopes were born for other years—
-He never smiled again!

COEUR-DE-LION AT THE BIER OF HIS FATHER.

The body of Henry the Second lay in state in the abbey church of Fontevraud, where it was visited by Richard Ca ur de-Lion, who, on beholding it, was struck with horror and remorse, and bitterly reproached himself for that rebellione conduct which had been the means of bringing his father t an untimely grave.

TORCHES were blazing clear,
Hymns pealing deep and slow,
Where a king lay stately on his bien,
In the church of Fontevraud.
Banners of battle o'er him hung,

And warriors slept beneath,
And light, as Noon's broad light, was flung
On the settled face of death.

On the settled face of death
A strong and ruddy glare,

Though dimmed at times by the censer's brotn
Yet it fell still brightest there

As if each deeply-furrowed trace
Of earthly years to show.-

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