What forms were those which darkly stood Just on the margin of the wood ?- Charr'd tree-stumps in the moonlight dim, Or paling rude, or leafless limb?
No-through the trees fierce eye-balls glow'd, Dark human forms in moonshine show'd, Wild from their native wilderness, With painted limbs and battle-dress!
A yell, the dead might wake to hear, Swell'd on the night air, far and clear— Then smote the Indian tomahawk On crashing door and shattering lock— Then rang the rifle-shot-and then The shrill death-scream of stricken men- Sank the red axe in woman's brain, And childhood's cry arose in vain- Bursting through roof and window came, Red, fast and fierce, the kindled flame; And blended fire and moonlight glared On still dead men and weapons bared.
The morning sun looked brightly through The river willows, wet with dew. No sound of combat fill'd the air,— No shout was heard,-nor gunshot there : Yet still the thick and sullen smoke From smouldering ruins slowly broke; And on the greensward many a stain, And, here and there, the mangled slain, Told how that midnight bolt had sped, Pentucket, on thy fated head!
Where Rolfe beside his hearthstone fell, Still show the door of wasting oak, Through which the fatal death-shot broke, And point the curious stranger where De Rouville's corse lay grim and bare→
Whose hideous head, in death still fear'd, Bore not a trace of hair or beard-
And still, within the churchyard ground, Heaves darkly up the ancient mound, Whose grass-grown surface overlies The victims of that sacrifice.
FATHER! to thy suffering poor Strength and grace and faith impart, And with thy own love restore Comfort to the broken heart! Oh, the failing ones confirm
With a holier strength of zeal !— Give Thou not the feeble worm Helpless to the spoiler's heel!
Father! for thy holy sake
We are spoiled and hunted thus; Joyful, for thy truth we take
Bonds and burthens unto us: Poor, and weak, and robbed of all, Weary with our daily task, That thy truth may never fall
Through our weakness, Lord, we ask.
Round our fired and wasted homes Flits the forest-bird unscared, And at noon the wild beast comes Where our frugal meal was shared; For the song of praises there
Shrieks the crow the livelong day, For the sound of evening prayer Howls the evil beast of prey!
Sweet the songs we loved to sing Underneath thy holy sky- Words and tones that used to bring Tears of joy in every eye,— Dear the wrestling hours of prayer, When we gathered knee to knee, Blameless youth and hoary hair, Bow'd, O God, alone to thee.
As thine early children, Lord, Shared their wealth and daily bread, Even so, with one accord,
We, in love, each other fed. Not with us the miser's hoard,
Not with us his grasping hand;
Equal round a common board,
Drew our meek and brother band!
Safe our quiet Eden lay
When the war-whoop stirred the land,
And the Indian turn'd away
From our home his bloody hand.
Well that forest-ranger saw,
That the burthen and the curse
Of the white man's cruel law Rested also upon us.
Torn apart, and driven forth
To our toiling hard and long, Father! from the dust of earth Lift we still our grateful song! Grateful-that in bonds we share In thy love which maketh free, Joyful-that the wrongs we bear, Draw us nearer, Lord, to thee!
Grateful!-that where'er we toil- By Wachuset's wooded side, On Nantucket's sea-worn isle,
Or by wild Neponset's tideStill, in spirit, we are near,
And our evening hymns which rise Separate and discordant here, Meet and mingle in the skies!
Let the scoffer scorn and mock, Let the proud and evil priest Rob the needy of his flock,
For his wine-cup and his feast,- Redden not thy bolts in store
Through the blackness of thy skies? For the sighing of the poor
Wilt Thou not, at length, arise?
Worn and wasted, oh, how long Shall thy trodden poor complain? In thy name they bear the wrong, In thy cause the bonds of pain! Melt oppression's heart of steel,
Let the haughty priesthood see, And their blinded followers feel, That in us they mock at Thee!
In thy time, O Lord of hosts,
Stretch abroad that hand to save Which of old, on Egypt's coasts, Smote apart the Red Sea's wave! Lead us from this evil land,
From the spoiler set us free, And once more our gather'd band, Heart to heart, shall worship Thee!
THE FOUNTAIN.
TRAVELLER! on thy journey toiling By the swift Powow,
With the summer sunshine falling On thy heated brow, Listen, while all else is still
To the brooklet from the hill.
Wild and sweet the flowers are blowing By that streamlet's side, And a greener verdure showing Where its waters glide--
Down the hill-slope murmuring on,
Over root and mossy stone.
Where yon oak his broad arms flingeth
O'er the sloping hill, Beautiful and freshly springeth
That soft-flowing rill,
Through its dark roots wreath'd and bare, Gushing up to sun and air.
Brighter waters sparkled never In that magic well, Of whose gift of life forever Ancient legends tell,—
In the lonely desert wasted, And by mortal lip untasted.
Waters which the proud Castilian 31 Sought with longing eyes, Underneath the bright pavilion Of the Indian skies;
Where his forest pathway lay Through the blooms of Florida.
Years ago a lonely stranger, With the dusky brow Of the outcast forest-ranger, Crossed the swift Powow; And betook him to the rill, And the oak upon the hill.
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