GERTRUDE OF WYOMING.

IX.

I boast no song in magic wonders rife,
But yet familiar, is there nought to prize,
Oh, Nature ! in thy bosom-scenes of life?
And dwells in daylight truth's salubrious skies.
No form with which the soul may sympathise?
Young, innocent, on whose sweet forehead mild
The parted ringlet shone in simplest guise,

An inmate in the home of Albert smiled,

Or blest his noonday walk-she was his only child.

X.

The rose of England bloom'd on Gertrude's cheek

What though these shades had seen her birth, her sire

A Briton's independence taught to seek

Far western worlds; and there his household fire

The light of social love did long inspire,

And many a halcyon day he lived to see

Unbroken, but by one misfortune dire,

When fate had reft his mutual heart-but she

Was gone-and Gertrude climb'd a widow'd father's knee;

XI.

A loved bequest, and I may half impart
To them that feel the strong paternal tie,

How like a new existence to his heart

Uprose that living flower beneath his eye,

Dear as she was, from cherub infancy,

From hours when she would round his garden play,

To time when, as the ripening years went by,

Her lovely mind could culture well repay,

And more engaging grew from pleasing day to day.

XII.

I may not paint those thousand infant charms; (Unconscious fascination, undesign'd!)

The orison repeated in his arms,

For God to bless her sire and all mankind ;

The book, the bosom on his knee reclined,

Or how sweet fairy-lore he heard her con

(The playmate ere the teacher of her mind):

All uncompanion'd else her years had gone

Till now in Gertrude's eyes their ninth blue summer shone.

XIII.

And summer was the tide, and sweet the hour

When sire and daughter saw, with fleet descent, An Indian from his bark approach their bower, Of buskin❜d limb, and swarthy lineament!

The red wild feathers on his brow were blent,

And bracelets bound the arm that help'd to light

A boy, who seem'd, as he beside him went,

Of Christian vesture, and complexion bright,

Led by his dusky guide like morning brought by night.

XIV.

Yet pensive seem'd the boy for one so young,

The dimple from his polish'd cheek had fled;

When, leaning on his forest-bow unstrung,

Th' Oneyda warrior to the planter said,

And laid his hand upon the stripling's head,
"Peace be to thee! my words this belt approve ;5

The paths of peace my steps have hither led :6

This little nursling, take him to thy love,

And shield the bird unfledged, since gone the parent dove.

XV.

"Christian! I am the foeman of thy foe;

Our wampum league thy brethren did embrace :

Upon the Michigan, three moons ago,

We launch'd our quivers for the bison chase;

And with the Hurons planted for a space,

With true and faithful hands, the olive-stalk ;