Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

POETRY.

[From the N. Y. Ark American.]
THE LAST OF THE RED MEN.

The Sun's last ray was glowing fair,
In crag and tree and flood;
And fell in mellow softness where
The lonely Indian stood.
Beneath his eye, the living gold,
The broad Pacific lay;
Unruffled there, a skiff might hold
A chief, both bright and fearless was!
Far! far! behind him mountains blue,
In shadowy distance melt;
And far beyond the dark woods grow,
Where his forefathers dwelt.
No breathing sound was in the air,
As leaning on his bow,
A lone and weary pilgrim there--
He murmur'd stern and low.
"Far by Ohio's mighty river,
Bright star, I've worshipped thee;
My native stream, its bosom never
The Red man more may see!
The Pale face rears his wigwam where
Our Indian hunters rov'd;
His hatchet fells the forest fair
Our Indian maidens lov'd!
A thousand warriors bore in war
The token of my sires;
O all the hills were seen afar,
Their blazing Council fires!
The foeman heard their warwhoop shrill,
And held his breath in fear;
And in the wood and on the hill,
Their arrows pierc'd the deer.
Where are they now?--the stranger's tread
Is on their silent place!
Yon fading light on me is shed,
The last of all my race!
Where are they now? --in Summer's light,
Go! seek the Winter's snow;
Forgotten is our name and might,
And broken is our bow!
The white Man came, his bayonets gleam,
Where Sachems held their sway:
And like the shadow of a dream,
Our tribe has passed away!
Curs'd be their race! to faith untrue,
False heart! deceitful tongue--
Hear me. O! evil Manitou,-
Revenge the Indian wrong!
I hear him in the hollow moan
Of the dark heaving sea
And whispers murmur in the tone.
Of vengeance yet to be!
What if no stone shall mark the spot
Where lonely slept the brave?
Their mighty arm is unforgot,
Their glory has no grave
But to our foes we leave a shame-
Disgrace can never die!-
Their sons shall blush to bear a name,
Still blackened with a lie!
So be it ever to their race;
False friends, and bitter cares!-
By fraud they have the Indian's place,
The Indian's curse be theirs."

S. M. P.