\ 
 

A 
 
 EHYTHMICAL KOMANCE OF MINNESOTA, 
 
 THE GREAT REBELLION 
 
 MINNESOTA MASSACRES. 
 
 BY MYRON COLONEY. 
 il 
 
 ST. LOUIS: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 
 1866. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in thu year 1865, by 
 
 ?*. \ 5 - MYRON COLONEY, 
 
 In the Clerk s Office of the United States District Court, 
 For the Eastern District of Missouri. 
 
 A. mEBUSCH & SON, 
 
 Stereotypers & Printers, 
 ST. Louis, Mo. 
 
IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 DIED la the month of September 1864, at UNION FARM, near Holla, Phelps 
 County, Mo., stricken down by the bullet of a Missouri bushwhacker, 
 while with his rifle, "Biting Betty," in hand he was bravely defend 
 ing the home and family of the author of this book from pillage and 
 assault, brave and noble Uncle ANDREAS M. DARLING, in the fifty- 
 eighth year of his age. 
 
 IN the year 1858, myself and wife emigrated from 
 the city of Chicago, 111., to Douglas County, Minn., 
 and settled upon the lovely shores of Lake Ida. Doug 
 las County is about one hundred and sixty miles 
 north-west from St. Paul, and is reached by travelling 
 up the valley of the Mississippi Eiver to St. Cloud, 
 the head of navigation, thence up the Sauk Eiver 
 Valley in an almost westerly direction to Osakis Lake, 
 where the eastern boundary of the county begins. 
 Alexandria, the county-seat and post-office town of the 
 county, is about twelve miles further on from Osakis 
 Lake, and Lake Ida is distant from Alexandria about 
 six miles, still further on toward Breckinridge and 
 Abercrombie, on the great Red Eiver of the North, 
 rn 
 
 RI57406 
 
IV 
 
 At the time myself and wife moved into Douglas 
 County there was no beaten road over the prairie 
 further than the little paper town of Kandotta, near 
 Fairy Lake. One log cabin, and a very indifferent 
 one at that, had been erected upon this site, a liberty 
 pole put up, a pole stable built and the "town" had 
 an existence and a name. We purchased ox-teams in 
 St. Cloud, loaded our household goods and provisions 
 into the wagons and the journey was commenced. 
 It was in May and there were no bridges across the 
 streams. The Sauk River had to be crossed four times 
 in the journey and as it was very high, we were obliged 
 to unload each time and after ferrying our goods over 
 in a small skiff, take the wagon to pieces and ferry it 
 over in the same manner. 
 
 On our journey, at every cabin we stopped at, we 
 heard of a Mr. DARLING and his family with their 
 teams and goods just ahead of us, bound for the same 
 part of the State, and we hurried on expecting every 
 night to overtake them, but the energy and experience 
 of the hardy frontiersman widened the distance be 
 tween us every day, and when we arrived at Alexan 
 dria we found he had been there some three or four 
 days, and had immediately proceeded to his " claim " 
 
upon Lake Darling-, about one mile beyond the town 
 in the direction of Lake Ida. 
 
 Notwithstanding the lateness of the season Mr. 
 DARLING broke up and fenced about twelve acres of 
 land and raised a large crop of " sod corn," potatoes, 
 buckwheat and ruta bagas. He also built himself a 
 good, warm house, and a stable for his stock, and in 
 farm enterprise took and kept the lead in all that sec 
 tion. He was a most indefatigable hunter and trapper 
 at the season of the year when such business could be 
 made to pay, and with old " Biting Betty" could shoot 
 a loon s eye out forty rods distant every fire. " Biting 
 Betty " was made to order for him in Wisconsin ; she 
 carried a half ounce ball and weighed sixteen pounds, 
 which every sportsman ought to know is an immense 
 weight for a rifle. 
 
 Mr. ANDREAS M. DARLING was born of poor parents 
 on a rugged farm in the northern part of the State of 
 New York, and his father, like himself, appears to 
 have been a kind of a "rolling stone," always keeping 
 ahead of "civilization." In an early day they moved 
 to western New York, and thence to Ohio, and there 
 young ANDREAS took the contract of cutting down the 
 forest on the present site of Cleveland, Ohio. When 
 
VI 
 
 settlers began to be too numerous, he moved into 
 Michigan, where he married, thence into Wisconsin, 
 and from there into Minnesota. 
 
 He was a large, well proportioned man, standing 
 six feet four inches in his stockings, powerful, kind 
 hearted and true. No man was readier at a " raising/ 
 "chopping, 1 "logging, or "plowing," than he. He 
 was invariably chosen as "boss" of the occasion, no 
 matter what it might be. He was always on hand at 
 the frequent "dances" with which the settlers, for 
 miles around, sought to make merry the long winters 
 of that distant, hyperborean region, and his "team" 
 always contained the jolliest load of young folks in the 
 settlement. 
 
 When the Sioux massacres commenced I was fort 
 unately away from home. My wife had gone to Chic 
 ago to visit her parents, and I was travelling through 
 Indiana purchasing sheep. My house and its contents 
 were burned and several of the neighbors, living 
 higher up the road, were killed. 
 
 The settlers about Alexandria organized themselves 
 into a company, and electing Mr. DARLING captain, 
 hastily left their homes for St. Cloud, one hundred 
 miles below. The Indians followed and surrounded 
 
them nearly every night, but did not dare to attack, 
 and finally the whole party reached St. Cloud in safety. 
 
 The crops had all been left standing in the fields, 
 and the cattle, hogs and sheep were roaming at large. 
 Assurance was given to Mr. DARLING by Governor 
 KAMSEY that a company of soldiers should be stationed 
 permanently at Alexandria very soon, and therefore 
 as soon as he could find safe quarters for his family, 
 he with a neighbor of his, Mr. BARNES, went fearless 
 ly back to their homes and commenced saving their 
 crops, and as soon as the soldiers came up they moved 
 their families back again. 
 
 I never returned, but moving to St. Louis, com 
 menced trading through south-west Missouri and Ar 
 kansas, and finally in connection with another gentle 
 man of St. Louis, purchased the HAMILTON LENNOX 
 plantation of a thousand acres, near Rolla, and christ 
 ened it "Union Farm. 1 It was so near Eolla, which 
 was strongly garrisoned, that I never entertained the 
 slightest apprehension of trouble from bushwhackers, 
 and with my wife and father-in-law and family did not 
 hesitate to move upon the place at once. 
 
 I had kept up a pretty regular correspondence with 
 Mr. DARLING, and believing him to be in a good deal 
 
VIII 
 
 of danger on his claim, a mile from the stockade, I 
 advised him to come down to Missouri and take charge 
 of my property as overseer. As there was a drouth 
 prevailing in Minnesota at the time and his family felt 
 lonesome and discouraged, he consented and selling 
 out his teams, utensils &c., came on. 
 
 I had leased the property to my father-in-law, Mr. 
 CHAUNCEY TUTTLE, for a term of years, and he, rati 
 fying my arrangement with Mr. DARLING, gave him 
 full charge of the farm. All went along peaceably 
 and well, until the month of September 1864. Myself 
 and Mr. TUTTLE had come up to St. Louis on business 
 and while here received the following telegram which 
 fell upon us like a flash of lightning : 
 
 To MYRON COLONET: 
 
 "We were bushwhacked last night and 
 Mr. DARLING was killed. 
 
 MRS. J. A. COLONEY. 
 
 Alas, it was too true! The dear, kind-hearted, 
 brave old man was shot down while gallantly defend 
 ing the entrance of my parlor. The murderers were 
 " DICK KITCHEN S " band of guerillas, to whom, it is 
 alleged, the "WRIGHT boys," lately shot by Col. BAB- 
 COCKE S men, belonged. The immediate instigators 
 
IX 
 
 of the murder were two sons of the former owner of 
 the place, TOM. and BILL LENNOX. They have yet 
 to answer to the law for this most foul and hellish deed. 
 
 The military authorities at Holla sent over an escort 
 and brought the body of the brave old man to town, 
 and buried him with becoming obsequies in the mili 
 tary burying ground. His stricken widow and her 
 children determined to return to the " claim" in Min 
 nesota which they did, and are there at this present 
 time. 
 
 It is for her benefit to assist her in meeting the 
 severe struggle of life, deprived as she is of the 
 manly hand and strong arm on which she was wont to 
 rely, to assist her in the proper education of her chil 
 dren, that this book has been printed. I do not know 
 that it will ever return what it cost, but I trust it will 
 and hope it will supply a fund for many years to come 
 to fill the purse that the energy and industry of him 
 who was so cruelly snatched away from her was 
 wont to fill. 
 
 She now lives upon the shores of Lake Darling in 
 Minnesota, while the remains of her noble husband 
 lie away down here in the soil of Missouri. It is my 
 earnest wish to disinter the body, provide it with a 
 

 
 suitable coffin and send it up to her, but embarrass 
 ments which have come upon me from being obliged 
 to give up the farm, and losses in business have put it 
 entirely out of my power to do so, at present, and if, 
 therefore, after reading the story of the gallant, kind- 
 hearted, true old man, any one should feel disposed 
 to enclose me a contribution for that purpose, however 
 small, it will be duly acknowledged and appreciated. 
 " Biting Betty " was carried off by the party who 
 committed the murder, as was every other thing of 
 value in my house ; but as the rifle was a very heavy 
 one it is thought that it was left somewhere in the 
 State, and if it can be recovered and sent to me, a 
 large reward will be paid for it. 
 
 St. JLouis, Missouri, October 1865. 
 
 MYEON C.OLONEY. 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 AT my desk I sit alone, 
 Bathed in floods of silver-tone 
 Evening vesper s soothing chime 
 Musing on this work of mine. 
 Down life s path I turn my gaze 
 Backward to my boyhood days ; 
 Then returning, closely look 
 Through each grotto, grove and nook, 
 Bower of ease and brambled wood, 
 Long dark walks of solitude, 
 Sunny banks and emerald lanes, 
 Sterile paths and fruitful plains, 
 Down each yawning, black abyss, 
 O er each frightful precipice, 
 Everywhere- my feet have trod 
 Since the hour I came from God : 
 Fain to find a friend who ne er 
 Changed with fortune s changeful year; 
 Faithful friend, long proved and tried, 
 True when other friendships died ; 
 
 XI 
 
XII 
 
 To this friend for whom I look, 
 I would dedicate my book. 
 Here are sunny eyes asmile, 
 Briefly lit a little while 
 With a blast of adverse fate 
 They grow dark and desolate. 
 There are graspings of the hand, 
 Air and intonation bland, 
 Giving place to cold neglect, 
 Contact proudly circumspect.. 
 Oh, my soul, and is there then 
 No true friendship among men? 
 Sadly turns my heart aside, 
 To my own dear fire-side, 
 From the many to the few; 
 One sits there forever true! 
 True in sickness as in health, 
 True in poverty as wealth, 
 True though I should go astray, 
 True when others turn away, 
 Oh, thou sunshine of my life, 
 Loving, tender, patient WIFE, 
 God s best, dearest gift to me, 
 I inscribe my book to thee ! 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THIS book has been written under the most un 
 favorable circumstances, occupying the spare hours of 
 some six months, for while engaged upon it I have 
 fulfilled the duties of Commercial Editor of the Even 
 ing News of this city. It has been written without 
 a library or even a private room in which to with 
 draw myself. I have had no lexicons, encyclopedias, 
 rhyming dictionaries, or books of reference to assist 
 me. Harpers Magazine and the newspapers have 
 been my only helps. 
 
 I have sought no publishers as I was almost entirely 
 unknown as a writer, and feU there would be no prob 
 ability of my getting one. I have grown up in the 
 West, am thoroughly inoculated with its rude, ener 
 getic life and its progressive, individualizing ideas. 
 Of course my writings must be a true manifestation 
 of myself. I glory in the spirit of American Ideas 
 
 XIII 
 
and demand for myself and claim for all others that 
 true and perfect equality, both in religion and politics, 
 that is every human he ing s right on earth. 
 
 Faith in the upward progress of the human race in 
 spite of creeds and bigotries, is the corner-stone of my 
 religion, and especial faith in the people of the United 
 States of America is my glory and pride. 
 
 So my book is radical upon all subjects, casting off 
 all the old that seems to have worn out and served its 
 purpose, and taking up and advocating all the new 
 that seems good and true. 
 
 I do not expect it is a great poem, I do not expect 
 it will find favor with the rich, highly cultured minds 
 of the East. I have chosen my characters from the 
 common walks of life, and my story is largely a re 
 citation of life s common events. My hero is intended 
 as a fair type of what free institutions develope ; a 
 hard working, intelligent, high minded boy, a dutiful 
 son, a true patriot springing at once to the call of his 
 country, a free thinker, trusting his own God-given 
 judgment to decide all questions for him, a brave, up 
 right and fearless private soldier, an unostentatious 
 officer and a faithful lover. 
 
XV 
 
 To the best of my ability I have endeavored to em 
 bellish my narration with poetical ornament and if I 
 have failed then fail it must be, as I do not know 
 that I can ever produce anything better. At the 
 same time I have avoided obscureness of expression, 
 desiring to have every sentence and figure of speech 
 clearly understood. 
 
 I have committed no intentional plagiarism, and if 
 there is anything in my book very similar to what 
 some one else has written before me, I do not know 
 it now. 
 
 Hoping that my sincerity, at least, will not be 
 doubted, I commit this, my first and undoubtedly my 
 last literary venture to the great ocean of the Am 
 erican Mind. 
 
 MYEON COLONEY. 
 St. Louis, Missouri, October 1865. 
 
PART FIRST. 
 
 THE BEAUTIFUL HOME -TROUBLE -A WIFE S DEVOTION, 
 
 jfjEEP within an arc of locusts, pouring forth their 
 
 4? odors sweet, 
 
 Nestled little Thornton Cottage, white and dustless, 
 
 clean and neat. 
 Troops of woodbines clambered fondly o er the low 
 
 verandah, where 
 .RICHARD THORNTON read his paper, in the spicy 
 
 evening air. 
 Graveled walks and beds of flowers, sweet exotics, 
 
 rich and rare, 
 Backs of fruits and blushing berries formed his 
 
 beautiful parterre. 
 Plots of vines and clustering bushes, round the rear 
 
 fence climbing high, 
 Told of luxuries, whose freshness money sometimes 
 
 fails to buy. 
 
 i 
 
Every threader of the highway paused before that 
 
 quiet cot, 
 Paused in wishful contemplation of that soul-enticing 
 
 spot, 
 Gazed, until their \veary spirits longed to flee the 
 
 outwaici din 
 To the peaceful, sweet valhalla, to the paradise 
 
 within ! 
 RICHARD loved his little cottage, dearly loved its 
 
 quiet rest, 
 
 Gowned and slippered and surrounded by the fledg 
 lings of his nest. 
 HARRY THORNTON was his eldest fifteen summers, 
 
 bright as gold, 
 On his shining scroll of being had their sunny 
 
 names enrolled. 
 
 If a stainless soul from heaven purer than eter 
 nal day 
 Brighter than a diamond cluster, e er was plucked 
 
 and wrapped in clay, 
 Surely it was HARRY THORNTON S looking from 
 
 those earnest eyes, 
 Truthful, loving, ever rising upward to its native 
 
 skies. 
 Next was JESSIE, sunny-headed, sweet and simple 
 
 as her name, 
 Lovely little bud of glory, tinged with blue and 
 
 touched with flame! 
 
Delicate as angel music, floating through a spirit 
 bovver, 
 
 Pensive as the sense of being in the souls most 
 blessed hour! 
 
 Then there was another presence that embodied all 
 his love, 
 
 Brimmed with pleasure all his senses like a bless 
 ing from above ; 
 
 Hither, thither, moving softly, every touch impart 
 ing grace, 
 
 Blended with an air of comfort everywhere about 
 the place, 
 
 Wife and partner of his bosom mother of his 
 little brood, 
 
 Sweet disperser of his sorrows sunshine of each 
 darker mood, 
 
 Sunny-hearted, gentle ESTHER, always quiet, always 
 neat, 
 
 Sure to have his arm-chair ready, gown, and slip 
 pers for his feet, 
 
 Sure to meet him with a welcome shining from her 
 winsome face, 
 
 Sure to twine her white arms round him in a trust 
 ful, fond embrace. 
 
 Oh, a true and gentle woman more than Iris 
 seven-hued span 
 
 Typifies God s love and mercy is his dearest gift 
 to man ! 
 
There was still another presence, bent in form, 
 
 white-haired and thin, 
 Twixt whose ripe and longing spirit, and the 
 
 brighter life within, 
 But a segment of a cycle yet remained, a bar at 
 
 best 
 But a short step to that country, where the weary 
 
 are at rest. 
 ESTHER S father, loved and honored by the household, 
 
 one and all, 
 Spirit-pure, and meekly patient waited but the 
 
 bugle call 
 That should bid him on to glory marshal him in 
 
 grand array 
 With the gathering hosts of planets, bannered by 
 
 eternal day ! 
 Who could wonder then that RICHARD toiling, 
 
 planning all day long, 
 Joyed to see the twilight falling, joyed to hear the 
 
 cricket s song? 
 
 That, then locking care behind him, he, with bound 
 ing heart and feet, 
 To his cottage and his dear ones might go flying 
 
 down the street! 
 To the casual observer RICHARD S was an envied 
 
 lot; 
 But each heart hath secret troubles which the 
 
 stranger knoweth not. 
 
For the world is full of shadows, creeping round 
 
 the sunniest door, 
 And each hearth-stone hath its phantoms, grimly 
 
 wrought upon the floor ! 
 One sad evening RICHARD tarried came not, still, 
 
 the hour was late 
 
 When at length the waiting ESTHER heard his foot 
 steps at the gate. 
 Tenderly she flew to meet him, love all beaming 
 
 in her face, 
 But he startled her with : " ESTHER, we must leave 
 
 this dear old place ! 
 That vile serpent in our Eden that Appollyon in 
 
 our path, 
 Has poured out upon us, darling, all the vials of 
 
 his wrath. 
 He has bought those notes of HARVEY and my 
 
 cottage deed-of-trust ; 
 Times are close, I cannot pay them, so he grinds 
 
 me in the dust! 
 How he chuckled as the sheriff closed my little 
 
 store to-day, 
 Hissing: " You may thank your ESTHER! " as I 
 
 turned to go away. 
 I was leaving more in sorrow than in anger, till 
 
 the sound 
 Of this stinging insult smote me, then I felled him 
 
 to the ground! 
 
6 
 
 Oh, I know that it was shameful thus to yield to 
 
 passion s blast, 
 But I must have struck him, ESTHER, had that 
 
 moment been my last. 
 In the Syracuse House parlor I have held a long 
 
 debate 
 With the BALDWINS and the CHOUSES that is why I 
 
 came so late. 
 They are friends of ours, my darling, and will help 
 
 us to depart, 
 Never dreaming that their kindness is our bitterness 
 
 of heart! 
 Oh, to leave our little cottage, where our lives were 
 
 knit in one, 
 Where those gifts of God, our children, first beheld 
 
 the light of sun, 
 Where so long we ve turned together gilded leaves 
 
 of golden years: 
 Is a bitterness that wrings me, but we have no time 
 
 for tears! 
 
 We are young yet, ESTHER, darling, God will streng 
 then us to go; 
 And withdraw ourselves forever from the venom of 
 
 our foe. 
 In the distant Minnesota, where the skies are ever 
 
 blue, 
 We will seek the quiet border and begin our lives 
 
 anew. 
 
We will settle on the margin of some sweet pellucid 
 
 lake, 
 That shall sing its liquid sonnets to the listening fern 
 
 and hrake, 
 And our house shall be embowered in a grove of 
 
 maple-trees, 
 
 Where the breezes chaunt forever their seolian har 
 monies. 
 Neighbors soon will gather round us and we shall 
 
 not be alone ; 
 Then imploring God to bless us let us hasten and 
 
 be gone. 
 We will pack up all our carpets, your piano, and 
 
 my books, 
 And our furniture to charm us by its old familiar 
 
 looks ; 
 We will spend a day in making all our friends a 
 
 final call, 
 
 And will stop and see Niagara Falls while jour 
 neying to St. Paul ! 
 Will you go with me, my ESTHER, oh what say 
 
 you, loving wife ? 
 Is this too great a sacrifice for him you took for 
 
 life? 
 Oh! I see, your heart is weeping, for the tears 
 
 drop from your eye; 
 There ! We will not think of going, darling ESTHER, 
 
 do not cry ! " 
 
8 
 
 " You mistake my sorrow, RICHARD, oh, most gladly 
 
 will I go ! 
 I will follow you forever, cling to you through weal 
 
 or woe ! 
 Not so much the dread of going as the sundering 
 
 of ties 
 That have bound us to our Eden, brought the tears 
 
 into my eyes; 
 So I answer: Yes, my husband, yes, my darling, 
 
 brave and true, 
 Go where judgment seems to lead you, I will 
 
 surely go with you! 
 
 We will keep from out the shadows, gather sun 
 shine where we may, 
 Hold our golden cup of being up for blessings 
 
 every day! 
 Bear with patient resignation, all the gloomy evil 
 
 days, 
 If our Father sends us any, ever giving Him the 
 
 praise. 
 And our comfort in our children will be lustres to 
 
 us then; 
 They will seem much nearer to our souls than ever 
 
 they have been, 
 They will help us in our toiling, lighten every load 
 
 they can, 
 They will both be cheerful workers, and HARRY S 
 
 most a man, 
 
There, besides, is dear old father, who will go, 
 
 though hard twill be 
 To forsake his buried treasure down beneath the 
 
 willow-tree. 
 So I look with hopeful pleasure to the coming of 
 
 the day 
 That shall find us bravely journeying upon our 
 
 westward way!" 
 
PART SECOND. 
 
 SYRACUSE " BELLE MISSOUEI - THE JOCTENEY-NIA- 
 
 GAEA FALLS CHICAGO STEAMBOAT KIDE ON THE 
 
 FATHEE OF WATEES SCENES IN THE LAND 
 
 OF "LAUGHING WATEE," 
 
 SYRACUSE, of Onondaga! at thy name my spirit 
 
 <1> thrills! 
 
 And thy presence drifts before me, girt by thy ce 
 rulean hills! 
 
 Every avenue and alley, every square and bridge, 
 and street 
 
 In thy dear old corporation is familiar to my feet! 
 
 I have strolled through all thy valleys, counted every 
 singing rill, 
 
 And have watched thy great heart beating, from 
 the crown of Prospect Hill. 
 
 All between thee and Salina, where thy crystal 
 treasures lay,* 
 
 I have wandered through the mazes of those acres 
 many a day; 
 
 * The great fields of salt vats. 
 
11 
 
 Oh, I love to think upon thee, all these weary 
 
 years apart. 
 Syracuse ! I send thee greeting ! darling city of my 
 
 heart ! 
 Call to thee from " Belle Missouri," from her rich 
 
 metallic hills, 
 From her broad luxuriant prairies, from her silver 
 
 threads of rills! 
 
 From her orchards and her vinyards and her " sheep- 
 besprinkled downs," 
 From her rivers and her waterfalls, her cities and 
 
 her towns ! 
 Oh, remember her brave people, who in battle s 
 
 bloody strife 
 Have proved that love of freedom far outweighs 
 
 their love of life ! 
 See their ever glorious ballots, as I hold them to 
 
 the sun 
 
 Every one a deed of valor in the cause of free 
 dom done 
 Oh, remember, how the nation echoed back the 
 
 sturdy blow 
 That- consigned her demon, slavery, to its fitting 
 
 home below ! 
 Oh, remember, too, her ruins blazing homes and 
 
 wasted farms ! 
 And the murders at her firesides and wild midnight 
 
 alarms ! 
 
12 
 
 Oh, those lonely, blackened chimneys shall be mon 
 uments of pride ! 
 Telling every coming stranger: "Here a Union 
 
 household died ! 
 Here for freedom s sake were suffered all the 
 
 woes that flesh can know, 
 Stabs and shots, and flames and curses, from a 
 
 drunken, brutal foe ! 
 Here amid wild desolations some true hearts have 
 
 ceased to live ! 
 Thus for Liberty and Union giving all that man 
 
 can give ! " 
 
 Still, remember r " Belle Missouri " makes no. mur 
 mur of regret; 
 Though all mangled, torn and bleeding she is not 
 
 disheartened yet! 
 Like - a queen she rises proudly, calmly stem amid 
 
 her woes, 
 Binding up her bleeding temples she again confronts 
 
 her foes ! 
 Thank God! her darkness brightens! all rebellion s 
 
 hosts elate, 
 Have been driven in confusion from out her lovely 
 
 State ! 
 And now, in vales where lately fierce bloody deeds 
 
 were done, 
 Houses rise up from their ashes! fences glisten in 
 
 the sun! 
 
13 
 
 Billowy fields of wheat are nodding joyously their 
 
 heads of gold! 
 Scythes are singing in the meadows! plows are 
 
 crunching in the mold ! 
 Then cry: "Hail to Belle Missouri!" Syracuse, my 
 
 early pride, 
 In the seven-times heated furnace has her loyalty 
 
 been tried ! 
 She has exorcised her demons, clothed in reason 
 
 now she stands, 
 Proud and queenly, rich and lovely, State of states, 
 
 and land of lands ! 
 Yes, I love thee, Central City, as did RICHARD on 
 
 that day 
 When, with all his dear ones round him, he was 
 
 swiftly home away 
 Borne forever from the cottage where had passed his 
 
 early days ; 
 Sighing, as familiar places swiftly vanished from his 
 
 gaze. 
 Sighing deeper, as he pondered, why, in this brief 
 
 lease of life, 
 Man against his fellow-mortal should array himself 
 
 in strife ; 
 Why with malice and with vengeance man his 
 
 brother should pursue, 
 When tis better to be gentle, kind and loving, good 
 
 and true. 
 
14 
 
 Face to face with great Niagara BICHARD and his 
 household -stand 
 
 Awed to silence, lost in wonder, almost breathless, 
 hand in hand, 
 
 On the deck of the small steamer, gazing at the 
 giddy crown * 
 
 Of that roaring, fearful deluge, spanned by rain 
 bows, rushing down! 
 
 Spectacle to be remembered mid belittling things 
 of earth ! 
 
 .NVer will grander vision greet us till we know a 
 higher birth ! 
 
 Several days did RICHARD linger, chained to that 
 enchanting spot, 
 
 Brimming all his soul with mem ries never more to 
 be forgot. 
 
 Through the groves of Iris Island daily with his 
 dear ones strolled, 
 
 Dreaming out the grand old legends that the rush 
 ing waters told, 
 
 While the vast primeval cedars, spreading wide their 
 verdant arms, 
 
 Added coolness to the splendor of Niagara s varied 
 charms. 
 
 More contrite and meek in spirit, to his Maker closer 
 drawn 
 
 By the sermon of Niagara, EICHARD journeyed fur 
 ther on ; 
 
Paused a day to view Chicago, whose strange hist ry 
 
 bears the stamp 
 Of the wild tales of Alladdin and his genii haunted 
 
 lamp. 
 Viewed with pride the interchanging, East with West, 
 
 and man with flfen, 
 By the hundred handed railroads and the fleets of 
 
 Michigan ; 
 Viewed the palaces of marble in a long line white 
 
 and new, 
 Catching the first rays of sunshine flung across the 
 
 dancing blue ; 
 Grew bewildered o er discussions of the rise and 
 
 fall of grain, 
 Corner lots, suburban ventures, river frontage, loss 
 
 and gain, 
 And with all the vast importance of Chicago deep 
 
 impressed 
 On the tablets of his spirit, he resumed his journey 
 
 west. 
 Swiftly flying over bridges while the waters flashed 
 
 beneath, 
 Turning bluffs and threading valleys on they rattled 
 
 to Dunleith! 
 Where historic Mississippi, vast and deep and wide 
 
 and bright, 
 In its silvery effulgence bursts in grandeur on the 
 
 sight ! 
 
16 
 
 There was hurry of embarking, anxious fears for 
 
 trunks and freight, 
 Baggage heaped up in confusion, parcels crushed at 
 
 fearful rate, 
 Whistles screaming, bells aringing, runners drumming 
 
 for each boat, 
 Grlad was RICHARD and his darlings when at last 
 
 they got afloat ! 
 All was quiet on the river, brightly shone the stars 
 
 o er head, 
 Puffing, puffing up the current, strongly on the 
 
 steamer sped. 
 Perched on piles of bales and boxes, interchanging 
 
 jests, the hands 
 Calmly wait the hurried labor when the steamer 
 
 " woods" or "lands." 
 " Light the torches ! " " Throw the stage out ! " "Who 
 
 can tell us where we are ? " 
 "Bad- Axe Landing!" "Put that freight out!" 
 
 " Haul the stage in ! " " Lively there ! " 
 On again the steamer pushes, passengers again 
 
 subside, 
 Silence reigns throughout the cabin, all is still along 
 
 the tide. 
 
 With the first blush of the morning RICHARD S family 
 
 were out, 
 To behold historic places they might pass upon the 
 
 route. 
 
IT 
 
 Rafts of lumber, skiffs of Indians, towering bluffs, 
 
 and islands green, 
 Towns and landings, boats and woodpiles were the 
 
 main things to be seen. 
 Soon the sense of vision wearied all the towns 
 
 looked rude and small, 
 Till, upon her rocky terrace, they beheld and hailed 
 
 St. Paul ! 
 Here they purchased teams and wagons, over land 
 
 pursued their way, 
 Pitching tents at early evening, moving on at break 
 
 of day. 
 O er the rushing Minnesota on a ferry they did 
 
 ride, 
 Where the battlements of Snelling loom above the 
 
 river side ! 
 By the side of "Laughing Water" camped the first 
 
 day from St. Paul, 
 Sweetly hushed to gentle slumber by the music of 
 
 its fall. 
 Then they moved across the country lovelier spots 
 
 were never seen, 
 Fairy-lakes and groves of timber, rolling prairies, 
 
 fresh and green. 
 
 Then along Sauk Eiver Yalley, where the Scan 
 dinavian farms, 
 
 Rich with corn and wheat and barley, add a sub 
 stance to the charms ! 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 Where in grand old fire-places merry flames leap 
 
 high and red, 
 When the winter s chilling mantle o er the shivering 
 
 earth is spread ! 
 On they travelled up the valley slowly journeyed 
 
 day by day, 
 Passed Sauk Centre and Kandotta, paper cities, on 
 
 their way. 
 Those were days when speculation s wild and crazy 
 
 tide ran high 
 Fools mapped cities by the thousand, luring other fools 
 
 to buy! 
 But they failed to compass EICHARD, though their 
 
 toils were nicely set; 
 Sternly following up a purpose further on he 
 
 travelled yet. 
 Where the lakes of Douglas County wide their liquid 
 
 silver spread, 
 
 And clean groves of sugar-maples waved their grace 
 ful arms o er head, 
 Where rich undulating prairies, fringed with timber, 
 
 Jong had lain, 
 Pierced by streams and green with meadows, ofTring 
 
 ready fields for grain. 
 Toward this fairy combination, steadily did EICHARD 
 
 tend, 
 Where, at last, in glad fruition, his long journey had 
 
 its end! 
 
PART THIRD. 
 
 MEETING OF MANOMIN AND HAEEY THOKNTON-LOVE 
 AT FIRST SIGHT, 
 
 o er the silvery waters of Lake Ida, clear 
 ^P and strong, 
 
 On a bright autumnal morning came a wild entranc 
 ing song. 
 Twas a song of Indian legend, of a spirit ill at 
 
 rest, 
 Wandering in the land of shadows ever wretched and 
 
 unblest. 
 How the echoes flung the music back in chorus from 
 
 the shore. 
 As the singer beat the measures with the dipping of 
 
 her oar. 
 Swiftly, as a swallow gliding, toward the shore the 
 
 shallop sped, 
 Leaving rearward on the waters flashing lines of 
 
 silver thread ! 
 19 
 
20 
 
 Slender, graceful, was the figure, clad in semi-Indian 
 
 dress, 
 
 And her Gallic, classic features true ideal loveli 
 ness. 
 Bare and beautiful young being in this wild, secluded 
 
 spot, 
 Oh, whence come you ? whither going ? but the echoes 
 
 answer not. 
 HARRY THORNTON, who was standing with his rifle 
 
 in his hand, 
 Gazed in wonder as the maiden lightly sprang out on 
 
 the sand ; 
 Gazed with senses all bewildered as she moored 
 
 her little boat, 
 Then a crowding swarm of queries through his puzzled 
 
 brain did float : 
 "Surely, she was not an Indian? 1 Ah, that sweet 
 
 face answered " no ! " 
 Yet her boat and strange apparel seemed to say : " It 
 
 might be so ! " 
 
 Round her neck she wore a collar from the grebe- 
 duck s glossy skin, 
 And a scarlet woolen jacket kept her heaving bosom 
 
 in; 
 Jacket trimmed with beads, and feathers from the 
 
 great bald eagle s breast, 
 Thickly mingled with the plumage of the raven s 
 
 purple crest. 
 
21 
 
 Soft and white, her slim waist clasping, with its 
 
 pendants hanging low, 
 Was a bead-bound graceful girdle, made from snowy 
 
 cariboo. 
 Seals and charms and curious trinkets, formed from 
 
 elk-horn, polished bright, 
 And carnelians, carved in figures, dangled in the 
 
 morning light. 
 Then her skirt of dark blue broadcloth, dropping 
 
 just below the knee, 
 Fringed with silk around the bottom, was as neat as 
 
 neat could be. 
 Eyes so large and dark and thoughtful, oh, what 
 
 glorious eyes were those 
 Eyelids fringed with silken lashes, long and handsome 
 
 in repose. 
 Oval features, cheeks of velvet, teeth as white as 
 
 purest pearl, 
 .Raven hair, and mouth as lovely as e er graced a 
 
 city girl, 
 Hands and feet! what tiny patterns of what hands 
 
 and feet should be! 
 
 Captivating little Yenus ! goddess of an inland sea, 
 HARRY THORNTON S heart is leaping with a throb 
 
 he 11 ne er forget, 
 Through his soul there flows a longing ! young love s 
 
 tide has fairly set! 
 
22 
 
 " Sir, good morning, " spoke the maiden, frankly giv 
 ing him her hand, 
 " Father lives away up yonder, just behind that point 
 
 of land. 
 All last night we saw your fires and this morn your 
 
 white tents shine, 
 So I came to bid you welcome to this lovely lake 
 
 of mine ! 
 I have christened it Lake Ida, sister s name in mind 
 
 to keep, 
 Who, beneath a balm of G-ilead, sleeps that never 
 
 ending sleep. 
 Father trades with the Ojibways, mother is Ojibway, 
 
 too, 
 And my name, sir, is MANOMIN ; pray, sir, tell me, 
 
 who are you? 
 "I am simply HARRY THORNTON, those are father s 
 
 tents you see ; 
 We have all come here to settle, father, mother, sis, 
 
 and me. 
 As the weary miles we traveled from a far off city 
 
 here, 
 Little did we dream of finding such a sweet young 
 
 neighbor near; 
 And when first I saw you coming, like a fairy from 
 
 the skies, 
 Though my spirit drank your music, yet I could not 
 
 trust my eyes ! " 
 
" Oh, sir, I am not a fairy nothing but a half-breed 
 
 girl 
 And amid the tide of fashion, in a busy city s 
 
 whirl, 
 When the blaze of regal beauty, loveliness refined, 
 
 adorned, 
 Turned its splendors full upon me, ah your fairy 
 
 would be scorned ! 
 Here you see me mid surroundings rude and rough, 
 
 uncouth and wild, 
 Clothed in all the rich profusion a fond father clothes 
 
 his child, 
 And compare me with the Indian maids and matrons 
 
 flitting by 
 There I grant you, there s no fairy more a fairy here 
 
 than I! 
 But before your blazing beauties I should vanish like 
 
 the moon, 
 Who, when full, is bright at midnight, but is lost in 
 
 light at noon ! 
 Don t say nay, sir, what I tell you is the truth, you 
 
 may depend, 
 Here, sir, I am free and happy, only longing for 
 
 a friend, 
 Some congenial, kind companion that my heart might 
 
 twine around, 
 Then I would not leave Lake Ida, e en to be an 
 
 empress crowned ! 
 
24 
 
 How I hoped that little sister would have lived, but 
 
 all in vain ; 
 She was but a ray from Heaven, soon she melted 
 
 back again! 
 So I ve come to see if you, sir, oh, forgive, if I 
 
 offend 
 By my frankness, if, perhaps, sir, you would be 
 
 MANOMIN S friend? 
 You, your father, mother, sister, all shall be dear 
 
 friends of mine 
 Oh, my spirit reaches to you like the tendrils of 
 
 a vine ! " 
 
 "What a flood of blissful feeling rushed through HAR 
 RY S heart and brain! 
 Floods magnetic through his spirit throbbed as pulses 
 
 throb with pain, 
 And he answered : " Yes, MANOMIN, gladly will I be 
 
 your friend, 
 And God grant, that like a circle, this dear pledge 
 
 may have no end ! 
 Call me HARRY, treat me frankly, and how happy 
 
 we shall be; 
 Come, MANOMIN, come to mother, all shall welcome 
 
 you with me I 
 I will show you dear old grandpa, darling little 
 
 JESSIE too, 
 They will join with me, MANOMIN, in this friendship s 
 
 pledge with you I" 
 
"Well, then wait a moment, HARRY, father sends a 
 
 few wild geese, 
 I have also brought some wild rice, as an offering 
 
 of peace. 
 In your tongue my name is "Wild Rice, " and in 
 
 future, when you see 
 Wild rice all along our rivers, it may make you 
 
 think of me." 
 
 " Think of you ? can I forget you ! From this mo 
 ment, I declare, 
 Through my spirit flows a river, wild rice growing 
 
 ever there ! 
 Stop, MANOMIN, let me carry that great pack of 
 
 heavy things 
 Is this queer thing a goose, MANOMIN? bodkin bill 
 
 and speckled wings ? " 
 " Goose ? oh, no, sir ! that is nothing but a singebis, 
 
 or loon, 
 Which I shot while I was fishing at the inlet 
 
 yester noon ! " 
 "What, you shot it?" "Yes, indeed, sir, don t you 
 
 see my rifle here? 
 Many an elk has bowed before it, many and many 
 
 a bear and deer." 
 Then she swung aloft her rifle, angry flashing in 
 
 the sun : 
 "Here it is, sir! ah, you know not half the valiant 
 
 deeds it s done ! 
 
Come, sometime, to father s cabin, you shall see a 
 
 strange sight there, 
 Trees festooned with fowl and venison, strips of elk, 
 
 and steaks of bear ; 
 Loon skins, of resplendent colors, fashioned into capes 
 
 and hoods, 
 Cuffs and collars and fur wrappers, life crop of the 
 
 lakes and woods ! 
 Such the harvest which we gather, wild MANOMIN 
 
 and her gun, 
 But for sport I never hunted, never killed a thing 
 
 for fun; 
 Even wolves slink off in safety which offends my 
 
 father sore, 
 Though I shoot them when they venture round the 
 
 precincts of our door. 
 When I fish, for food I angle, when I hunt, for 
 
 food I kill, 
 
 Often for a starving neighbor which is more praise 
 worthy still. 
 
 Oh. improvident and wretched, steeped in vice, de 
 spair and woe, 
 Are our poor, unhappy Indians but the whites 
 
 have made them so ! 
 Even father, darling father he who loves me more 
 
 than life, 
 Through the greed of traffic daily scatters wide the 
 
 seeds of strife ! 
 
27 
 
 Oft with tears 1 have besought him to leave off his 
 hurtful trade, 
 
 But he has not hearkened to me, ne er will hearken, 
 I m afraid!" 
 
 Thus they chatted, pure and simple, frank of heart, 
 and good and true, 
 
 Naught of envious pride or hatred, naught of selfish 
 ness they knew. 
 
 All the world seemed full of glory, candor, honor, 
 love and truth. 
 
 God ! tis shameful the undreaming all our holy 
 dreams of youth ! 
 
 Presently they reached the campment, where, beneath 
 a grateful shade, 
 
 Tents were pitched and fires build ed and the daily 
 meals were made. 
 
 Here MANOMIN S cordial welcome caused some truant 
 tears to start, 
 
 But she hid them as she gathered little JESSIE to 
 her heart. 
 
 We will leave her for the present, happy in her new 
 found friends, 
 
 Twining JESSIE S sunny tresses round her tapering 
 finger ends. 
 
PART FOURTH. 
 
 THE CHOPPERS THE RAISING- A GOOD SUPPER AND A 
 
 JOLLY TIME -INDIAN SUMMER- INDIANS - 
 
 ESTHER S PEARS, 
 
 JJN the wild and windy forest how the cheerful 
 o^ axes rung ! 
 
 While old Autumn on the choppers golden showers 
 thickly flung ! 
 
 From the wrinkled limbs of lindens, from the spread 
 ing tops of elms, 
 
 From the tall and trembling aspens, piercing into 
 spirit realms, 
 
 From great oaks and balms of Gilead, that for cent 
 uries had stood, 
 
 From the silver plumaged maples, pride .and beauty 
 of the wood, 
 
 From the button-wood and walnut and the ash-tree s 
 lofty crown, 
 
 From the iron-wood and willows swept the glittering 
 treasures down! 
 28 
 
29 
 
 Axes rang and laughter bounded, while majestic 
 over all 
 
 Rose the thunder of the timber, sweeping grandly 
 to its fall! 
 
 All the settlers had assembled, sturdy, brown, broad- 
 handed band, 
 
 With their axes on their shoulders, come to lend a 
 helping hand 
 
 In the rearing of a dwelling for the stranger just 
 arrived, 
 
 Yowing they would never leave him till his family 
 were hived ! 
 
 Chopping down and nicely hewing, smooth and thin, 
 the forest trees, 
 
 Sawing, riving, shaving shingles, all were busier than 
 bees! 
 
 Bossed by Uncle ANDREAS DARLING day by day the 
 dwelling grew 
 
 JSfeath that busy band of workers, while their jokes 
 like arrows flew; 
 
 Trowels scraped and hammers rattled, axes glim 
 mered in the sun; 
 
 Roofed and plastered, floored and windowed, RICH 
 ARD S house at last was done. 
 
 4 Nbw then, boys, * said Uncle DARLING, "many help 
 ers make work light, 
 
 Let us move in all this plunder, then we ll have a 
 jig to-night!" 
 
30 
 
 Chairs and tables, bales and boxes from the wagons 
 
 were unbound, 
 Beds put up and in the mean time two young men 
 
 were sent around 
 To invite the girls, and hire, if they could, old JIM 
 
 McBRIDE, 
 
 Who was a most splendid fiddler and a jolly chap 
 
 beside ! 
 HARRY THORNTON and MANOMIN meanwhile hunted 
 
 far and near, 
 Trolled for trout and bass and pickerel, laid in wait 
 
 for bear and deer, 
 Yisited cranberry-marshes, gathered wild plums and 
 
 wild pears, 
 Bagged fat pigeons by the dozen, caught young 
 
 partridges in snares. 
 Oh, the bliss of those excursions in MANOMIN S light 
 
 canoe ! 
 Oh, the joys that thrilled their spirits as they tramped 
 
 those forests through ! 
 Many a deer escaped their bullets, lost they many a 
 
 finny prize, 
 When, instead of "bobs" and "runways" they but 
 
 watched each other s eyes ! 
 Yet, withal, they were successful, loads of fish they 
 
 daily caught, 
 Piles of game of different species every evening 
 
 home they brought. 
 
II 
 
 To have solved the question fairly might have 
 
 eternized the name 
 Of the most sagacious lawyer, e en of Philadelphian 
 
 fame! 
 
 In a grove of sugar-maples ESTHER spread the re 
 past out. 
 What a sight for Epicurus, if that god had been 
 
 about : 
 Blue-winged teals and royal mallards, fed upon wild 
 
 celery beds, 
 Black ducks, marsh-hens, juicy widgeons, fat and 
 
 savory crimson-heads, 
 Plump wild geese and golden pheasants, prairie 
 
 chickens, young and sweet, 
 Richly dressed and brownly roasted, more than fifty 
 
 men could eat! 
 Broad, black bass and mammoth pickerel, stuffed 
 
 with highly seasoned paste, 
 Pike and trout, "all poured with sauces, cooked to suit 
 
 the daintiest taste, 
 Haunches of the tenderest ven son, juicy sirloins of 
 
 the bear, 
 Steaks of elk and steaming pot-pies filled with 
 
 buttery grouse were there ! 
 Berries stewed to crimson sauces, vegetables of every 
 
 kind, 
 Flakey biscuit, golden butter really, the bewildered 
 
 mind 
 
32 
 
 Shrinks from the enumeration of the many viands 
 
 there, 
 Grows confused and lost in wonder at this princely 
 
 bill of fare ! 
 Praise was lavished on the hunters mid sly twinkles 
 
 of the eye, 
 When MANOMIN, quickly rising, stole in silence, 
 
 blushing, by; 
 HARRY also soon was missing, but the roaring feast 
 
 went on, 
 Dishes rattled, glasses jingled, red with blood of 
 
 demi-john ! 
 Fragrant coffee poured its incense wide upon the 
 
 star-lit air, 
 Savory smells of roasted dishes smote the senses 
 
 everywhere ! 
 Down along the loaded table colored lanterns hung 
 
 in range, 
 Rendering the whole scene bewildering, oriental, 
 
 wild and strange. 
 Surely, Ida s silvery echoes never were thus woke 
 
 before, 
 Never answered back such music gaily ringing round 
 
 her shore ! 
 On the floor the couples gather, wild and free the 
 
 music swells. 
 
 Round and round the brawny hunters twirl the hyper 
 borean belles! 
 
How they danced, and how the music poured its 
 
 volume of sweet sound, 
 How all flew when Uncle JIMMY called out loudly: 
 
 " All hands round ! " 
 Oh, it was a happy party, wild and joyous, full of 
 
 glee, 
 All their hearts were running over, full of fun as 
 
 hearts could be ! 
 Uncle DARLING waltzed and polkaed, danced the 
 
 schottish o er and o er, 
 Ending with the jig of juba hoed down solus on 
 
 the floor ! 
 Then the guests commenced departing and " good 
 
 nights" were kindly said, 
 Though it should have been " good morning," as the 
 
 east was getting red, 
 And, before the echoing laughter of ihe party died 
 
 away, 
 
 Level beams of silvery sunshine registered a new 
 born day! 
 ESTHER, after briefly slumbering, bathed her face, 
 
 and changed her gown, 
 Then, assisted by MANOMIN, went to work to "settle 
 
 down." 
 Little JESSIE and her grand-pa still were sleeping 
 
 over-head 
 In the yet unfinished chamber, on a temporary 
 
 bed. 
 
 3 
 
34 
 
 Long they d watched the noisy frolic with a truly 
 
 childish zest, 
 Age and youth, at last succumbing, wearied out they 
 
 sought their rest. 
 How they slumbered, sweetly slumbered, while the 
 
 sun rose bright and high, 
 
 Pouring floods of glory earthward, through a cloud 
 less autumn-sky. 
 HARRY and his father early scarcely seven by 
 
 the clock, 
 "Went to felling stable-timber for the housing of their 
 
 stock. 
 Ere they went the little table, nice and cosy, had 
 
 been spread, 
 Glorious coffee, breast of chicken, yellow butter, 
 
 snowy bread, 
 Were the items all sat down to HARRY by MANO- 
 
 MIN S side 
 Glowing thoughts were his that morning oh, their 
 
 range was wild and wide ! 
 
 Now, that ESTHER and MANOMIN had the field unto 
 themselves 
 
 How they worked ! They raised the cup-board, scour 
 ed and put up the shelves, 
 
 Washed the floors and cleaned the windows, tacked 
 the front-room carpet down, 
 
Moved in RICHARD S walnut book-case, dusted clean 
 
 from base to crown, 
 
 Hung, on cords before each window, nice white mus 
 lin curtains up, 
 Scoured basins, knives and sauce-pans, washed each 
 
 plate and dish and cup, 
 Made the beds and hung the pictures and the mirror 
 
 on the wall, 
 Nailed some hooks up for the rifles, also some for 
 
 hat or shawl. 
 Out of chaos they brought order, and before the set 
 
 of sun 
 They had finished up their labor all that they could 
 
 do was done. 
 Snugly, in its cumbrous package, left to lie another 
 
 day, 
 Waiting brawnier arms and sinews, mutely the piano 
 
 lay. 
 Evening came, and all were gathered round the fire s 
 
 cheerful light, 
 Once more happy and contented RICHARD S heart 
 
 brimmed with delight. 
 Worn and weary with their labor early all retired 
 
 to bed, 
 JESSIE and MANOMIN going to the little room o er- 
 
 head. 
 Thus auspicious, rich with promise, opened RICHARD S 
 
 new career, 
 
Mid a host of cordial neighbors, on a prospering 
 
 frontier, 
 Blessed with health, and strength, and patience, 
 
 cheerful heart and willing hand, 
 Teams sufficient, and utensils, rich and fruitful vir 
 gin land, 
 Snug and comfortable dwelling, stores enough to last 
 
 a year, 
 Wife and children, books and music, what had 
 
 BICHARD S heart to fear? 
 Different dreams that night were HARRY S: scarlet 
 
 waists and beads and quills, 
 Soft black eyes and thrilling kisses to the brim his 
 
 spirit fills! 
 Weary sleepers, slumber sweetly, we will bid you 
 
 a " good night " 
 Undisturbed pursue your wand rings through the 
 
 dream-land valleys bright. 
 
 the hazy Indian summer, sweetest period of 
 
 the year. 
 All the purple forests echoed with the bounding tread 
 
 of deer! 
 And the rippling, splashing noises of the water-fowl 
 
 at night 
 Filled the spirit of the Indian with the throbbings of 
 
 delight ! 
 
37 
 
 Everywhere the sound of rifles told of busy hunters 
 
 out, 
 Every night the glare of fires told of Indians 
 
 about ! 
 And the timid ESTHER shivered as she saw those 
 
 nightly gleams. 
 While memories of Wyoming ensanguined all her 
 
 dreams ! 
 Twas in vain MANOMIN told her, "the Ojibways 
 
 were all true, 
 That they would never raise their hands against 
 
 the whites, she knew," 
 For a long time she was fearful and would tremble 
 
 every night, 
 Gather JESSIE closely to her if an Indian came 
 
 in sight. 
 But at last she grew accustomed to their presence, 
 
 more and more, 
 Losing all her nervous feelings, when they came 
 
 about her door. 
 
 And soon she had a torrent of Ojibway life to stem, 
 For her piano proved to be great medicine to them, 
 And to every nook and corner of their Eeservation 
 
 flew 
 
 The fame of that strange " singing-box," till every In 
 dian knew, 
 And longed to see it, and they came, both sexes, 
 
 old and young, 
 
38 
 
 And for days MANOMIN kindly explained in their 
 own tongue, 
 
 All about the shining wonder, all about the glistening 
 keys, 
 
 All about the hidden spirit that sobbed out the har 
 monies ! 
 
PART FIFTH. 
 
 WINTER AMUSEMENTS -MANOMIFS QEIEF, 
 
 JNTER whitened o er the country, bitter winds 
 
 howled round the door, 
 Yet MANOMIN came as often down to BICHARD S, 
 
 as before. 
 Oh, the Saxon in her nature daily waged a bitter 
 
 strife 
 With her low and rude surroundings, yearning for 
 
 a higher life. 
 Like the never varying needle, turrn ng always to 
 
 the pole, 
 Ever so to RICHARD S dwelling turned her young 
 
 aspiring soul. 
 How she hungered how she thirsted for the light 
 
 that books can give ! 
 And within the sphere of music seemed another 
 
 life to live! 
 
40 
 
 There was still a deeper passion, in those yearnings 
 
 of the heart, 
 In which love for HARRY THORNTON played no 
 
 secondary part. 
 Many months, in all her Sittings, through the forest, 
 
 o er the tide, 
 Hunting, fishing, pleasure seeking, HARRY had been 
 
 "by her side ; 
 Wise and manly, honest hearted, pure, unselfish, 
 
 good and kind, 
 He was deeply, and forever, in her heart of hearts 
 
 enshrined. 
 Then she loved sweet little JESSIE with a passion 
 
 almost wild, 
 
 While ah, love s just compensation she was wor 
 shipped by the child. 
 See their tresses intermingle, ebony with brightest 
 
 gold, 
 
 While MANOMIN is relating all the wonders mani 
 fold 
 Of the grim and dark old forest and the fern-fields, 
 
 and the brake, 
 And the lost loon s mournful legend, ever crying 
 
 round the lake. 
 Bright with happiness and beauty, prone before the 
 
 hearthstone s flames, 
 Hear her teaching little JESSIE musical Ojibway 
 
 names : 
 
41 
 
 " Nepe, darling, means the water, waugh-bo is the 
 
 term for drink, 
 Muck-o-day-muskik-ah-waugh-bo, ah you laugh, now 
 
 would you think 
 That long name was meant for coffee ? Washkiss is 
 
 the bounding deer, 
 Mushkose, elk pewauglibec, iron oh, you ll learn 
 
 them, never fear. 
 Waughpose, rabbitt bungee, little buckety means 
 
 thin, or poor, 
 Also signifies " I m hungry, " often heard about 
 
 your door. 
 Shema, woman waubun, morning and kiagago 
 
 means " * I ve none. " 
 Waukiagan stands for dwelling boskiasegan is a 
 
 gun. 
 
 NessesJiin means " you are pretty " listening HAR 
 RY here broke in 
 " Let me tell you then, MANOMIN, Bungee shema, 
 
 nesseshin ! " 
 How she blushed, but still continued " Mukwa, 
 
 JESSIE, stands for bear, 
 Oc-kick, bucket, or a kettle popum, a stool, or 
 
 chair. 
 NitcMe, means a friend or fellow nepoo, kill, to die, 
 
 or dead, 
 Do-do-shaboo stands for butter, and bvckwauzMgan 
 
 for bread, 
 
42 
 
 Neca means a goose mondamin singnifies the wav 
 ing corn, 
 
 And chee-no-dm is the zephyr playing on the lake 
 at morn, 
 
 Muck-o-day is rifle-powder weweep, quickly um- 
 ba, go, 
 
 Scoota-waughbo, dreadful whisky, the poor Indian s 
 direst foe. 
 
 Oween-in-de-shyon, nitchie, is to say, " whence come 
 you, friend? " 
 
 Dibbe-mn-ge-gan, a circle, ring, or thing without an 
 end, 
 
 Sha-ki-ess-scoota-wan, JESSIE, seldom drawn so leng 
 thy, means 
 
 Those mysterious things your matches ; musco-tassa- 
 min is beans. 
 
 There, I ll finish, for the present, for your brain 
 has got its fill, 
 
 Let me kiss you, little darling you have kept so 
 nice and still ! " 
 
 Those were happy winter-hours the old fiddler, 
 
 JIM McBRiDE, 
 As a better place for trapping also came there to 
 
 reside. 
 Snugly stored away in crannies of the jolly fellow s 
 
 brain 
 
43 
 
 There were lots of queer old stories of dark forests, 
 
 glen and plain, 
 There were songs and tunes and riddles, there were 
 
 games of every sort, 
 That filled up those hyperborean days with merriment 
 
 and sport. 
 
 Quickly sped the merry winter, soft and warm the 
 
 south winds pour, 
 All at once, with smells of daisies, spring came, 
 
 singing at the door, 
 
 Came with warbling of the robins, came with bud 
 dings of the trees, 
 Every foot-print marked with flowers, incense flung 
 
 on every breeze. 
 Out of all those days of softness, out of all those days 
 
 of bloom, 
 Mid the fresh and virgin greenness, mid the delicate 
 
 perfume, 
 On MANOMIN dawned the morning of a sad and 
 
 bitter day 
 Death had borne her Indian mother to his dusky 
 
 realms away ! 
 Deep and bitter was her sorrow, lowly drooped her 
 
 graceful head, 
 In the wide and silent forest, all alone there with 
 
 her dead ! 
 
44 
 
 For her father was off trafficking two hundred miles, 
 or more, 
 
 At Lake Hassar s lonely trading-post, and evergreen- 
 girt shore. 
 
 Suddenly, and unexpected, was her mother called 
 away, 
 
 Without warning her freed spirit left its tenement 
 of clay ! 
 
 All the day, prostrate with sorrow, how she mourned 
 beside the bed, 
 
 Pouring forth endearing accents to the cold, unheed 
 ing dead ! 
 
 All the day the robins whistled, all the day the blue 
 birds sung, 
 
 All the day with spring-time melodies the forests 
 gaily rung; 
 
 But MANOMIN did not heed them, lifted not her 
 drooping head, 
 
 Never once the silent cabin echoed back her cheerful 
 tread ! 
 
 In the silvery edge of evening the old trapper, JIM 
 
 McBRIDE, 
 
 On his forest-beat returning, to the cabin turned 
 
 aside. 
 And from, him the startled neighborhood MANOMIN S 
 
 sorrow learned 
 And toward her little dwelling scores of feet were 
 
 quickly turned. 
 
45 
 
 Oh, she found no lack of mourners, many a sym 
 pathizing heart 
 Strove to cheer her in her sorrow, or to share with 
 
 her a part. 
 ESTHER wound her arms about her in one long and 
 
 fond embrace, 
 And, then smoothing back her tresses kissed the tears 
 
 from off her face. 
 Old JIM the brown and brawny poked his fist 
 
 into his eye, 
 And, with bright drops on it shining, vowed he knew 
 
 not how to cry. 
 EICHARD THORNTON, kindly taking both her hands 
 
 within his own, 
 Spoke endearing words of comfort in a sympathizing 
 
 tone: 
 " Dear MANOMIN be not fearful, oh take heart," he 
 
 kindly said, 
 " Let your tears flow for the living, they are wasted 
 
 on the dead ! 
 
 Oh, the change from earth s probation to the spirit- 
 life above 
 Is escaping from a darkness to a scene of light and 
 
 love ! 
 Our own home shall be your dwelling-place oh, do 
 
 not look so wild, 
 For, darling, we will be your parents and you shall 
 
 be our child!" 
 
46 
 
 Gently, then, did HARRY lead her out beneath the 
 budding trees, 
 
 That her fevered, throbbing temples might be billowed 
 by the breeze, 
 
 Tenderly upon his bosom, while he drew her aching 
 head, 
 
 From his spirit s inmost chamber soft and tremulous 
 ly said: 
 
 " Darling, let me sun thy sorrow with my spirits plead 
 ing, warm, 
 
 Let me fold thee up forever from the shadow and 
 the storm! 
 
 Oh, I love thee, dear MANOMIN, shall my love be 
 all in vain ? 
 
 Fold it up within thy spirit, as the flowers do the 
 rain! 
 
 Hush ! thy mother does not need thy tears, for she 
 has sweetly flown 
 
 To that summer-land of loving hearts that soon shall 
 be our own. 
 
 Once within that world of glory what a joy will 
 then be ours: 
 
 Throbbing on mid constellations God s eternal gar 
 den-flowers, 
 
 While his blessings, like a nectar, poured from many 
 a golden cup, 
 
 Endless streams of bliss ecstatic, fill our thirsty spirits 
 up ! 
 
47 
 
 Oh, MANOMIN, shed your sadness, for the world is 
 full of song; 
 
 Every shining, circling season brings its melodies 
 along : 
 
 There is music in the spring-time, when the mellow, 
 tender breeze 
 
 Whispers greetings to the grasses in angelic sym 
 phonies ; 
 
 There is music in the summer, in the gently falling 
 rain, 
 
 As it beats its liquid measures softly on the window- 
 pane ; 
 
 There is music in the autumn, in the leaves that float 
 about, 
 
 Sadly sighing, gently breathing their existence sweet 
 ly out ; 
 
 There is music in the winter, in the softly falling 
 snow, 
 
 Gentle, unobtrusive music, so delicious and so low. 
 
 Life, itself, is made of music: sweetest strains our 
 spirits give ; 
 
 Let us thank the God who made us, dear MANOMIN, 
 that we live ! " 
 
PART SIXTH. 
 
 SABBATH ON THE FRONTIER -HAERY S PHILOSOPHY AND 
 NOBLE SENTIMENTS -GAFFER, OF THE HOLLOW, 
 
 the vines and clinging parasites and tops 
 
 of all the trees 
 Glorious, regal, queenly summer flung her banners 
 
 to the breeze ! 
 And the clustering convolvuli robed the bald old cliffs 
 
 in blue 
 And snowy white and pink and red, while beads of 
 
 glistening dew 
 Sweet tears upon the morning s face hung flashing 
 
 in the sun 
 
 As royally he mounted up, his daily race to run. 
 On Lake Ida s sun-lit surface, like white clouds 
 
 upon the dawn, 
 Calmly, somnolently swinging, here and there were 
 
 flocks of swan, 
 48 
 
49 
 
 While upon the strands of timber edging round those 
 
 prairie-seas 
 Beat in rippling waves, an incense, odorating every 
 
 breeze. 
 1 Twas a pensive Sabbath morning, every energy re- 
 
 prest 
 Nature joined in consecrating the Creator s hour of 
 
 rest. 
 For it seemed as if the noiseless wave, hushed bird, 
 
 and softened ray, 
 Were expressive adumbrations of the humble, quiet 
 
 way 
 She would have us toiling mortals, in a tranquil spirit, 
 
 seek 
 To keep thee shining child of God thou first day 
 
 of the week! 
 HARRY THORNTON, on a mossy bank, down by a 
 
 purling brook, 
 That sweetly stole from out the lake, was deep buried 
 
 in a book. 
 And MANOMIN, sweetly, silently, sat close beside him 
 
 there, 
 Diademing with wild roses little JESSIE S golden 
 
 hair. 
 For a time with what avidity his hungry spirit 
 
 fed 
 On those burning words eternal, then presently he 
 
 said: 
 
 4 
 
50 
 
 "Oh, MANOMIN, I ve been reading of the life that 
 
 is to be, 
 Of a white-robed, glorious morning, soon to dawn on 
 
 you and me, 
 Soon, I say, because probation, long, to some, although 
 
 it seem, 
 
 When compared to life eternal is a transitory gleam ! 
 And I feel, whene er I ponder on the brilliant things 
 
 in store 
 For each one of us poor mortals, on that ever vernal 
 
 shore, 
 I could bear all earth s afflictions, go through life all 
 
 blind and lorn, 
 Daily groping to God s altar, there to thank Him I 
 
 was born ! 
 But our minds, although immortal, are contracted 
 
 finite things: 
 As the sun o erpowers vision with the splendor that 
 
 it flings 
 So we sink in contemplation of the wondrous works 
 
 we trace 
 To the Hand that sowed with planets all the azure 
 
 fields of space ! 
 
 Sad, indeed, I feel, MANOMIN, as I frequently re 
 flect, 
 On the mournful, dark condition of the masses, who 
 
 neglect 
 
51 
 
 To encourage the unfolding of those principles, that 
 shine 
 
 So bright in this material life and in the life di 
 vine ! 
 
 Oh, those reachings of the spirit after wisdom, truth, 
 and love, 
 
 After that broad fellowship that binds the angel hearts 
 above, 
 
 After knowledge of eternal space and deep and hid 
 den things, 
 
 After primates and first causes amid Nature s mystic 
 springs, 
 
 Never, never should be smothered by the weight of 
 selfish cares, 
 
 Never, never should be strangled by the growth of 
 worldly tares. 
 
 Doubtless many a thrifty farmer yearly tills his fruit 
 ful land, 
 
 Never wondering how the harvest springs so ready to 
 his hand ; 
 
 Never wondering how or why it is when he has 
 sown so spare, 
 
 Such a bountiful abundance for his sickle should be 
 there ! 
 
 With no longings of the spirit for immortal things 
 divine, 
 
 With no thoughts above his bullocks, with no cares 
 above his swine, 
 
52 
 
 Darkly plodding on his journey till he sinks beneath 
 
 his years, 
 To be born a puling infant, in the glorious inner 
 
 spheres ! 
 
 Oh, I recognize the duties and realities of life, 
 Realize its heavy burdens, know the sharpness of its 
 
 strife, 
 Still, amid its toil and trouble, mid its anxious care 
 
 and pain, 
 I would garner up a treasure that should be eternal 
 
 gain! 
 Not of gold, and not of silver, houses, lands, or 
 
 costly gems, 
 But of love, and light, and knowledge, Heaven s 
 
 radiant diadems! 
 Years of enervating study, weary miles of travel, 
 
 sore, 
 Will not serve as open sesames to Nature s hidden 
 
 door. 
 Tis a door that swingeth lightly, without chain, or 
 
 bar, or lock, 
 Tis a door that opens freely to the humblest, if 
 
 they knock! 
 While the manly dew of labor gathers thick upon 
 
 my brow, 
 As I fell the heavy forest-trees, or tramp behind 
 
 the plow, 
 
58 
 
 Every chip, or leaf, or flower, every shrub, or bush, 
 
 or tree, 
 Every sod 1 turn or blade of grass speaks lovingly 
 
 to me! 
 In the self same earth embedded, nourished by the 
 
 self same rain, 
 Side by side the elm and maple, side by side the chess 
 
 and grain, 
 Side by side a thousand natures, widely varying, 
 
 daily grow, 
 Some maturing very quickly, some unfolding very 
 
 slow, 
 Never mingling in confusion, but from earth and 
 
 air and sun 
 How precisely the right principles are gathered to 
 
 each one ! 
 Thus I daily learn the lessons taught by flower and 
 
 tree and sod, 
 While my glory-laden spirit beats in harmony with 
 
 God! 
 Bows before the great Omnicient, Omnipresent, All 
 
 in All, 
 In the ocean of whose bosom worlds unnumbered 
 
 rise and fall! 
 
 Out of whose magnetic spirit every tree -leaf is un 
 rolled, 
 By whose love the eves of heaven are all fillagreed 
 
 with gold! 
 
54 
 
 By whose power the sap beats steady through the 
 veins of every tree, 
 
 By whose will the winds are driven over forest, plain, 
 and sea; 
 
 By whose sufferance the lightnings draw their gleam 
 ing sabers out. 
 
 By whose guidance every comet keeps its strange 
 erratic route ! 
 
 Not the smallest microscopic animalculum that lives 
 
 Ever moves without the power that the great All- 
 father gives! 
 
 From His lovely life the flowers catch their thousand- 
 tinted hues! 
 
 From His bosom to the grasses flow the sweet, re 
 freshing dews ! 
 
 Every dream of immortality with which our minds 
 are rife, 
 
 Every law that guides our dear ones in the higher, 
 inner life, 
 
 All things in space that go to make the Grand 
 Eternal Whole 
 
 Assure me that each living thing lives in the Fa 
 ther s Soul! 
 
 We are richly blessed, MANOMIN, waked to being 
 neath a sun 
 
 Where the blessed boon of freedom is conferred on 
 every one! 
 
03 
 
 Every one ! oh, God forgive me, I forgot the menial 
 
 black, 
 With his groans and tears and manacles, and gashes 
 
 on his hack! 
 I forgot the sobbing children, clinging to their father s 
 
 knees, 
 As at sight of the slave-trader all their young life s 
 
 currents freeze, 
 I forgot the frantic mother, shrieking like a maniac 
 
 wild, 
 As from out her bosom, ruthlessly, was torn her infant 
 
 child ! 
 Oh, I pity them, MANOMIN, but the time shall surely 
 
 be 
 When God s bare arm from Heaven shall reach down 
 
 and set them free ! 
 What if through our fields deserted, crimsoned wide 
 
 by war s red wave, 
 Over smoking homes just Heaven makes a pathway 
 
 for the slave ! 
 
 What if grief and death and terror, famine, pesti 
 lence and woe, 
 Through our land with desolations, pave a way for 
 
 them to go ! 
 
 What if you and I, MANOMIN, in that fearful reck 
 oning time, 
 Gome to grief with other thousands innocent of this 
 
 foul crime ? 
 
56 
 
 Could we blame our common Father, at whose feet 
 
 the groans and tears 
 Of this race have begged deliverance for a hundred 
 
 weary years? 
 Are they not as much his children as the whitest race 
 
 of men? 
 And from chains and lusts and beatings shall he not 
 
 release them then ? 
 Oh, MANOMIN, our republic must yet lay aside this 
 
 sin! 
 She must rise and cast it from her as an adder casts 
 
 its skin! 
 Then redeemed ! regenerated ! founded on true free- 
 
 dorn^s rock ! 
 She may face all allied powers, never trembling at 
 
 the shock ! 
 And as luminous as God s great seal, set on the deed 
 
 of day, 
 Down the shining path of ages she may grandly 
 
 keep her way! 
 A Freedom s star of Bethlehem ! a bright beacon, 
 
 blazing clear! 
 Telling all the shipwrecked of the earth, " sweet 
 
 freedom s port is here ! r " 
 Yes, I say again, MANOMIN, we are blessed beyond 
 
 our ken, 
 That our day is made so glorious by the deeds of 
 
 glorious men ! 
 
57 
 
 Glorious in their Christian virtues, brightest jewels 
 of a state! 
 
 Glorious in their academia, which the world may 
 imitate, 
 
 Glorious in their clanging presses, scattering wisdom 
 far and wide, 
 
 Dropping papers, books and pamphlets at the far 
 thest fireside ! 
 
 Glorious in their independence and their simple 
 polity, 
 
 Glorious in their pride of labor, and their gentle 
 comity, 
 
 Glorious in their friendly feelings, holding out in 
 viting hands 
 
 To oppression s struggling victims in the trans- Atlan 
 tic lands ! 
 
 Oh, my beating heart is swelling with a wild, immor 
 tal joy! 
 
 And I bless my God, MANOMIN, that I am a Yankee- 
 boy ! 
 
 "Yes, but HARRY, oh, how little know I of those 
 glorious things, 
 
 I am daughter of the forest where dark shadows 
 spread their wings ! 
 
 True, the kind Great Spirit gave me a white father, 
 fond and good, 
 
 Then yourself, to shine upon me like a sun-beam 
 through the wood! 
 
58 
 
 But my proud, ambitious spirit, struggling in this 
 
 hybride clay, 
 Yainly plucks at clouds that gather and obscure its 
 
 perfect day ! 
 
 Though I Ve always yearned for wisdom litttle pro 
 gress still I made, 
 Till you came, for darling father thinks of nothing 
 
 but his trade ! 
 He would not have taught me, HARRY, of the glory 
 
 of the spheres, 
 Where no bended form or wrinkles mark the wear 
 
 and tear of years ! 
 Nor have told me of the millions millions upon 
 
 millions more 
 Bright, seraphic, happy beings, living on that shining 
 
 shore ! 
 You have made my heart a garden, where against 
 
 love s arches shine 
 
 Hopes immortal, burst in blossom, fanned by atmo 
 spheres divine ! 
 Oh, the future shines before us, all the countless 
 
 coming years, 
 With a grandeur of God s smiling that so overflows 
 
 the spheres! 
 Where, among celestial gardens, crowns of flowers 
 
 ever bloom 
 For the brows of new immortals daily issuing from 
 
 the tomb! 
 
59 
 
 Often has my spirit wandered, in my wild ecstatic 
 
 dreams, 
 Through that land of regnant summer, by the clear, 
 
 immortal streams, 
 Where the roses bloom forever and forever, loved 
 
 and blest, 
 Even poor, misguided Indians find an everlasting 
 
 rest!" 
 Here a sigh escaping near her made MANOMIN turn 
 
 her head, 
 " Why ! good GAFFER ! how you frightened me ! " she 
 
 tremulously said. 
 " Fear not, daughter, peace be with you, for I bring 
 
 you words of love; 
 You are bidden to my cabin by the shining ones 
 
 above. 
 With you, too, my youthful brother, there be those 
 
 that fain would speak, 
 Come with her and learn together what your eager 
 
 spirits seek ! 
 Come this evening, come to-morrow, or on any other 
 
 day; 
 I am GAFFER of the Hollow, and MANOMIN knows 
 
 the way ! " 
 Saying which he wrapped his blanket closer round 
 
 his slender frame 
 And departed through the undergrowth as strangely 
 
 as he came. 
 
PART SEVENTH. 
 
 SEANCE IN THE FOEEST-THE SPIEIT MESSAGE, 
 
 JaoET and mellow fell the moonlight slanting bars 
 
 <& of silver-sheen 
 
 Flecked the forest with a brightness, piercing through 
 the roof of green. 
 
 Deep, profoundest calm was reigning slumber- 
 locked seemed every breeze, 
 
 Loons were wailing in the marshes, glow-worms flam 
 ing mong the trees! 
 
 Like a lake of molten silver Ida lay beneath the 
 light, 
 
 Flashing back the mirrored graces of bewitching sweet 
 young Night ! 
 
 In a graceful semi-circle swept the beach of glittering 
 sand, 
 
 Where MANOMIN S skiff was lying, drawn half-way 
 upon the strand. 
 60 
 
61 
 
 What an atmosphere for lovers, everything conspired 
 
 to charm ; 
 Even forest-shadows wandered two by two and arm 
 
 in arm ! 
 Slowly HARRY and MANOMIN moved along toward 
 
 the beach, 
 Tender, low, and deeply earnest, fell the music of 
 
 their speech. 
 They were talking of the future and comparing hopes 
 
 and fears, 
 Interchanging vows and pledges, laying plans for 
 
 coming years. 
 Castle building! sweet withdrawal from real life s 
 
 bewildering din ! 
 Though of millions who build castles few there be 
 
 that enter in ! 
 At the beach our lovers halted to decide which way 
 
 to take, 
 They were setting out for GAFFER S should they 
 
 go by shore or lake? 
 "Let us take the skiff, MANOMIN, I can row you 
 
 there, you know, 
 You will get so tired, darling, if the forest-path we 
 
 go- 
 Mother says that you have labored hard and faith 
 fully all day, 
 
 So I think that we had better take the easiest, 
 shortest way." 
 
02 
 
 " Oh, no, HARRY, twould be cruel ! all day long 
 
 youVe held the plow, 
 And your arms, though strong and willing, must be 
 
 weary even now; 
 Though I know, tis very pleasant in the skiff with 
 
 you to ride, 
 Still, I think it will be nicer arm in arm and side 
 
 by side, 
 Through this flood of lunar glory, tinted by the forests 
 
 green, 
 For us both to walk, my HARRY, and enjoy this 
 
 glorious scene."" 
 " Well, my darling, I am willing, even so then let 
 
 it be; 
 Oh, to feel you ever near me is sufficient joy for 
 
 me." 
 
 So they journeyed on together, underneath the em 
 erald boughs, 
 Living only in each other, breathing love, exchanging 
 
 vows. 
 
 There were few in all that country trader, trapper, 
 
 warrior bold, 
 Child or woman, white or Indian who with truth, 
 
 might not have told 
 Strangest stories of this GAFFER, things experienced 
 
 or heard 
 
Still twas rare to hear him mentioned, strangers 
 
 never heard a word 
 Of the supernatural doings, day and night and night 
 
 and day 
 ; At his cabin, in the hollow, wrought by spirits passed 
 
 away. 
 Twas a- subject all avoided, none could read the riddle 
 
 through 
 To your questions they would answer : " I don t know, 
 
 no more than you! 
 All I know, is, I have seen them, felt their hands, 
 
 and heard them play 
 On the banjo, horn and fiddle, heard them come and 
 
 go away! 
 Where they went to where they came from who 
 
 they are I cannot tell, 
 There s the way to GAFFER S cabin, try the thing 
 
 yourself a spell!" 
 
 Perfect in its isolation GAFFER S cabin darkly stood, 
 Girdled round by quaking aspens, in a hollow of the 
 
 wood. 
 Grape-vines wove a woof above it, turning every ray 
 
 of light, 
 Not a moon-beam crossed the threshold even on the 
 
 brightest night. 
 The interior of the cabin was most primitive and 
 
 rough, 
 
 
64 
 
 That no juggler s art was practised here was evident 
 
 enough. 
 One large square room of hewn oak logs with no floor 
 
 except the earth, 
 A heavy table, fire-place, a single "bunk," or 
 
 "berth," 
 
 An air-pump and a curious, rude electrical machine, 
 With some crucibles and blow-pipe in one corner 
 
 might be seen, 
 Three shelves of books, a violin, and banjo gainst 
 
 the wall, 
 
 A rifle and a microscope, a horn, and that was all, 
 Excepting some three-legged stools, and antlers of a 
 
 deer, 
 All other "helps" of jugglers were clearly wanting 
 
 here. 
 GAFFER, HARRY and MANOMIN, round the table 
 
 joined their hands. 
 Poor MANOMIN S heart went thumping up against her 
 
 bodice-bands ; 
 Frightened, though she knew not wherefore, daring 
 
 not to speak a word, 
 How the cold chills rippled o er her when some little 
 
 raps were heard! 
 Falling first so soft and gently, now they ceased, then 
 
 came again, 
 Thicker, faster, how they rattled, like the pattering 
 
 feet of rain! 
 
Then a strong and heavy knocking, like a war-club s 
 
 sonorous sound, 
 Bang three times upon the table, then .smote dully on 
 
 the ground ! 
 Instantly the darkness vanished, fled before a brilliant 
 
 gleatn 
 Of a phosphorescent brightness, making poor MANO- 
 
 MIN scream. 
 " Peace, my child, no danger threatens, oh, fear not," 
 
 a soft voice said ; 
 
 Then a white hand formed above her and descend 
 ing, stroked her head ! 
 In a moment more it melted through the room then 
 
 moved a breeze, 
 Quickly followed by a moaning, like the moaning 
 
 sound of seas ; 
 On the banjo now an air was played upon a single 
 
 string, 
 While a chorus of sweet voices sang as only angels 
 
 sing ! 
 Then the yellow gleam grew brighter, rose, and 
 
 spread, and grew more bright, 
 Till no space was left for shadows all the cabin 
 
 glowed with light ! 
 From the midst of which, a presence, bright and 
 
 beautiful and mild, 
 Gazed in love upon MANOMIN oh, the mother 
 
 sought her child ! 
 
 I 
 
Sought her child what mother would not? Rest 
 
 assured, the law of love 
 Is the gravitation bringing all our dear ones from 
 
 above ! 
 If the ether-ushered spirit s free to go where er it 
 
 choose 
 Then to linger round its loved ones, what fond parent 
 
 could refuse 1 
 ** Oh, MANOMIN, fear no evil," spoke the presence 
 
 sweet and low, 
 " Love, instead, and peace and knowledge bring we 
 
 to our friends below ! 
 I can scarcely find expression for the things I wish 
 
 to say, 
 Oh, so different lives the spirit, freed from its dark 
 
 bonds of clay ! 
 We are like to persons calling unto one down in 
 
 a well:. 
 Of the glories of the heavens and the landscapes 
 
 we would tell, 
 "With the majesty of ocean, as its billows grandly 
 
 roll, 
 
 And sublimity of mountains we would fill his dark 
 ened soul. 
 We would tell him of the valleys and the far off 
 
 peopled stars, 
 Of cascades and brooks and rivers and the rainbow s 
 
 sun-dyed bars! 
 
67 
 
 Of the forests and the prairies and the fields of 
 
 waving grain, 
 Of the grasses, birds and flowers, of the falling dew 
 
 and rain; 
 But he shuts his ears against us, saying: "Cease 
 
 this talk to me, 
 I have eyes and will and reason, but these things 
 
 I cannot see ! 
 Long and hollo\v is the landscape, circumscribed your 
 
 spreading sky, 
 And I have no faith in mountains, nor in rainbows, 
 
 no, not I! 
 I know all about the ocean, but its billows do not 
 
 roll, 
 Birds and flowers are children s stories, they exist 
 
 not in my soul ! 
 Rocks and mosses are around me, overhead I see 
 
 the sky ; 
 Oh, your humbugs don t confound me, by my truths 
 
 I ll live and die! " 
 Pitying him, we slowly lower down a rope and draw 
 
 him out, 
 Speech could not depict his feelings as his eyes sweep 
 
 round about, 
 " Oh, the beauty, oh, the glory ! to my vision here 
 
 unrolled 
 God forgive my doubts when truly not a millionth 
 
 part was told ! " 
 
68 
 
 So it is with you, my daughter: you may doubt the 
 
 truths we tell, 
 For your spirit, too, is groping in the bottom of a well! 
 
 So was mine oh, darkly groping till, at length, 
 
 you know that night 
 A magnetic cord was lowered, 1 was drawn up 
 
 in the light ! 
 And such light ! oh, darling daughter, mind of man 
 
 cannot conceive; 
 Every shrub and weed is radiant past your powers 
 
 to believe ! 
 While we move among the forests all their essences 
 
 we see, 
 And the wonderful processes by which nature builds 
 
 each tree ! 
 Note the sugar seek the maple, see the resin seek 
 
 the pine, 
 "Watch the primates as they gather to the tree, the 
 
 stalk or vine! 
 Mountain mosses, rocks and pebbles, stalk and grass, 
 
 and ilower and weed, 
 Ores and salts, as well as diamonds, insects, fruits, 
 
 and roots and seed, 
 Houses, furniture and volumes, birds and animals, 
 
 and man, 
 All are given different lustres in the great creative 
 
 plan! 
 All the treasures of the ocean easily we can explore, 
 
69 
 
 See its pearls and diamonds glitter oh its ribbed and 
 
 rocky floor! 
 Down its wide and watery valleys note the endless 
 
 saurian swarms, 
 
 See the sea-plants widely reaching forth their hydro 
 genous arms! 
 Every pulse within your body, every thought your 
 
 rnind unfolds 
 
 Is as patent to our vision as the water ocean holds! 
 We know nothing here of darkness, shadows dwell 
 
 not where we are, 
 Space is one vast blaze of beauty, hither, thither, 
 
 near or far ! 
 Bound among ihe constellations we may freely flash 
 
 along, 
 Swelling the eternal chorus Father God s harmonial 
 
 song 1 
 By our widened, deepened vision, by our brighter, 
 
 higher birth, 
 We would pray you let your longings rise above the 
 
 things of earth! 
 
 Man is an eternal spirit, fruit of a creative love 
 Broader, deeper, far more boundless than your firm 
 ament above ! 
 Not to strive for place and power, not to hunger 
 
 for renown, 
 to buy and sell a brother, not to tread each 
 
 other down, 
 
70 
 
 Not to heap up idle riches, not to grasp, with greedy 
 
 hands, 
 Bonds and deeds and obligations, broad domains of 
 
 idle lands, 
 Not to laden his bright spirit down with things of 
 
 little worth, 
 But to love, to live and let live, was man sent upon 
 
 the earth! 
 Endless circles of progression, starting at the earth, 
 
 flow on, 
 
 In which mill of life the spirit ever is refined upon! 
 Every trial, every hardship when God s plan is 
 
 understood, 
 Will be seen to be an agent for the working out 
 
 of good ! 
 Some experiences await you, and your mate there, 
 
 by your side, 
 Which, though pregnant with sad heartaches, cannot 
 
 well be turned aside ! 
 As the forest-tree is strenghtened by the rude and 
 
 ruthless blast, 
 So your spirits shall be stronger when your coming 
 
 woes are past! 
 I shall hover ever near you, whispering hope when 
 
 hope is low, 
 Good night, children, duties call me, all my blessings 
 
 I bestow!" 
 
PART EIGHTH. 
 
 MORE OF HAEEY S PHILOSOPHY -EICEAKD S ENEMY. 
 
 s forest stood in beauty on that calm, mid- 
 ^r summer night, 
 
 Emerald foliage bathed in glorious, golden seas of 
 
 lunar light, 
 Air as soft as breath of roses, nature s voices whisper* 
 
 ing low, 
 O er the silvery water s surface shadows flitted to 
 
 and fro ! 
 HARRY THORNTON and MANOMIN, in the moon-light, 
 
 side by side, 
 Sat together, with their bare feet glistening in the 
 
 cooling tide! 
 Innocent and pure in spirit, happy, guileless, loving 
 
 pair ! 
 E en misanthrope might have loved them as they sat 
 
 together there! 
 71 
 
72 
 
 All the day along the furrow, with hot feet and 
 
 dripping- brow, 
 Patiently had HARRY THORNTON toiled behind the 
 
 breaking plow ! 
 And MANOMIN, ever present, back and forth, from 
 
 morn till night, 
 "Walking with him, talking with him, made his weary 
 
 task seem light ! 
 Little sunny-headed JESSIE, too, was with them all 
 
 the day; 
 Sometimes with sweet-williams making the near ox^s 
 
 head look gay, 
 Sometimes slumbering in the shadow of a jack-oak, 
 
 thick and low, 
 Sometimes butterflies pursuing, as they flitted to and 
 
 fro, 
 Sometimes like a sunbeam darting neath the trees, 
 
 whene er she heard 
 The vivacious squirrel barking, or the whistle of a 
 
 bird; 
 Sometimes in the furrow stalking with droll mimicry 
 
 of tread, 
 Till MANOMIN caught and kissed her darling little 
 
 sunny-head ! 
 As I said, the weary labor of the sultry day was 
 
 done, 
 In the west there still was lingering some bright 
 
 foot-prints of the sun* 
 
73 
 
 While the moon came circling queenly o er a roof 
 
 of forest green, 
 Eobing HARRY and MANOMIN in a costly silver 
 
 sheen 1 
 " How the wish is rising, HARRY, that I might be 
 
 rich and fair, 
 Learned and graceful as the ladies in those far off 
 
 cities are ! 
 Then I d buy a little cottage on some quiet river s 
 
 shore 
 Where we all would dwell together, you should never 
 
 labor more ! 
 Do you know that every Indian looks with most 
 
 supreme disdain 
 On the toiling, sweating paleface, slaving mong his 
 
 roots and grain? " 
 "Yes, MANOMIN, well I know it tis the curse of 
 
 that dark race, 
 For the rosary God blesses is the beads on labor s 
 
 face ! 
 Not to labor is to perish, rust and mold, stagnate 
 
 and die ! 
 Tis to be the only idle thing of God s beneath the 
 
 sky! 
 Oh MANOMIN, all is labor through the universe of 
 
 God, 
 From the swinging of a planet to tiie breathing of 
 
 a sod ! 
 
74 
 
 How the restless sea is toiling, and the stars are 
 
 beating loud, 
 
 And across the waste of heaven flies a lone, un 
 quiet cloud. 
 Toiling seasons sweep along the earth, winds shake 
 
 the slumbrous flowers, 
 Bright lightnings fly and rains come down in frantic, 
 
 sobbing showers! 
 The burning sun swift speeds along the western track 
 
 of heaven, 
 Pursuing night comes flying up the eastern one 
 
 at even! 
 Thus Nature s daily toil goes on forever round the 
 
 world, 
 No rest for earth, no quiet cove where she with 
 
 sails all furled 
 Might sweetly swing so tranquilly upon the heaving 
 
 breast 
 Of God s eternal, endless deep, like a sleeping swan 
 
 at rest! 
 Oh, the yearly builded structures of the birds in every 
 
 tree, 
 And the ant s industrial lessons are God s sermons 
 
 unto me ! 
 Labor, labor is their burden, toil from dewy morn 
 
 till night, 
 If you would be blessed and happy, if you would be 
 
 strong and bright, 
 
75 
 
 Labor, labor without ceasing, idleness begetteth crime, 
 Laboring nations are the grandest, in whatever age 
 
 or clime! 
 Year on year the ancient adage proves itself to be 
 
 most true : 
 Satan surely will find mischief for each idle hand 
 
 to do! 
 But, MANOMIN, see how nearly the round moon hangs 
 
 over head, 
 "Pis the noon of night, my darling, we must hasten 
 
 off to bed ! 
 For the cool, refreshing, dewy lips of early morning s 
 
 light 
 Ought to kiss us in the furrow, so, sweet moon and 
 
 stars, good night ! " 
 
 EICHARD THORNTON S life was flowing peaceful as 
 
 a sunny dream 
 Wandering through the vales of slumber, like a broad 
 
 and quiet stream. 
 Health and peace and bounteous plenty, merry hearts 
 
 and sunny looks, 
 Toil, all silver-edged with music, precious hours with 
 
 his books, 
 Were the blessings that had settled sweetly down 
 
 within his breast, 
 Filling all his thankful being up with fullest sense 
 
 of rest! 
 
76 
 
 But how oft from unseen nimbi bursts an unexpected 
 
 storm, 
 
 So defiantly ignoring the fair promises of morn ! 
 One calm evening, while the sunset tinged with gold 
 
 the growing 1 grain, 
 
 Slowly o er the rolling prairie came a solitary wain. 
 Drawn by bony, brindle oxen, poor and dismal look 
 ing things, 
 And the wagon cover painted blacker than Appolyon s 
 
 wings ! 
 
 Clad in heavy, grimy ducking, armed with sharp re 
 lentless goad, 
 Fierce, repelling, hairy creature seemed the owner 
 
 of the load. 
 Not a note of childhood s laughter, not a gleam of 
 
 woman s smile, 
 JS"ot a flutter of a ribbon once relieved that dismal 
 
 pile! 
 Silent, gloomy heap of blackness, hail ye from some 
 
 demon s lair ? 
 One would almost, neath the wagon, look to find 
 
 cerberus there ! 
 It was mail-day and the settlers, gathered in an idle 
 
 throng, 
 Gazed intently on the stranger corning leisurely 
 
 along. 
 Rough and various the conjectures as to whom the 
 
 man might be 
 
77 
 
 As he slowly came still nearer, like some great, dark 
 destiny. 
 
 But they met him with a cordial grasp of hand and 
 beam of eye, 
 
 Asked the news and if the crossings of the Sauk 
 were getting dry? 
 
 How he liked the corduroying in the woods, which 
 they had done ? 
 
 Would he take a claim among them or still further 
 travel on ? 
 
 At that moment, RICHARD THORNTON, having just re 
 ceived his mail, 
 
 Stepped up briskly to the talkers, but his cheeks 
 turned deadly pale 
 
 As he cast upon the stranger one quick look of wild 
 alarm, 
 
 And prepared to hasten homeward, when a hand com 
 pressed his arm. 
 
 Quickly turning with a frightful, ashen pallor on 
 his cheek, 
 
 Pulseless, tongue-tied for a moment he could scarce 
 ly move ov speak. 
 
 But twas Uncle ANDREAS DARLING S calm and pleas 
 ant eyes he met, 
 
 And a smile of reassurance gleamed among the drops 
 of sweat 
 
 That in his great apprehension had bedewed his 
 ruddy face 
 
78 
 
 " Hold on, THORNTON ! where in blazes are you rush 
 ing at that pace ? " 
 
 " Ha ! good evening Uncle DARLING ! " quickly giv 
 ing him his hand, 
 " What s the news among the settlers ? Have they 
 
 found old TOM LE GRAND?" 
 " No, poor fellow, he s a goner ginseng s been the 
 
 death of him 
 Five days lost starved dead by this time how 
 
 comes on old Uncle JIM ? " 
 " Brisk as ever full of music he s a rare old 
 
 bit of clay 
 He and HARRY and MANOMIN went out hunting 
 
 yesterday ; 
 Away round the head of Carlos where that runaway 
 
 is, you know: 
 JIM and HARRY killed a bruin and MANOMIN shot 
 
 a doe ; 
 So we Ve got a world of cutlets, steaks and roasts, 
 
 and fries and stews; 
 Come on over, Uncle DARLING, smoke your pipe and 
 
 read the news. 1 
 " Nothing, sure, would please me better, that I need 
 
 not tell you, DICK, 
 But I ve got to do the milking, as my gals have 
 
 taken sick 
 Raspberry shortcake s what s the matter mother 
 
 crams in too much cream, 
 
79 
 
 And the pesky stuff has laid em flatter than a 
 puncheon beam ! " 
 
 " Well, good night, then, I must hasten, for you see, 
 tis getting late ; 
 
 ESTHER 11 worry if the sun-down does not find me 
 at the gate." 
 
 So they parted, KICHARD THORNTON hurrying with 
 redoubled tread, 
 
 In his heart a wild foreboding of some great, impend 
 ing dread. 
 
 " God of mercy, God of justice, is there no where 
 that I can 
 
 Hide me from the hideous presence of this base, 
 revengeful man? 
 
 Dear as was our little cottage, and our friendships 
 dearer still, 
 
 Yet we left them, vainly thinking to escape this man s 
 ill will. 
 
 By what methods he will wrong me God in heaven 
 only knows, 
 
 But the knowledge of his presence rings the knell 
 of our repose ! 
 
 Darling ESTHER, angel ESTHER, tender mother, lov 
 ing wife, 
 
 You have merited a smoother, greener, lovelier path 
 of life ! " 
 
 Such the anguishing reflections EICHARD S mind con 
 ned o er and o er, 
 
80 
 
 Ending only as his footfall crossed the threshold of 
 
 his door. 
 There the cheerful scene that met him caused the 
 
 shadows to depart, 
 
 Light his eyes with pleasure s beacons, cast the dem 
 ons from his heart. 
 On the hearth a cheerful fire sunned the chill from 
 
 evening s air, 
 While old JIM, forever happy, puffed his pipe in 
 
 comfort there. 
 
 In one corner ESTHER S father, o er the Bible bend 
 ing low, 
 Read of that celestial city where his spirit longed 
 
 to go. 
 And the table s snowy cover, gemmed with ware so 
 
 pure and white, 
 And the odorous smells of coffee, filled his senses 
 
 with delight. 
 Sure, it needed not that ESTHER should entwine him 
 
 in her arms, 
 Or have kissed his lips so fondly, to have banished 
 
 his alarms. 
 Yet, the loving creature did it, and I am not sure 
 
 but he 
 Gave her back those self-same kisses, as he drew her 
 
 on his knee. 
 Then as JESSIE and MANOMIN played some old and 
 
 simple tunes 
 
81 
 
 Through his spirit flowed the sweetness of a thousand 
 
 gathered Junes! 
 And that night while all were sleeping, quietly, 
 
 without a fear, 
 To his wife he turned and whispered: " ESTHER, 
 
 BOBERT KING is HERE! - 
 
PART NINTH. 
 
 KOBEET KING S CABIN -UNCLE CABLING AND "BITING 
 BETTY"- "BITING BETTY" MAEKS A STEAY! 
 
 HERE the dark primeval forest skirted Ida s 
 eastern face 
 
 ROBERT KING had built his cabin, in a most secluded 
 place. 
 
 No bright glimpses of the water, or the shell-be 
 jewelled shore, 
 
 Or the sweetly meaded prairie fondly met you at 
 his door! 
 
 For his cabin, small and wretched, in a gloomy hol 
 low stood, 
 
 Made obscurer by the debris of the patriarchal wood ! 
 
 And a sudden, firm conviction that this wretch, so 
 hid away, 
 
 Was a scheming villain, skulking from the honest 
 light of day, 
 82 
 
85 
 
 Forced itself at once upon you when his dwelling 
 
 met your eyes, 
 And a hot, repulsive feeling in your breast would 
 
 quickly rise. 
 From all friendly calls and visits in immunity he 
 
 dwelt, 
 Not a neighbor s heart toward him a kindly impulse 
 
 felt. 
 
 For shamefully and scornfully, to every one s amaze, 
 He d slighted all the offers made to come and help 
 
 him raise. 
 And with but simply slighting them he did not rest 
 
 content, 
 But to Uncle ANDREAS DARLING an insulting note 
 
 he sent, 
 And the tenor of the billet was, that every one must 
 
 mind 
 Their own concerns more strictly, or they would 
 
 surely find 
 That they had kindled needlessly a bitter, hostile 
 
 flame, 
 For he would not suffer meddling, under any form or 
 
 name! 
 Uncle DARLING read the missive with a wondering 
 
 surprise, 
 Then a flash of indignation gleamed a moment from 
 
 his eyes, 
 
84 
 
 And he took down " Biting Betty " from the hooks 
 
 just o er his bed, 
 And dosed her with a powder, then a sugar plum of 
 
 lead, 
 And while settling her stomach thus he quietly did 
 
 say : 
 " Old Bet, I give you warning now to keep out of 
 
 that chap s way ! 
 Because, through all the settlement you can t deny, 
 
 tis known 
 That you have got a hasty, fiery temper of your 
 
 own, 
 And if at that old hedghog you should, some time, 
 
 let fling, 
 Why, you see as how old Betty twould he bad for 
 
 EGBERT KING! 
 But now, old Bet, my darling, let us mosey up the 
 
 lakes, 
 To wake up those young goslings that sleep among 
 
 the brakes, 
 
 And if, by any accident, we meet this critter now, 
 For goodness sake old Betty, don t get me in a row ! " 
 So he shouldered her and started through the woods, 
 
 and far away, 
 Crossed the marshes and the hollows and climbed 
 
 the cliffs so gray, 
 And never checked his footsteps till he reached the 
 
 gloomy glade 
 
85 
 
 Where the wretch of his soliloquy his dreary h 
 
 had made ! 
 As he passed the silent cabin not a stir of life was 
 
 there 
 But the dismal wagon-cover, swinging wildly in the 
 
 air; 
 
 Not a single bird chirped cheerily to break the still 
 ness round, 
 And "wolf" was all the "varmint sign" he found 
 
 upon the ground! 
 On he strode through groves of poplar and great fields 
 
 of prickly ash, 
 Never heeding rents or scratches, or sometimes a 
 
 deeper gash, 
 Presently he reached a hollow skirting RICHARD 
 
 THORNTON S claim, 
 Where a lovely grape-vine arbor bore sweet little 
 
 JESSIE S name. 
 Here he paused, for sounds of voices touched his 
 
 ever listening ear, 
 And he hid himself a moment, wondering who was 
 
 drawing near. 
 It was JESSIE, and her mother who were slowly 
 
 coming there, 
 Talking, singing, telling stories, walking out to take 
 
 the air. 
 Briskly stepping from his cover, with his smiling 
 
 eyes alight. 
 
86 
 
 He was going on to meet them when a man s form 
 
 came in sight. 
 Back again behind his shelter, stepping light as 
 
 sylvan elf, 
 " Ha ! " he whispered, " by old Goshen ! there s that 
 
 tarnal KING himself!" 
 So it was, and ESTHER saw him and endeavored to 
 
 turn back, 
 But all grim, his hated presence stretched itself 
 
 across her track; 
 
 Gathering all her strength together she prepared her 
 self to hear 
 Taunts and insults and dark threatenings, as the 
 
 dreaded man drew near. 
 "Ah, Miss ESTHER Missis THORNTON! so you 
 
 fled lo hide from me ! 
 That s a job, my whilome sweetheart, not so easy 
 
 done, you see ! 
 As the hound, though slowly tracking, finds at last 
 
 the flying deer, 
 So from point to point I traced you, till at length I 
 
 found you here ! 
 Here I m watching, here I m waiting, you shall 
 
 never know relief, 
 Soon, again, I warn you, madam, you and yours 
 
 shall come to grief! 
 Well you know my vow that evening that you stabbed 
 
 me with your scorn, 
 
87 
 
 That I d wring your heart until you cursed the day 
 
 that you were born ! 
 Years and years your joys enraged me years so 
 
 bitter, gaunt, and grim 
 Oh, I could have eat my heart out in my hate of 
 
 you and him! 
 
 But you know the sequel, ESTHER here s that cot 
 tage deed, my dear ! 
 That same thing shall be repeated you shall soon 
 
 be homeless here ! 
 
 Yet, I think, on one condition I would bid my ven 
 geance cease, 
 And abandon plans maturing, soon to wreck your 
 
 present peace! 
 You are young, and fresh yet, ESTHER, see the bloom 
 
 upon your cheek, 
 Come, and feed me on its roses in my cabin once 
 
 a week ! 
 Now there is a" "Silence, villain, stand aside, sir, 
 
 from my path ! 
 You have got a tongue more devilish than the blackest 
 
 demon hath ! 
 Stand aside, sir, scheming coward, base insulting, 
 
 wicked thing, 
 I despise your foolish threatenings as I scorn you, 
 
 EGBERT KING ! " 
 "Nay, now calm your ruffled feathers, smooth your 
 
 plumage, pretty bird ; 
 
88 
 
 I can force you if I choose to, for your screams cannot 
 
 be heard. 1 
 And he laid his hand upon her; at that instant, 
 
 loud and clear, 
 Bang the tone of DARLING S rifle, and a bullet smote 
 
 his ear. 
 
 Stunned and bleeding, back he staggered, nearly fall 
 ing to the ground, 
 And the offending hand was quickly pressed upon 
 
 the painful wound. 
 Uncle DARLING paused a moment, just a moment to 
 
 reload, 
 And to cap " Old Biting Betty," forward then he 
 
 quickly strode, 
 Heeding not KING S leveled rifle with its rampant 
 
 hammer grim, 
 Heeding not his burning eyeballs, but with eyes fixed 
 
 straight on him, 
 Swiftly up he rushed and caught him, struck the rifle 
 
 from his hand, 
 Then confronted and addressed him in provoking 
 
 accents bland: 
 "Keally stranger you ll excuse me, but you see, 
 
 I kinder thought, 
 That yer weap n was a pintin, jest now whar it hadn t 
 
 ought. 
 May be twas because my eyesight aint so good as H 
 
 use to be. 
 
89 
 
 But I swow now I felt sartin you was pokin her 
 
 at me ! " 
 " So I was, and I intended to have shot you through 
 
 the head ! 
 I can only thank your blindness that I m not among 
 
 the dead!" 
 "Wall, it is a pity, stranger yet I kin see middlin 
 
 clear 
 Anyhow, I ll bet a mink-skin, that I popped you 
 
 through the ear ! 
 No use getting riley, stranger case with me that 
 
 never pays 
 Ear-holes is the mark " Old Betty " allers puts upon 
 
 my strays ! 
 But now, neighbor, if you really want to know what s 
 
 fer yer good, 
 Take yer pop-gun up and travel quicker n lightnin 
 
 from this wood ! 
 And if e er again I catch you sneakin round this 
 
 holler here, 
 By old Goshen ! Betty 11 bore you smack and smooth 
 
 through t other ear! 
 For this ground is consecrated, and is not for such 
 
 as you; 
 Now be off, you sneaking puppy, and be careful what 
 
 you do ! " 
 Then he turned to sobbing ESTHER for excitement s 
 
 quick rebound 
 
90 
 
 Had so left her weak and helpless, she sank weeping 
 
 to the ground ; 
 And to shocked and frightened JESSIE, who in silence 
 
 had stood by, 
 Until now there was no danger she cried hard as 
 
 she could cry. 
 Soothing words of kind encouragement so tenderly, 
 
 he spake, 
 Yowing if that rascal harmed them speedy vengeance 
 
 he would take, 
 But all the while maintaining that KING would never 
 
 dare, 
 To execute his threatenings, which were only empty 
 
 air ! 
 And fatherly advising her, as he left her at her 
 
 door, 
 Not to tell her husband of it nor to think about it 
 
 more 
 " For he cannot mend the matter, and twill only give 
 
 him pain, 
 And I know that KING will never dare to try that 
 
 thing again ! 
 But if he does, and Betty here is called upon to 
 
 sing 
 Another of her songs to him, then good bye, Bobby 
 
 King! 
 But, ESTHER, I must hustle off or, by the tarnal 
 
 law, 
 
91 
 
 My wife 11 think I ve run away with some good 
 
 looking squaw ! " 
 So off into the woods he sprang and soon was lost to 
 
 view, 
 This strong, athletic, stalwart man, kind-hearted, good, 
 
 and true- 
 
PART TENTH. 
 
 MEDITATIONS OF A VILLAIN -"DO NO MUEDEE, EOBEET 
 
 KENG-!"-MANOMIN S JOUENEY THE MIDNIGHT 
 
 JLNOEtfDIAEY! 
 
 in ceaseless, sobbing torrents fell a cold, au- 
 ^ tumnal rain, 
 
 Beating sad and dismal measures on the dripping 
 
 window-pane ! 
 Come and gone had Indian summer, and the naked 
 
 forest trees 
 Wailed and moaned and tossed their bare arms, cold, 
 
 and shivering in the breeze. 
 All throughout the leafless forest unobstructed swept 
 
 the eye, 
 No thick vines or matted branches shut away the 
 
 arching sky. 
 Leaves of red and brown and purple, white leaves, 
 
 brightly spangled o er, 
 Wet and shining gleamed and glistened like a rich 
 
 mosaic floor! 
 92 
 
93 
 
 ROBERT KING was in his cabin, door and window 
 
 fastened tight, 
 Grimly brooding o er his vengeance, by his fitful 
 
 fire light. 
 In his hand he held a letter " Yes, 1 he muttered, 
 
 "that s the plan; 
 Let the sale come off at that time EICHAUD is a 
 
 ruined man! 
 Ah, we ll see, my scornful ESTHER, how you ll writhe, 
 
 and weep and pray! 
 Oh, I 11 make you as I told you curse your very 
 
 natal day ! 
 As for that great blustering hunter every day 
 
 he passes by 
 The old wigwam in the hollow, he this very day 
 
 must die ! 
 I m resolved to stop at nothing, I will teach these 
 
 meddling fools 
 That tis dangerous to be trifling, children like, with 
 
 sharpened tools ! " 
 Then he paused, and every feature wore a dark, 
 
 malignant frown, 
 Presently he rose, and reaching, took his long bright 
 
 rifle down: 
 
 Then again he hesitated, as if fearful, or in doubt, 
 Suddenly he wrapt an oil-cloth round his rifle and 
 
 set out. 
 
94 
 
 As he neared the lonely wigwam, lo, a figure, tall 
 
 and slim, 
 With a sharp and angry visage, suddenly confronted 
 
 him : 
 "Stay your footsteps, son of evil leave undone this 
 
 wicked thing, 
 Listen to the God within you Do no murder, 
 
 EGBERT KING!" 
 With averted eyes in terror silently had HOBERT 
 
 stood, 
 Now he raised them, as the voice ceased, he alone 
 
 was in the wood ! 
 Paled his face, short grew his breathings, frightfully 
 
 his eyeballs glared 
 Then he cursed himself and muttered : "I m a fool 
 
 for being scared! 
 But I don t quite like this business, " murder " 
 
 sounds a little rough, 
 And I reckon, without killing, I can get revenge 
 
 enough ! 
 Like a pluckless beaten spaniel, meanest among 
 
 earth s mean men, 
 He at once retraced his footsteps, slunk again into 
 
 his den. 
 
 Oncer again with purest ermine, costly, spotless, soft, 
 and white, 
 
95 
 
 Winter tenderly enfolded earth s brown bosom from 
 
 the sight. 
 Every bald old rock or boulder, limb or log beneath 
 
 that sky 
 Wore a lavish robe of beauty princes were too poor 
 
 to buy. 
 And the trees that had so sadly cast their garments, 
 
 one by one, 
 
 Now, bedecked with winter s diamonds, shone re 
 splendent in the sun ! 
 It was evening, RICHARD THORNTON, holding little 
 
 golden head, 
 Sat beside his cheerful fire, talking of the summer 
 
 fled, 
 And of absent, loved MANOMIN, who had gone, a 
 
 week ago, 
 Far away o er sheeted prairies, frozen lakes and 
 
 drifts of snow; 
 Far away through leafless forests, tangled thickets, 
 
 groves of pines, 
 Far beyond where Crow Wing River with the Red- 
 
 Eye joins and winds, 
 Far beyond sweet Lake Lelina, where the deep pine 
 
 forests roar, 
 North of Mix and Ikwe s bosoms, to Lake Hassar s 
 
 pine girt shore. 
 It was thought a fearful journey for a stalvyart man 
 
 to take, 
 
96 
 
 How then more than doubly fearful for a tender girl 
 
 to make ? 
 But "Pewaubeck" and two other lithe limbed warriors 
 
 brought, one day 
 A short letter from her father, that sick unto death 
 
 he lay 
 At the trading-post of Hassar, straight her filial 
 
 love arose, 
 And she bade adieu to comforts, braved at once the 
 
 blinding snows, 
 Scathing winds, and dismal forests, shrieking in the 
 
 bitter cold, 
 Giving shelter to rapacious packs of wolves grown 
 
 hunger-bold ! 
 Took no thought of treacherous marshes, miles and 
 
 miles of frozen lakes, 
 Wind swept prairies, brambled thickets, snow piled 
 
 hollows, drifted brakes; 
 Urged by that most potent power, strong, deep seated 
 
 filial love, 
 Heaven s law of gravitation, binding all its hosts 
 
 above 
 Down to kindred shining spirits wrapped in earthly 
 
 forms of clay, 
 Tenderly forever watching, till death rends those 
 
 forms away. 
 Love, oh love, thou art the power ruling all eternal 
 
 things, 
 
97 
 
 More resistless than the simoon is the flutter of thy 
 
 wings. 
 Urged, I say, by this resistless power of love she 
 
 faced wild storms, 
 
 Boldly braved the King of Terrors in its most ap 
 palling forms. 
 All that loved and loving circle deeply mourned her 
 
 dreary task, 
 But that she should hush love s pleadings and remain, 
 
 they could not ask. 
 So with fur-lined skirt and mantle, swan-down socks 
 
 upon her feet, 
 Over- drawn by finest doeskin moccasins embroidered 
 
 neat, 
 A broad girdle trimmed with feathers, leathern pouch 
 
 of brightest red, 
 And a quilted hood of otter, snugly fitting to her 
 
 head, 
 Fur-lined mittens and long armlets thoughtful little 
 
 JESSIE S gift, 
 Nice light snow-shoes, made by HARRY, to defy the 
 
 deepest drift; 
 Blessed and kissed and well provisioned, bundled 
 
 snugly, dry and warm, 
 They committed her, one morning, with wet eyes 
 
 unto the storm ! 
 And as RICHARD thought about it, on that howling 
 
 wintry night, 
 
 7 
 
98 
 
 Sitting there in all the comfort of his cheerful fire 
 
 light, 
 Fears and doubts and wild misgivings made his 
 
 anxious forehead damp, 
 And his spirit seemed to seek her in her distant 
 
 snow-bound camp ! 
 Then mature reflection whispered that her guide* 
 
 were good and true, 
 And she would not lack a comfort that their cunning 
 
 wood craft knew. 
 
 ESTHER plied her busy needle with a calm, con 
 tented air, 
 
 While her dear old father slumbered sweetly in the 
 rocking chair. 
 
 Lonesome HARRY read the papers, heaving now and 
 then a sigh, 
 
 As among the crowded columns rapidly he glanced 
 his eye. 
 
 " Father, 1 suddenly he uttered, looking up as if sur 
 prised, 
 
 "Do you know that in this paper all our lands are 
 advertised 
 
 To be sold in February? Oh, it is a burning 
 shame ! 
 
 Many a poor man down the valley will be driven 
 from his claim ; 
 
Many a poor, hard working fellow, toiling on this 
 wild frontier, 
 
 Nobly struggling with his hardships, laboring on from 
 year to year, 
 
 Thinking that his dear Columbia, for whose glory he 
 would die, 
 
 Surely will his hard earned acres kindly give him, 
 by and by, 
 
 Now will find on his heart s altar his sweet flowers 
 of belief 
 
 Withered, blighted, turned to ashes and his house 
 hold come to grief!" 
 
 "Yes, my son, it is distressing, and I thank the 
 God of fate 
 
 It is certain honest Lincoln will assume the chair of 
 State ! 
 
 Oh, he knows the people s struggles, and I feel con 
 vinced he will 
 
 Recommend and give his sanction to a liberal Home 
 stead Bill! 
 
 We are safe, if nothing happens, BURBANK offers for 
 my grain 
 
 More than would suffice to purchase our c aim o er 
 and o er again ! 
 
 DARLING tells me that the threshers, though obstruct 
 ed by the snow 
 
 At Osakis, will most surely come on in a day or so. 
 
100 
 
 Let us therefore be preparing, and to BARR and 
 
 BEDMAN speak, 
 And to CANFIELD and PREFOUNTAIN, for assistance 
 
 by next week, 
 And if then our oats shall yield us half the bushels 
 
 all expect, 
 At the sale we may be able some poor neighbor 
 
 to protect. 
 JESSIE, go and get the Bible, HARRY, son, draw 
 
 up your chair; 
 Let us thank our Heavenly Father for his ever 
 
 constant care."" 
 
 In the small and silent hours of that same cold, 
 
 winter night 
 Stole a form across the timber in the glaring, white 
 
 moonlight. 
 On, to EICHARD S log-built stables stealthily it made 
 
 its way, 
 Stables straw-roofed and begirt by stacks of oats and 
 
 ricks of hay. 
 Suddenly, above the oat-stacks, leaped a wild and 
 
 lurid flame ! 
 
 Oh, a deed so mean and dastard should have crim 
 soned hell with shame! 
 In those stables RICHARDS cattle firmly fastened 
 
 by the head, 
 
Burned and bellowed, roared and roasted till their 
 tortured spirits fled. 
 
 Wakened by the awful roaring of the flames and 
 bellowing stock, 
 
 Forth he rushed! Oh, God, how dreadful, wild and 
 stunning was the shock ! 
 
 Souls of tears and hearts of pity, realize, oh, if 
 you can, 
 
 Deep within your inmost feelings, all the ruin of 
 this man ! 
 
 Euin of this hopeful spirit, who, but now, with bended 
 head, 
 
 Had poured out its love to Heaven, and gone trust 
 ingly to bed ! 
 
 Faith persistent under evil is that virtue s highest 
 grade ; 
 
 Faith to know the hand that blesses wields for good 
 the lightning s blade ; 
 
 Faith like this was BICHARD THORNTON S in mis 
 fortune s darkest day, 
 
 Steady, brilliant, undiminished, shone its white celes 
 tial ray. 
 
 When the first wild shock was over, tho-ugh it swept 
 him bald and bare, 
 
 He convened his little circle, on- his altar laid a 
 prayer ! 
 
 And although completest ruin stared him grimly in 
 the face, 
 
JSTo upbraidings marred his offering to the holy Throne 
 
 of Grace. 
 He reminded not the Father worse than other men 
 
 he fared, 
 But he prayed for greater patience, thanked Him that 
 
 their lives were spared! 
 Prayed that in the hidden future his poor efforts 
 
 might be blessed. 
 Then with quiet resignation once again he sought 
 
 his rest. 
 
PART ELEVENTH. 
 
 SAD EETLECTIONS-PAT DEEGAN S LETTER THE SALE 
 
 TEIUMPH OF KING-MANOMIN AEEIVES- "DICK 
 
 THOENTON IS ALL EIGHT ! " - SUMMAEY PEQ- 
 
 CEEDINGS-" BITING BETTY" 
 
 SINGS AGAIN!! 
 
 and tearful were the faces gathered round 
 
 that morning 1 meal, 
 Though with sweet contrition humble, stricken, yet, 
 
 they could but feel. 
 God of heaven, who would help them? Their kind 
 
 neighbors were poor, too; 
 Who would lighten their affliction ? What, oh, what 
 
 were they to do? 
 " Write to friends," suggested HARRY, friends who 
 
 live in Syracuse." 
 "Yes, we will, but I am fearful it will prove of 
 
 little use. 
 103 
 
104 
 
 Business men are cold and cautious, and unless they 
 
 see your need, 
 Calls for help, however pathetic, they will seldom 
 
 ever heed ! 
 
 Still, it is our solemn duty every honest way to -try 
 To retrieve an adverse fortune, passing not the un- 
 
 likeliest by." 
 On the Cinder Eoad was living PATRICK DEEGAN, 
 
 and his name, 
 If it did not tell his story, told at once from whence 
 
 he came. 
 In the mist of years departed, like a rainhow, stood 
 
 a day 
 HICHARD THORNTON had advanced him means to buy 
 
 a horse and dray. 
 Oft to him had HARRY written, of their wild but 
 
 glorious fare, 
 And of lovely Minnesota s splendid lakes and bracing 
 
 air, 
 Of her prairies, starred with flowers, of her forests 
 
 full of deer, 
 Of her sweet cascades and rivers, and her fountains,. 
 
 pure ard clear; 
 Unto him. the touching story of their fortunes, so 
 
 adverse, 
 
 In a letter, now did HARRY with simplicity re 
 hearse ; 
 
105 
 
 But he did not ask for money, never dreamed that 
 
 source to try, 
 Not believing PATRICK DEEGAN ever laid a dollar 
 
 by. 
 
 But as hearts, o ercharged with sorrow, seeking chan 
 nels of relief, 
 In some sympathetic bosom pour a portion of theit 
 
 grief, 
 In that sense and spirit only, without thought of help 
 
 the while, 
 Wrote he to that generous scion of the little Emerald 
 
 Isle. 
 Graphic letters EICHARD also wrote to many an 
 
 eastern friend, 
 But their answers brought no money his bad prospects 
 
 to amend. 
 Meanwhile on Time s rapid current came the dreaded 
 
 day at hand, 
 That should dawn upon them homeless, strip them of 
 
 the cherished land 
 Where they had, with faithful labor, built and plowed, 
 
 and fenced and sown, 
 In their trustful hearts believing it must ever be 
 
 their own ! 
 When, at last, that wretched morning lengthened into 
 
 turbid day, 
 Lo, there came this glorious letter, which had long 
 
 been on its way : 
 
106 
 
 "Arrah, HARRY, me darlint, yer swate little letther 
 
 Came nately to hand on this cowld blissid day; 
 I was thrashin me hans, an a cussin the weather, 
 
 An pitying poor Hock, in the shafts of his dray, 
 When up stips the postman, ould DINNIS MCFRAZES, 
 
 Wid the breath on his whiskers like foam on the seas, 
 An his frost-bitten nose all as rid as blue blazes 
 
 Wid a " Here, Mister DEEGAN, >s a letther for yees! " 
 Twas too cowld for a job, an was fast gettin cowlder, 
 
 So I whistles to Hock, an I jumps on the dray, 
 " Och, sure, ye 11 not mind, when ye re fifty years owlder/ " 
 
 Says I to rne conscience, "the loss of this day. " 
 So, HARRY, mavourneen, yer folks are in throuble! 
 
 Ye re burned out, ye think, by that rascally KING, 
 May the divil, bad cess to im, bend him up double, 
 
 An in hell s hottest corner his owld carcass fling! 
 An it s all for the lack of a wee bit of sphilter, 
 
 Some two hundred dollars, I m thinkin ye said, 
 Ye d be swept clane and dry, as a tin year owld philter, 
 
 Wid never a shingle to cover yer head; 
 Och, HARRY, ye sphalpeen, was ye thinkin PAT DEEGAN, 
 
 Wid a long woman s stocking-leg chock full of gould, 
 Could slape in his bid, like owld miserly REEGAN, 
 
 While the f rinds of his harte were turned out in the cowld ? 
 Not a word now, ye gossoon, I ve put up the money, 
 
 Jist double ye nades, in a nate little bag, 
 And up to St. Cloud, by express, to yees, honey, 
 
 It will come jist as fast as the buljtne can wag ! 
 An 1 wish, be me sowl, I could come wid it, HARRY, 
 
 To make sure, me boy, that it didn t come late, 
 But I can t, an so hoping it will not miscarry, 
 I am, Yours, 
 
 PATRICK DEEGAN. 
 Plase acknowledge resate. 
 
107 
 
 Softly down they laid the letter, while a spirit of 
 relief 
 
 Sunned away the gloomy shadow of their heavy- 
 hearted grief. 
 
 Though this money had not reached them, could not 
 for a fortnight more, 
 
 Yet they knew that safely waiting at St. Cloud in 
 BURBANK S store, 
 
 It was subject to their order forty eagles, all in 
 gold! 
 
 Ha! the thought was vivifying made the drooping 
 spirit bold! 
 
 Sure, this tangible assurance, must induce the auc 
 tioneer 
 
 To forego the sale of their claim till their money 
 reached them here : 
 
 " Yes," he said, " if none demand it, thereon hinges 
 everything ! " 
 
 Sank the mercury of their spirits at the icy thought 
 of KING! 
 
 Ah, their fears were but too real, all their efforts 
 proved in vain, 
 
 KING exulted o er them homeless, he had triumphed 
 once again! 
 
 And he sent them instant warning that before an 
 other day 
 
 He would come and take possession, they must move 
 at once away. 
 
108 
 
 Sturdy squatters, grim and scowling, gathered round 
 
 in little bands, 
 Capped with fur and clothed in buckskin, carrying 
 
 rifles in their hands ! 
 They were taking anxious council what had best be 
 
 done with KING : 
 Should they hang him, whip him, shoot him, had they 
 
 best do anything? 
 "Well, now, boys," said Uncle DARLING, "I ve a 
 
 feeling that to-night 
 Something is ago n to happen that will bring this 
 
 thing out right ! " 
 At that moment, at the town-house, rose a wild and 
 
 ringing shout, 
 Then another, and another what were all those 
 
 cheers about? 
 Once again they were repeated, hats flew up into 
 
 the air, 
 What the deuce could be the meaning of such wild 
 
 excitement there? 
 Through the gate-way rushed a neighbor screaming 
 
 to them with delight : 
 "MANOMIN S come with loads of money! hurrah! 
 
 DICK THORNTON is all right!" 
 EGBERT KING was quickly summoned, twas a call 
 
 he did not dare 
 Disobey, and soon the villain came into their presence 
 
 there. 
 
109 
 
 " EGBERT KING," said Uncle DARLING, u we have 
 
 sent for you to come 
 Here to give up THORNTON S patent, pledging you 
 
 three times the sum 
 That it cost you, will you do it?" "No, sir, never 
 
 while I live ; 
 Twas my right to buy his claim, sir, and no man shall 
 
 make me give 
 
 Cringingly a right my country s sacred laws vouch 
 safe to me ; 
 Money cannot buy that claim, sir, all your plans are 
 
 vain, you see." 
 Jo. JAMES then informed the circle that MANOMIN 
 
 wished to say 
 A word or two upon this matter, ere they let KING 
 
 go away. 
 Stepping lightly from the circle to the centre forth 
 
 she stood, 
 Queenly in her radiant beauty, little empress of the 
 
 wood ! 
 "Friends and neighbors! a plain story I will tell, 
 
 brief as I can, 
 Of the savage misdemeanors and the crimes of this 
 
 bad man : 
 Years ago, when ESTHER THORNTON was a sweet, 
 
 unwedded maid, 
 Presumptuous seige to her affections this persistent 
 
 villain laid, 
 
110 
 
 And most stormily insisted she should yield and be 
 
 his wife, 
 Threatening her, if she refused him, with his hatred 
 
 all her life. 
 
 But she scorned his threats as every brave, true- 
 hearted woman would, 
 And she married RICHARD THORNTON, first among 
 
 the pure and good. 
 After many years of scheming, ventured plots and 
 
 sore defeats, 
 Hellish industry succeeded and he turned them in 
 
 the streets! 
 
 Seeking no retaliation for his utter overthrow, 
 RICHARD THORNTON left the precincts of his mean, 
 
 inveterate foe 
 Foe without a shade of reason, who, to further wreak 
 
 his hate, 
 Like a wolf has tracked his victim to this distant 
 
 frontier state. 
 In the woods he meets with ESTHER and insults her, 
 
 but his ear 
 Tells the story of reprisals made by Uncle DARLING 
 
 here ! 
 
 All last summer, RICHARD THORNTON, most persist 
 ent, soon and late, 
 Toiled among the sheaves and winrows, sums of 
 
 money to create 
 
Ill 
 
 For the high and noble purpose of maintaining well 
 
 in hand 
 Funds, perchance, to help a neighbor, while securing 
 
 his own land. 
 
 One month since I left his dwelling, passed his oat- 
 stacks one by one, 
 
 Saw with joy their golden shoulders bare and glisten 
 ing in the sun! 
 And his stable full of cattle and his great brown 
 
 ricks of hay; 
 How these proofs of his abundance cheered me on 
 
 my weary way ! 
 Three weeks since, while all were sleeping, stealthily 
 
 a villain came, 
 And he wrapt that wealth collective in one great, 
 
 consuming flame ; 
 And an Indian says, who saw him, that this man, 
 
 this fiend, this thing, 
 Who so causeless spoiled a neighbor was this villain, 
 
 EGBERT KING ! " 
 What a fierce wild shout of anger round that listening 
 
 circle ran, 
 And a dozen gleaming rifles straight were leveled 
 
 at the man ! 
 But MANOMIN into order quickly waved them with 
 
 her hand, 
 Magic-like she quelled the feelings of that roused, 
 
 excited band. 
 
til 
 
 At her sign a sprightly Indian promptly stepped into 
 
 the ring 
 " Neighbors, this is BUNGEE-WAUPOSE, he it was 
 
 who witnessed KING 
 Do that dreadful deed of arson, for which crime men 
 
 often die" 
 " Tis a lie ! " screamed KING in terror, " tis a weak 
 
 and wicked lie ! " 
 DARLING stopped him and MANOMIN quietly began 
 
 again : 
 BUNGEE-WATJPOSE speaks no English, thinking that 
 
 he should not gain 
 Any credit by attempting what he could not render 
 
 clear, 
 He at once set out to meet me, and we made forced 
 
 marches here ! 
 I arrived, and quickly learning EICHARD S claim to 
 
 KING was sold, 
 Sent and offered thrice the purchase to that bad man 
 
 there, in gold. 
 
 But you heard him scorn the offer, heard him vaunt 
 ing of his right ! 
 Oh, his right to burn the substance of a neighbor 
 
 in the night ! 
 He has forced poor EICHARD THORNTON twice to 
 
 drain grief s bitter cup, 
 Now, my neighbors, all I ask is, make him give 
 
 that patent up ! " 
 
113 
 
 Scarcely had she ceased, ere DARLING, reaching forth 
 
 his brawny hand, 
 .Roughly seized KING by the collar "Now, then, 
 
 villian, we demand, 
 Without slightest compensation, that you give to 
 
 THORNTON, here, 
 What is his, or else, by Heaven! we will make it 
 
 cost you dear ! " 
 " Do your worst, I do not fear you!" "All right, 
 
 Mister BOBBY KING ! 
 Bring a rope, BARR, quicker n lightnin , and we 11 
 
 see about this thing!" 
 The rope was brought and noosed about him, o er a 
 
 beam one end was flung, 
 By the neck, before he knew it, high the struggling 
 
 victim hung. 
 In a moment more they dropped him, dizzy, strangled, 
 
 and half blind ; 
 Ah, this summary proceeding quickly changed the 
 
 rascal s mind; 
 For his ear had caught the order : " Up again, boys, 
 
 pull away!" 
 "Men!" he cried, "hold on for God s sake! I will 
 
 do whate er you say!" 
 " All right, boys, bring out a table, and a pen and 
 
 inkstand, too; 
 Now, sir, sign this patent over, that is all we want 
 
 of you." 
 
 8 
 
114 
 
 Down he sat while angry tremors, like an ague, shook 
 
 his frame, 
 And he formed a hellish purpose as he calmly wrote 
 
 his name. 
 " EGBERT KING, said Uncle DARLING, as he rose 
 
 to go away, 
 " Stop a moment, for this council has another word 
 
 to say: 
 In two days you are required Douglas County, sir, 
 
 to leave ; 
 If the third day finds you lingering, punishment you 
 
 will receive; 
 On the fourth day, any person, red or white, about 
 
 this town 
 Is commissioned, if he meets you, like a dog to shoot 
 
 you down!" 
 KING passed out all grim and silent, not a word had 
 
 he to say 
 Then across the lake to JAMES nearly all adjourned 
 
 straightway, 
 There to have a wild reunion, songs and dancing, 
 
 fun and beer 
 
 Over RICHARD S change of fortune, just as ruin seem 
 ed so near. 
 But MANOMIN and the THORNTONS at the town-house 
 
 stayed behind 
 To partake a bounteous supper, and with brimming, 
 
 joyful mind 
 
115 
 
 They drew up around the table, and discussed what 
 
 seemed to be 
 A most strange and providential foiling of their 
 
 enemy. 
 
 Uncle DARLING started homeward through the woods 
 
 a nearer way 
 "Ah, what s that?" A long dark object, stretched 
 
 behind a log-heap, lay! 
 Boldly outlined on the white snow neath a full 
 
 moon s golden glare, 
 " Tis a man! tis KING, by Heaven! what s the 
 
 rascal doing there ? " 
 
 DARLING crouched behind a tree-root, bared by tem 
 pest in its wrath, 
 By and by there came the THORNTONS and MANO- 
 
 MIN down the path. 
 See! KING moves, his leveled rifle bears on KICH- 
 
 ARD THORNTON S brain! 
 A flash, a crash ! ah, lifeless villain, "Biting Betty " 
 
 sang again! 
 
PART TWELFTH. 
 
 MANOMIN S ACCOUNT OF HER JOURNEY - STARTLING- 
 SPIRIT MESSAGES -THE OUTBREAK OF THE 
 REBELLION -HARRY, THE PATRIOT. 
 
 m,ouND the hearth of EICHARD THORNTON sunny 
 * hearts rejoiced once more; 
 
 In the grave of KING was buried all their appre 
 hensions, sore, 
 And about their cheerful fire they have gathered 
 
 now, to hear 
 All that happened to MANOMIN in those thirty days 
 
 of fear. 
 But her story was a brief one: She had found her 
 
 father dead 
 When she reached the termination of her journeying, 
 
 she said ; 
 All his furs and goods to BOLIEAUX by her order 
 
 then, were sold, 
 Many thousand dollars bringing, which was paid to 
 
 her in gold. 
 116 
 
117 
 
 * Then, with sense of trouble weighing sad and heavy 
 
 on my heart 
 Trouble to my living dear ones with my money 
 
 I did start; 
 And one morning BUNGEE-WAUPOSE met and told 
 
 me of the deed 
 That had robbed you of your substance how I 
 
 urged my guides to speed ! 
 Every day I fought the snow-drifts, and at night 
 
 would sit and cry 
 At the slowness of my progress! How I longed 
 
 for wings to fly ! 
 And with joy and apprehension how my throbbing 
 
 heart did swell 
 When I saw the town-house chimneys! This is all 
 
 I have to tell. 
 Now, my darling foster-father best among all men 
 
 I Ve known 
 Use this money I have brought you, freely, as it 
 
 were your own. 
 Send to generous PATRICK DEEGAN twice the sum 
 
 he loaned to you, 
 As a meet reward for friendship, which is rarely 
 
 found so true. 
 Not a word, now, father THORNTON, for I owe you 
 
 this, and more " 
 Here a heavy rapping sounded loudly on the outer 
 
 door. 
 
118 
 
 HARRY rose and swung it open; on its threshold 
 
 calmly stood 
 That strange presence of the Hollow, silent GAFFER 
 
 of the wood! 
 " Peace to all within this dwelling I " in a kindly 
 
 tone he said, 
 " Lo, I bear a message to you from the regions of 
 
 the dead ! 
 Dead to every low desire, dead to all that is not 
 
 right, 
 But alive to love and brotherhood, to wisdom and 
 
 to light! 
 Let us sit around this table, and a moment join our 
 
 hands, 
 There are hosts of spirits hovering from the inner, 
 
 brighter lands!" 
 All drew up around the table but in RICHARD 
 
 THORNTON S eyes 
 
 Shone a look of incredulity and wondering surprise. 
 He had never been to GAFFER S nor had ever given 
 
 ear 
 To the mystifying stories told about him far and 
 
 near, 
 
 Until HARRY S strange experience taught him pos 
 sibly there might 
 
 Be laws in God s economy he did not know aright. 
 Scarcely had they formed the circle ere some sturdy 
 
 raps were heard, 
 
119 
 
 Then a strain of forest music, like the warbling of 
 
 a bird; 
 Then the table mounted upward, as if from the floor 
 
 repelled, 
 Next the name of MARY WARREN by the alphabet 
 
 was spelled ! 
 " Oh my God ! " said ESTHER S father, pale and 
 
 trembling, "can it be 
 MARY WARREN my own MARY is within this 
 
 room with me ? " 
 " Yes, oh yes, ERASTUS WARREN, I am MARY, your 
 
 own wife 1 " 
 Said a soft voice close behind him "and though in 
 
 the inner life, 
 I am with you every moment, for the day is near 
 
 at hand 
 When you, too, my dear companion, will be added 
 
 to our band. 
 Do not think the spirit s heaven is away in realms 
 
 afar, 
 In a walled up golden city, or in some bright distant 
 
 star. 
 Heaven is Love, and Love is God, and God is here 
 
 and everywhere, 
 Hence tis natural that our heaven should be where 
 
 our dear ones are ! 
 With what longing I have waited for this blessed 
 
 hour to come. 
 
T20 
 
 Ere you crossed the dreaded valley, to inform you 
 
 of your home ; 
 Of your home of love eternal, home of wisdom and 
 
 of light, 
 Where, your earthly errors spurning, you will read 
 
 God s laws aright! 
 
 You will learn that every evil is the body s attribute ;. 
 With the body that it perishes as perishes the brute ! 
 And the qualities immortal, such as fellowship and 
 
 love, 
 Are the only things the spirit takes along with it 
 
 above ! 
 Oh, we have no use for envy, have no need of hate 
 
 or pride, 
 
 Lying, jealousy, or selfishness, or evil, else, beside, 
 And having then no need of them, oh, does it not 
 
 seem plain 
 As God ne er made a useless thing, or gave a useless 
 
 pain 
 They should fall with falling matter being of and 
 
 for the earth, 
 Not arising with the spirit to its brighter, higher 
 
 birth. 
 
 See the caterpillar creeping on its belly in the dirt, 
 Feeding on decaying matter, by repulsiveness be 
 girt ; 
 Mark the butterfly its spirit how it mounts on 
 
 wings away, 
 
 
121 
 
 Nestling down within the flowers, sipping honey all 
 the day; 
 
 Shut your eyes against this lesson, oh obdurate heart 
 ed men, 
 
 Let your Chinese wall of prejudice keep truth with 
 out, and then 
 
 Learn too late, if truth and wisdom in the "body he 
 not sought, 
 
 If the "golden rule 1 and charity on earth be not out- 
 wrought, 
 
 As a penalty, your spirits will be naked, weak, and 
 poor, 
 
 When your guardians kindly bear you to this love-lit 
 angel shore ; 
 
 And each one in ways of loveliness be long a puny 
 thing, 
 
 Wanting years to reach its God-head. Thus it is 
 with ROBERT KING, 
 
 Who is here, too weak to manifest and wishes me 
 to say 
 
 That through ignorance and prejudice his life was 
 thrown away; 
 
 And the high and noble lessons in his sinfulness he 
 spurned, 
 
 Under many disadvantages now slowly must be learn- 
 ed; 
 
 That his dark and stormy passions did not know this 
 second birth 
 
122 
 
 They are buried with his body in the bosom of the 
 
 earth 
 Yet their memories blot his spirit like a moth-patch 
 
 or a stain, 
 So he comes to ask forgiveness, for the many hours 
 
 of pain 
 He has caused you, RICHARD, ESTHER, and each one 
 
 within this room, 
 Oh, he sees he is forgiven, swiftly vanishes his 
 
 gloom ! 
 Brighter glows the God within him, wild with joy his 
 
 pulses dance! 
 O er the bright celestial highway swiftly now will 
 
 he advance! 
 By and by, returning earthward, you will find him 
 
 strong and bright, 
 Purged of all self-condemnation, hallowed by Eternal 
 
 Eight ! 
 He will often stand beside you though so distant 
 
 seems this shore 
 And will give you love and guidance where he gave 
 
 you hate before ! 
 As the clock ticks off the seconds, so remorseless, one 
 
 by one, 
 You will all come dropping homeward when your 
 
 primal life is done. 
 You will then behold how different is the great 
 
 creative plan 
 
123 
 
 From the narrow, cramped conceptions of materialistic 
 
 man. 
 You will learn that every erring soul on sin s wild 
 
 ocean tossed 
 Safe in God s conservatory moors at last where naught 
 
 is lost! 
 You will learn that the aspirings of the selfish sons 
 
 of earth, 
 Pride of wealth, and place, and title, and aristocratic 
 
 birth, 
 Are mere wallowings in the mire all unworthy the 
 
 great prize 
 That awaits you in God s mansions, in the bosom of 
 
 the skies ! 
 There, at last, I m sure to greet you, on those ever 
 
 verdant lawns ! 
 So, good night, have faith and patience, till your day 
 
 of promise dawns ! " 
 
 Quickly passed the broken winter to that happy house 
 hold, there, 
 
 All their joys were pure and perfect, not a harsh 
 word or a care 
 
 Ever ribbed with gloomy wrinkles the calm forehead 
 of their peace ! 
 
 Indeed, their sum of happiness seemed daily to in 
 crease. 
 
124 
 
 But at last that charm was broken by a shock that 
 shook the world! 
 
 A tempest flight of treason s shells from rebel cannon 
 hurled I 
 
 And Columbia s cry for armies, from old Sumpter s 
 battered wall, 
 
 And the thundering tread of millions answering to 
 that clarion call ! 
 
 On the flashing wings of lightning, through the art 
 eries of the mail, 
 
 To the nation s farthest corners flew the wild, ex 
 citing tale ! 
 
 From the workshop and the furrow, from the ware 
 house and the strand, 
 
 From the cities and the forests men were hurrying, 
 gun in hand; 
 
 From Oregon s wild mountains, and from California s 
 mines 
 
 Hosts of large-lunged, brawny patriots came to swell 
 the loyal lines! 
 
 All the land was hung with banners ! from tall masts 
 and taller spires, 
 
 From roofs and windows, cliffs and poles, forth flamed 
 those altar fires ! 
 
 Ah, this national uprising was a spectacle so vast, 
 
 All wonder-struck and motionless the world looked 
 on aghast ! 
 
125 
 
 The poor slave s millennial morning dawned at length 
 
 upon his sight ! 
 
 Struck forever from his horizon was slavery s wretch 
 ed night ! 
 Gross forms and base conditions went staggering to 
 
 their fall, 
 And an era, bright and shining, full of blessings unto 
 
 all, 
 By High Heaven s Great Sanhedrim was decreed 
 
 the very day 
 Eebet cannon rang the curtain up on treason s tragic 
 
 play! 
 To the listening circle HARRY read the news that 
 
 April night, 
 And a sense of sure bereavement made their hearts 
 
 grow still and white. 
 For they saw a noble purpose shining forth in every 
 
 line 
 
 And lineament of that brave boy s heroic face di 
 vine ! 
 One bugle-blast had snatched him up, crowned with 
 
 iron his fair brow, 
 Built a wall of steel between them, he was all his 
 
 country s now! 
 But they murmured not at laying even him, their 
 
 only boy, 
 Their bright glory of the present, their perspective s 
 
 calmer joy, 
 
On the altar of their country, trusting Him, whose 
 
 care profound, 
 Noteth even every little bird that falleth to the 
 
 ground ! 
 Still, a painful silence settled on those hearts, but 
 
 now so bright; 
 One by one they bade each other then a kind yet 
 
 sad good night! 
 Poor MANOMIN sought her little room, and shutting 
 
 to the door, 
 In one swift wild rush of agony sank sobbing to the 
 
 floor! 
 Alas, poor lonely wild wood flower, her heart, that 
 
 had so late 
 Been rendered by the touch of death so void and 
 
 desolate, 
 Had warmed again beneath the sun of HARRY S 
 
 genial eyes ; 
 And, oh, he filled and spanned that heart as rainbows 
 
 do the skies ! 
 Alas, poor lone MANOMIN, she knew no youth like 
 
 him 
 Could for a moment sit at ease when treason, armed 
 
 and grim, 
 Sat at the door- ways of our land, with insults, taunts 
 
 and sneers, 
 And robbed and burned steamboats and trains, like 
 
 filthy buccaneers ! 
 
127 
 
 She felt within her inmost soul that he, with purpose 
 
 strongly set, 
 Would rest not till in loyal lines the sun gleamed on 
 
 his bayonet! 
 "And, oh, how many must be killed! Great God 
 
 above me, must I feel 
 This flower goeth from my heart to be cut down by 
 
 Southern steel? 
 Oh, those lists of killed and wounded! how we all 
 
 shall dread to read ! 
 Lest hearts we now think desolate, shall be desolate 
 
 indeed ! " 
 Morning dawned, and every riser, as they came into 
 
 the room, 
 Saw a little sight that saddened, deeper still, their 
 
 spirit s gloom: 
 
 It was only HARRY S rifle standing up beside the door, 
 And a little bundle lying at its breech upon the floor ! 
 
PART THIRTEENTH. 
 
 THE MOWEES-THE EACE- UNCLE DAELING AHEAD- 
 
 JESSIE AND HEE GEANDFATHEE-HAEEY S LETTEE 
 
 CONCEENDTG THE BATTLE OF BULL EUN, 
 
 an early July morning, fresh and cool the 
 dew-drops hung, 
 
 Bending down the heavy meadow-grass, where scythe- 
 stones gaily rung, 
 
 And sturdy brown armed mowers laid the wild thick 
 harvest low, 
 
 With such ease and grace of motion that it seemed 
 but play to mow! 
 
 With an even stroke the mowers swung their scythes 
 at easy pace, 
 
 Till at length some boastful whetstone rang a chal 
 lenge for a race! 
 
 With firm lip and swelling muscles grandly swayed 
 each lithe form then, 
 
 And the merest boys among them stoutly played the 
 part of men. 
 128 
 
129 
 
 Uncle DARLING, from the centre with wide swarth 
 
 and forward tread 
 One by one cut round the mowers, till he came far 
 
 out ahead; 
 And, with rollicking good nature, wiped the sweat 
 
 from off his face, 
 Slily asking if the "chap was lost that started that 
 
 ar race ? " 
 ESTHER S father bore the luncheon and the water to 
 
 the field; 
 But his sinews were not strong enough the manly 
 
 scythe to wield ; 
 Though on this very morning long and well the rake 
 
 he plied, 
 Till wearied out, he tottered home, his strength most 
 
 sorely tried. 
 He bathed his face, and JESSIE, dusting off his easy 
 
 chair, 
 Clambering fondly up beside him, gently combed his 
 
 silvery hair. 
 " Oh, grandpa, don t you wonder now, where HARRY 
 
 is to-day? 
 Has he really gone to kill some one, or is it only 
 
 play? 
 And do you think they d kill him, too? Oh, that 
 
 would be so sad 
 Why is it, grandpa, that some folks will always be 
 
 so bad ? 
 
 9 
 
180 
 
 It seems to me, if I was God, I don t believe I 
 
 would 
 Let folks be born, unless I knew they surely would 
 
 be good ! " 
 
 Then moistening her finger-tips upon her little tongue, 
 She curled his pliant locks and said, "Now. grandpa, 
 
 you look young ! 
 I wonder if you ll have white hair away up in the 
 
 sky? 
 Wait, wait ! hold .still ! I think I see a winker in 
 
 your eye ! " 
 
 "With corner of her pinafore, twirled round, with ten 
 der care, 
 She wiped away, with gentle touch, the irritating 
 
 hair. 
 Then laid her little damask cheek against his wrinkled 
 
 face, 
 And round his neck entwined her arms in silent, fond 
 
 embrace. 
 
 Strong voices roused her, she looked up, " See, grand 
 pa, only see! 
 Here come the men ! tis not yet noon ! What can 
 
 the matter be? " 
 MANOMIN, who had seen them too, came forth with 
 
 blanching cheek 
 u Oh, have you heard bad news from him? speak, 
 
 father THORNTON, speak ! " 
 
131 
 
 ** No, no, my child, we Ve only heard a battle has 
 
 been fought, 
 In which our army did not do the valiant deeds it 
 
 ought. 
 That after they had fairly won the honors of the 
 
 day, 
 They suddenly, in panic, fled, flinging their arms 
 
 away! 
 The Minnesota boys were there but here, I think, 
 
 you Ml find 
 A letter from the lad whose fate just now disturbed 
 
 your mind. 
 And here is one for mother, too now all draw round 
 
 about, 
 
 We Ml hear what HARRY has to say about this shame 
 ful rout." 
 MANOMIN had her letter clutched and, waiting for 
 
 no more, 
 Gone fairly flying to her room, and promptly locked 
 
 the door. 
 We ll leave her with her beating heart, and face 
 
 blanched white as snow. 
 And hear the letter RICHARD, now, is reading down 
 
 below: 
 "I am writing to you, mother, on this sultry July 
 
 night, 
 To assure you of my safety, and to tell you of the 
 
 fight: 
 
132 
 
 For the horrors of that struggle who more vividly 
 
 can tell 
 Than one who faced that storm of lead and hurricane 
 
 of shell? 
 Twas a glorious, silvery Sunday and the morning s 
 
 spicy breath 
 Gave no warning- to the many soon to be baptized 
 
 in death ! 
 For sweet peace herself, seemed dwelling in the 
 
 silent foliage green, 
 And from each shining blade of grass to be smiling 
 
 so serene, 
 That it really did not seem, mother, amid so much 
 
 of life, 
 We should all so soon be facing old grim Death in 
 
 mortal strife ! 
 As we wound along the valleys, over spreading fields, 
 
 and farms, 
 How the lovely landscape twinkled with the glitter 
 
 of our arms! 
 Filing up the sloping hill-sides, threading some long, 
 
 deep ravine, 
 With our bayonets all gleaming, twas indeed a 
 
 splendid scene ! 
 Oh, there seemed to be such power in our firm* 
 
 united tread 
 In our hands a freeman s weapon, and a just God 
 
 overhead 
 
133 
 
 That it did not make me wonder when was heard 
 
 the opening gun 
 To hear our brave boys 1 answering cheers ! The 
 
 battle had begun! 
 Oh, my mother, had you seen us as we moved across 
 
 the field! 
 Yainly, proudly, fondly dreaming that the foe would 
 
 quickly yield, 
 
 You, too, would have caught the quickening that in 
 spired MEAGHER S braves 
 
 When they flung away their garments, and went rush 
 ing to their graves ! 
 Brave, iron-hearted HEINTZLEMAN soon swept along, 
 
 where rose 
 Thick wreaths of smoke above the trees that hid 
 
 our wary foes ; 
 Gallant BURNSIDE S men responded with a wild and 
 
 ringing shout, 
 As their glittering line of battle they flung quickly, 
 
 fiercely out ! 
 And uniting with brave PORTER and the generous, 
 
 loyal SPRAGUE, 
 Swept the rebels to destruction, like the besom of 
 
 a plague ! 
 Then swiftly, through that fire and flame, way out 
 
 upon the right, 
 By MILLER led, our gallant boys went cheering to 
 
 the fight! 
 
134 
 
 I can scarcely tell you, mother, as the first, fierce 
 
 storm of lead 
 Came whistling through our solid ranks, or hurtling 
 
 overhead, 
 Of my spirits wild sensations, or the throbs my 
 
 pulses made, 
 And though it seemed like fear, mother, yet I did not 
 
 feel afraid ! 
 It is true, my heart a moment, just a moment, ceased 
 
 to beat, 
 As we bent before the opening storm of f irious leaden 
 
 sleet ; 
 It is true I dodged a little, and a moment held my 
 
 breath 
 As the bullets whizzed above rne, but it was not fear 
 
 of death; 
 Twas the instinct that God gives us to avoid the 
 
 fatal stroke 
 But I lost it, in a moment, mid the battle s flame 
 
 and smoke, 
 And my heart at once responded to our gallant leader s 
 
 call: 
 "Be steady, boys! close up the ranks whene er your 
 
 comrades fall! " 
 Just then the Black Horse Cavalry charged fiercely 
 
 on our flank 
 But, ah ! the bloody wine of death full many a rider 
 
 drank ! 
 
135 
 
 They paused and turned, then fled, and formed, and 
 
 once again they came, 
 But all in vain, they could not live before our deadly 
 
 aim! 
 And hotter, fiercer than before, the wild fight raged 
 
 around, 
 
 Identity, itself, seemed lost amid the dreadful sound J 
 But we fought on bravely, mother, till arose the 
 
 cheering cry: 
 " Hurrah, hurrah, brave, loyal hearts ! the beaten 
 
 rebels fly! 
 Then with cheers all forward springing how we made 
 
 those woods resound ! 
 And, like sheep, the frightened rebels went flying 
 
 o er the ground ! 
 But there came a check, a halting, and we heard a 
 
 distant drum! 
 Saw clouds of dust, a cry arose that JOHNSTON S men 
 
 had come!! 
 At first there came an anxious pause, then confidence 
 
 seemed lost 
 Then panic, wild, resistless spread among our loyal 
 
 host! 
 The brave and dauntless HEINTZLEMAN rode back 
 
 and forth in vain! 
 Those terror-stricken, broken lines could not be formed 
 
 again ! 
 
136 
 
 It was a painful sight to see those men, who, true 
 
 and good, 
 The whole fierce shock of rebel arms so lately had 
 
 withstood, 
 Now turn their backs upon their foes, abandon every 
 
 gun, 
 Throw down their arms and leave the field upon an 
 
 abject run! 
 But naught could stem that shameful tide, resistless 
 
 it rolled on, 
 
 And swept across Potomac s bridge and into Wash 
 ington ! 
 The gallant dead and wounded ones were left jus! 
 
 where they fell; 
 Oh, would to God I did not have this shameful truth 
 
 to tell! 
 I grieved enough while marching back at close of 
 
 that sad day, 
 To see, all round, the signs of flight, the debris of 
 
 the fray! 
 Spectators 1 hacks and tumbrils lay all shivered on 
 
 the ground ! 
 And guns and pistols, hats and coats, were thickly 
 
 strewn around ! 
 But all of these might well be spared, aye more than 
 
 treble these, 
 To purchase one poor, wounded man a single hour 
 
 of ease* 
 
137 
 
 Or have placed our dead with honor, in a grave 
 
 their valor won, 
 With their starry flag above them, bravely waving 
 
 in the sun! 
 But their battles are all over, they have laid their 
 
 muskets down, 
 And across the shining river each has taken up a 
 
 crown ! 
 They are gathered with God s children, in the pearly 
 
 courts above, 
 Weaving garlands of nepenthe in t^e starry looms 
 
 of love! 
 They are treading paths of glory in the endless sea 
 
 of spheres, 
 Where no earthly computations can denominate the 
 
 years ! 
 
 Our neighborhood has lost but one BILL ARM 
 STRONG, " Stuttering Bill," 
 
 Whose death, I know, with sad regrets, each neigh 
 bor s heart will fill. 
 Twas just before the rout, and he was fighting by 
 
 my side, 
 A grape-shot struck him, and he sank, without a 
 
 groan, and died. 
 Brave " Stuttering Bill," no truer heart e er rushed 
 
 into the fray ! 
 No purer patriot gave his life for Freedom on that 
 
 day! 
 
138 
 
 Who, think you, that I saw among brave MEAGHER S 
 headlong boys 
 
 Whose ringing cheers arose above the battle s deafen 
 ing noise ? 
 
 Why, PATRICK DEEGAN, to be sure God s blessing 
 on his head 
 
 You should have seen him charging through those 
 fearful storms of lead! 
 
 He recognized me on the field, though swiftly rush 
 ing by, 
 
 And called out, " HARRY, are ye there ? God kape 
 yees, me brave Vy!" 
 
 GAFFER asks to be remembered. Let me say for 
 him, just here, 
 
 He is bravery incarnate, knows no sentiment of fear; 
 
 Watches o er me like a father, shares my tent, my 
 couch and mess, 
 
 And my slightest hint of illness seems to put him 
 in distress. 
 
 Love to all the dear ones, mother; tell MANOMIN 
 I shall write 
 
 To her, too, before retiring. Bless you, mother, and 
 good night!" 
 
PART FOURTEENTH. 
 
 EECOED OF THE WAR-HAEEY S LETTEE DESCRIBING THE 
 BATTLE OP WILLIAMSBUEa, 
 
 (|/H, parents, you whose sons have gone forth from 
 
 your hearthstone s light, 
 
 Clothed with your love and prayers and tears, to 
 
 battle for the right, 
 Who can appreciate like you the hopes, the fears, 
 
 the joys, 
 That are awakened in your breasts by letters from 
 
 your boys? 
 Oh, maidens, with your loves in camps, you whom 
 
 battles fill with gloom, 
 Weep and laugh with poor MANOMIN in the quiet 
 
 of her room. 
 How she fed upon that letter ! How, beneath its 
 
 magic power 
 Did her heart burst into blossom, as the sun unfolds 
 
 a flower! 
 1*9 
 

 UO 
 
 She read it and re-read it o er, kissed it, and again 
 
 she read, 
 Bore it in her bosom all the day, at night, beneath 
 
 her head, 
 Would lay upon it and would dream of hearing rifles 
 
 roar, 
 And wake and tremble with a fear of seing him no 
 
 more! 
 
 The war waged on and armies grew and blows fell 
 
 thick on every hand, 
 By sea, by shore, in swamp, and glade, the shock of 
 
 battles shook the land. 
 
 The bloody day at Wilson s Creek, where brave, true- 
 hearted LYON fell, 
 And that fierce fight at Lexington, where MULLIGAN 
 
 behaved so well, 
 The crimson mem ries of Ball s Bluff, where sainted 
 
 BAKER calmly died, 
 And the red record of Belmont, where rebel numbers 
 
 were defied, 
 The fierce, wild fight in Beaufort Bay, where old 
 
 New England s valiant sons 
 To South Carolina s recreant knaves taught loyalty 
 
 with Dahlgren guns; 
 The Drainsville triumphs, and the fights at Middle 
 
 and at Silver Creek. 
 
141 
 
 Where GARFIELD won and TORRENCE made the fright 
 ened rebels cover seek; 
 
 Mill Spring, where Minnesota boys piled up the 
 traitors on the snow, 
 
 Where Ninth Ohio bravely fought and FRY laid 
 
 ZOLLIKOFFER low, 
 
 Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, where western valor 
 brightly shone, 
 
 And Roanoke, with all its forts, and North Carolina s 
 coast our own, 
 
 The struggle with the " Merrimac," that made all 
 Europe s navies reel 
 
 And shriek to see the age of wood go down before 
 the age of steel; 
 
 Pea Eidge, where SIGEL saved the day and BEN. 
 McCuLLOUGH justly bled, 
 
 And Newbern s sanguinary fight, where noble BURN- 
 SIDE bravely led ; 
 
 And SHIELDS wild strife at Winchester, where bright 
 ly shone Ohio men, 
 
 And POPE S bold engineering scheme, that gave us 
 Island Number Ten, 
 
 And Pittsburg Landing s bloody fray, and New Or 
 leans great naval fight, 
 
 That filled all Europe with dismay, and all our 
 country with delight; 
 
 And Fort Pulaski s ragged rents, fierce work to be so 
 quickly done, 
 
142 
 
 That showed the world how forts will melt before a 
 
 single Parrott gun 
 
 All these wi d doings filled the land, and kept excite 
 ment s life alive, 
 Yet, discontented murmurs rose, like buzzings from 
 
 an angry hive. 
 Some blamed some praised, all grumbled loud and 
 
 all some little fault would find 
 Oh, may God bless the patriot man-, that battles with 
 
 contented mind ! 
 Full many a letter HARRY wrote while prone in 
 
 idleness he lay 
 In front of Yorktown, but at last the word was: 
 
 " Strike the tents to-day ! " 
 Keen LEE had drawn his forces off as silent as an 
 
 evening wind 
 And left MCCLELLAN, cautiously, to feel his way 
 
 along behind! 
 But " Little MACK " had glorious stuff in that great, 
 
 splendid army there 
 Impetuous men, but brave withal, and quick to do, 
 
 and bold to dare, 
 Who would not let the rebels heels grow cool, when 
 
 fairly on the track, 
 Although MCCLELLAN might be left, they did not care 
 
 what distance back ! 
 And presently the country rang with a great victory s 
 
 trumpet sound 
 
148 
 
 "Hurrah! hurrah, for Williamsburg ! " the million 
 
 echoes flung around. 
 Again, in EICHARD THORNTON S circle, anxious dread 
 
 and palsying fear 
 Made them all averse to hearing, yet most wretched 
 
 not to hear. 
 Minnesota s loss was fearful, every one they met 
 
 had said 
 What if then their darling HARRY, what, oh what, if 
 
 he were dead? 
 But one morning came a neighbor, and, amid a hurst 
 
 of tears, 
 They perused this noble letter, which at once relieved 
 
 their fears : 
 
 " With the drums of victory sounding and the woods 
 
 with shouts resounding, 
 Mingled with the mournful patter of the black and 
 
 dismal rain, 
 I am sitting here, all weary, in this stormy midnight 
 
 dreary, 
 Writing home to you, dear mother, and MANOMIN, 
 
 once again. 
 Oh, my brain is wild with bajttle; still my senses 
 
 seem to rattle 
 With the volleys of the rifles, and the tumult of the 
 
 fray, 
 
144 
 
 And the cannons awful thunder, rending heaven and 
 
 earth asunder, 
 Pouring out their deadly missiles, swiftly sweeping 
 
 life away! 
 Peace! be still, my ruffled being, calm, my inward 
 
 sense of seeing, 
 While I tell two souls expectant of the glories we 
 
 have won; 
 And our brave boys deeds of valor, and the ghastly 
 
 looks of pallor 
 On the rebel chieftains faces when the chivalry all 
 
 run: 
 Oh, we whipped the rascals roundly, beat them fairly, 
 
 thrashed them soundly, 
 As their list of killed and wounded, and their missing 
 
 ones will tell, 
 As will our brave heroes lying stabbed and mangled, 
 
 dead and dying, 
 Along the line where HOOKER for eight hours fought 
 
 so well ; 
 And where BERRY S Michiganders, like a swarm of 
 
 salamanders, 
 Eushing through the line of fire, fell like lightning 
 
 on the foe, 
 And where resistless BIRNEY and the lion-hearted 
 
 KEARNEY 
 Swept a swarm of ragged rebels to the gloomy gulf 
 
 below ! 
 
145 
 
 How will shine the future s story with the burning 
 
 deeds of glory 
 
 Of Colonel DWIGHT S "Excelsior," and old Massa 
 chusetts sons 
 Under BLAISDELL, wildly storming, through the forest 
 
 fiercely swarming, 
 Singing dirges to those rebels with the voices of their 
 
 guns ! 
 And the brave men PECK was leading Death s wild 
 
 summons never heeding, 
 All the day, by fiercely fighting, held a crimsoned 
 
 grove of pines, 
 Until HANCOCK S heroes, turning, with set teeth and 
 
 eye-balls burning, 
 Burst with steel and flame and bullet on the yelling 
 
 rebel^ lines ! 
 
 Oh, that charge! twas brilliant, splendid, and the con 
 test quickly ended, 
 And shook the tree of treason from its roots unto its 
 
 crown 
 With a hurricane s wild power, sweeping, in a sudden 
 
 shower, 
 Hosts of withered, blighted "butternuts " in utter 
 
 ruin down! 
 Now the furious struggle finished, and excitement s 
 
 heat diminished, 
 How the tired heroes slumber on the wet and muddy 
 
 ground ! 
 
 19 
 
146 
 
 All but those, whose torches glaring through the 
 
 woods are kindly caring 
 For our dead and wounded brothers, lying thickly 
 
 strewn around. 
 Oh, my mother, after battle, when the volleys cease 
 
 to rattle, 
 And no more is heard the shouting, or the stirring 
 
 roll of drums, 
 When the mind is, for a season, gently swayed again 
 
 by reason, 
 In the void, oppressive midnight, when reflection s 
 
 hour comes, 
 How my heart aches for the dying, and the badly 
 
 wounded, lying 
 Stark and helpless groaning, moaning in their pain, 
 
 upon the ground. 
 And I think how each one s mother, father, sister, 
 
 or a brother, 
 Or perhaps a still more dear one, would be smitten 
 
 by the sound ! 
 Oh, this killing one another is most wretched business, 
 
 mother ! 
 It is fearful to behold us fiercely shoot each other 
 
 down ; 
 And I m sure the angels o er us blessed friends 
 
 who ve gone before us 
 And the merciful All-father, must regard it with a 
 
 frown. 
 
147 
 
 Yet, as often as reflection turns upon the South s 
 
 defection, 
 
 On her long and secret plotting to destroy the na 
 tion s life, 
 On her fierce, high-handed measures, seizing forts, 
 
 and ships and treasures, 
 
 On her foolish, mad ambition to inaugurate the strife ; 
 Then, I own, against the traitors those red-handed 
 
 violators 
 Of the peace of all our firesides the authors of 
 
 this war 
 Who, without a provocation, stabbed a mild and lovely 
 
 nation 
 With most murderous intentions, never knowing what 
 
 twas for, 
 That my heart, all hot and flushing, with combative 
 
 torrents rushing, 
 Rises fiercely, without thinking of war s woes and 
 
 wild alarms ; 
 And then, to put them under, I would hurl all heaven s 
 
 thunder, 
 Or gulf them with an earthquake, or call the world 
 
 to arms ! 
 Champions of a cursed dogma ! chivalrous, if love 
 
 of grog may 
 With the world pass current for that questionable 
 
 grace ; 
 
148 
 
 Tramplers on a brother human ! base defilers of black 
 
 women ! 
 How I scorn you, pompous braggarts, how detest your 
 
 empty race ! 
 I must close my letter, mother ; for, you know, there 
 
 is one other, 
 One dear one who would sorrow if I should fail 
 
 to write 
 To her, whose presence gleaming, illuminates my 
 
 dreaming, 
 As I slumber round the fire in the silent camp at 
 
 night ! 
 God keep that dear one, mother; may you always 
 
 love each other, 
 As I shall ever love you both through eternity s long 
 
 day! 
 And that God will kindly bless you, that no trouble 
 
 may distress you, 
 And we may meet once more on earth, your son will 
 
 ever pray." 
 
PART FIFTEENTH. 
 
 THE CAMP AT NIGHT -HARRY ON GUARD -" HALT ! WHO 
 
 COMES THERE? -GAFFER ENTRANCED- MESSAGE 
 
 FROM THE SPIRIT OF A SOLDIER! 
 
 and full the moon ascended, o er the hill 
 * tops mounting high, 
 
 Pouring floods of glory earthward through the deep, 
 
 blue cloudless sky. 
 JN~ot a breath of air was stirring, all the landscape 
 
 glowed with heat, 
 
 While, with watchful sense of duty, HARRY THORN 
 TON paced his beat. 
 Air and tree and field were silent ; nothing, save the 
 
 muffled tramp 
 Of the sentries and relief guard broke the stillness 
 
 of the camp. 
 HARRY was serenely happy ; letters had arrived that 
 
 day 
 From his parents and MANOMIN, long detained upon 
 
 the way. 
 
150 
 
 All were well had got his letters prayed for him 
 
 by day and night 
 Grandpa felt so proud of HARRY read his letters 
 
 with delight 
 44 Thoughts of eighteen -twelve would kindle his old 
 
 face, and knit his brow; 
 He was then a brave young soldier, just as is his 
 
 HARRY now ! " 
 Then MANOMIN S tender missive fell upon his heart 
 
 like dew; 
 All simplicity and frankness, trustful, passionate and 
 
 true. 
 How her being yearned to clasp him yearned to 
 
 mingle \vith his life, 
 Yearned to form that perfect oneness truly mated 
 
 "Mdn-and-Wifel" 
 Then what wonder he was happy, truly loved by 
 
 such a maid, 
 In return most truly loving naught suspected, 
 
 naught afraid ! 
 
 Or that his rapt spirit, flying with the speed of glanc 
 ing light, 
 Sought MANOMIN S little chamber, as he paced his 
 
 beat that night? 
 All her warm and ardent kisses rose unto his lips 
 
 again, 
 And his veins glowed with soft fire, and his heart 
 
 ached with love s pain ! 
 
151 
 
 Then her love flowed through his being like the in 
 cense of pure wine 
 "Halt! Who comes there ?" "Belief!" "Advance, 
 
 relief. Give the countersign ! " 
 1 Twas the guard that every sentry joys to know is 
 
 drawing near; 
 Sweeter music than their tramping falls not on his 
 
 listening ear. 
 Toward his tent did HARRY hasten pray what 
 
 meant the gathered throng? 
 Something strange must be transpiring ! Listen, what 
 
 a wild, sweet song! 
 Full a hundred awe-struck soldiers in a circle, sat 
 
 around ; 
 GAFFER, tranced, was in the centre, standing upright 
 
 on the ground. 
 HARRY learned, upon enquiring, that, since fall of 
 
 early eve, 
 Witchful things had been progressing, hard for senses 
 
 to believe 
 Drums were beaten, trumpets sounded, cymbals jarred 
 
 upon the ear, 
 When all knew no drum or trumpet, neither cymbals 
 
 were there near. 
 
 Lights had blazed from GAFFER S body voices, call 
 ing men by names, 
 Had been heard, and several soldiers saw, within a 
 
 wreath of flames 
 
152 
 
 The calm features of a comrade that had fallen in 
 
 the fight, 
 Heard him say, "How are you, fellows?" then he 
 
 vanished in the night ! 
 Hands had travelled round the circle, stroking each 
 
 upon the head, 
 When a band of unseen voices broke into a song, 
 
 they said. 
 " Fellow-soldiers " hark, tis GAFFER, in his trance 
 
 state speaking, now; 
 See ! his eyes are closed, and softly a pale light 
 
 plays round his brow ! 
 "Fellow-soldiers, all the lessons taught by earths 
 
 profoundest sage, 
 All the wonderful experiences from childhood to old 
 
 age, 
 All the store houses of learning prized by wise ones 
 
 of the earth, 
 Are as nothing to the lessons of this death and 
 
 second birth ! 
 I will give you my experience and twill answer for 
 
 you all : 
 In the straggle at Winchester I was wounded by a 
 
 ball; 
 Stunned and dizzy on the instant I sank helpless to 
 
 the ground, 
 While the warm blood trickled swiftly from the deep 
 
 and fatal wound. 
 
158 
 
 In a moment more my senses were restored to me 
 
 as clear 
 
 As I ever had possessed them, and I lay there with 
 out fear. 
 I knew that I was wounded, badly wounded, it might 
 
 be, 
 But thoughts of dying from that wound did not occur 
 
 to me. 
 The battlefield, with all its noise, swam gently out 
 
 of view, 
 And scenes of home, and boyhood days, and deeds 
 
 my childhood knew, 
 Came drifting sweetly through my mind while there, 
 
 without a pain, 
 I lay, and thought of friends I d see when I were 
 
 well again ! 
 
 Sweet flowed the current of my thoughts, and peace 
 ful as the deep, 
 When not a zephyr stirs abroad, 1 sank away to 
 
 sleep ! 
 Anon I wakened, and beheld sweet faces beaming 
 
 round ! 
 I stood erect! no longer faint and bleeding on the 
 
 grounpl ! 
 " Why, how is this ? 1 " amazed I cried, " Oh did it 
 
 only seem 
 That I was wounded, or arn I now cheated by a 
 
 dream? " 
 
154 
 
 Then looking downward to my feet I saw my body 
 
 lie 
 With white, stark face and rigid limbs, and glazed 
 
 and glaring eye ! 
 Ah, then the truth that I had passed away from things 
 
 of earth 
 Had crossed the dismal vale of Death, and found the 
 
 second birth 
 Came pouring like a flood of light through all my 
 
 soul and sense, 
 And friends, long gone, now thronged around and 
 
 ended all suspense ! 
 Twas hard, indeed, to realize the fact that I had 
 
 died 
 There bent the sky, there waved the trees, along 
 
 the river side, 
 Here were my hands, my feet, my limbs, my body, 
 
 and my head, 
 All clothed, erect and full of life! oh, no, I was 
 
 not dead ! 
 Still, I had passed the dread ordeal, had drained the 
 
 fearful cup, 
 There lay my musket and I tried but could not take 
 
 it up! 
 I saw my friends, and thousands more bright ones 
 
 I did not know 
 Move freely through the ambient air where er they 
 
 chose to go ! 
 
155 
 
 Now high among the fleecy clouds, now down amid 
 
 the trees, 
 Now flying swift and straight through space, like ship 
 
 before a breeze ! 
 Oh, then a longing filled my soul to try a starward 
 
 flight, 
 When instantly I rose in air, mid burnings of 
 
 delight ! 
 I drifted o er the battlefield, where yet, in fearful 
 
 strife, 
 Stood ranks of men with sole intent to take each 
 
 other s life ! 
 
 I watched the stricken, as they fell, and saw the pro 
 cess, grand : 
 The body s death, the spirit s birth into this happy 
 
 land ! 
 The wild, bewildered, puzzled look as each his form 
 
 surveyed, 
 Or turned his glance on field and grove, or where his 
 
 body laid, 
 
 The gathering friends, the fond embrace, the joy, re 
 placing fear 
 These are the first experiences of all on coming 
 
 here ! 
 When in my body, gun in hand, so willing to take 
 
 life, 
 I little thought that overhead, spectators of the strife, 
 
156 
 
 ilung millions of celestial ones with sadness in each 
 
 soul, 
 To see man on his fellow man such tides of hatred 
 
 roll! 
 And as ], too, hung o er the field made wise by 
 
 my new birth 
 My being wept at what I was and what I did on 
 
 earth ! 
 Then came a wiser one, and said, " Be all your grief 
 
 dissolved ; 
 From out this fiery storm of war shall Wisdom be 
 
 evolved ! 
 Behold the sun, now shining down o er river, sea, 
 
 and land ; 
 How green the trees, how soft the air, the prospect, 
 
 oh, how grand; 
 But, o er yon ocean s vast expanse behold the mists 
 
 arise, 
 Sucked upward by this shining sun to darken all the 
 
 skies ; 
 Behold the heated air ascend o er many miles of 
 
 space, 
 While yonder, from the frigid poles, to take its vacant 
 
 place, 
 Comes, charged with cold and thunder-bolts, the north 
 
 wind, sweeping strong, 
 And o er these peaceful scenes will burst in fearful 
 
 strength ere long I 
 
157 
 
 But when the angry storm has passed and shines the 
 
 sun again, 
 The tree feels stronger for the blast and greener 
 
 glows the plain! 
 "Tis so with man success in life, prosperity and 
 
 peace 
 To feel his power and wealth and fame day after 
 
 day increase 
 Begets a grasping selfishness within his hardening 
 
 heart, 
 That leads him to desire to seize a weaker brother s 
 
 part. 
 This done then arrogance is born of such unjust 
 
 success 
 And year by year does he contrive more victims to 
 
 oppress ; 
 Until, at length, Harmonious Law, infracted, once 
 
 too far, 
 Asserts its potency, and lo ! the land is filled with 
 
 war ! 
 But when its crimson tide has ebbed, its furious 
 
 strength is spent, 
 
 The moral mind will treasure well the lesson that 
 [ was meant ! 
 
 And learn to know, as little drops wear out the 
 
 granite fast. 
 So, envy, selfishness, and pride will lead to war at 
 
 last ! " 
 
158 
 
 He ceased, and swiftly I was drawn along a gleaming 
 
 line 
 To where reposed, in slumber deep, a love that yearned 
 
 for mine ! 
 Her fair young face reflected forth her soul s deep 
 
 dream of joy, 
 Her spirit rose to my embrace she clasped her 
 
 soldier boy! 
 But all in vain ! her waking sense was powerless to 
 
 impart 
 That story of her spirit s feast to her enhungered 
 
 heart ! 
 For though to all we may draw near, as freely as 
 
 we will, 
 That few are subject to control must be remembered 
 
 still. 
 The how and why that this is so to me is not yet 
 
 plain ; 
 
 A wiser one is waiting here, these riddles to ex 
 plain. 
 My soul is filled with joy and love to know, that 
 
 out of strife, 
 I have emerged to glorious day, to sure, immortal 
 
 life! 
 We have a fine, ethereal world, encircling earth 
 
 around, 
 Where spreading fields, and flowery meads, and groves 
 
 and lakes abound! 
 
159 
 
 Where music breathes in every sound and fragrance 
 
 loads the air ; 
 Where graceful trees profusely yield the flowing 
 
 robes we wear ! 
 
 Let not these truths be shut away by doubt s obscur 
 ing wings, 
 You only have the grosser forms, we have the soul of 
 
 things ! 
 .Behold the lillies of the field ! no prince, in all his 
 
 pride, 
 Was e er arrayed in robes so rich, so delicately 
 
 dyed! 
 Whence come your silks ? from little worms ! Your 
 
 linens? from a weed! 
 
 Your woolens? from a creature s back! Oh, wonder 
 ful indeed ! 
 Whence come the luscious fruits you eat, the water 
 
 that you drink? 
 The air you breathe, the birds, the flowers? Oh, 
 
 doubter, stop and think ! 
 Can God, from whom all blessings flow, so good and 
 
 potent here, 
 Come short, in all his attributes and powers in our 
 
 sphere ? 
 
 Oh, no, the wonders multiply as upward you ascend ! 
 And extacies and forms of bliss seem truly without 
 
 end! 
 
160 
 
 God gives with an unsparing hand and every soul, 
 that will, 
 
 At all the fountains of His love may freely take 
 its fill! 
 
 Then fear not death, oh, fellow-men, no hell awaits 
 you here 
 
 Except the hell you bring from earth, which soon 
 will disappear 
 
 Beneath the genial floods of love that flow from ten 
 der eyes 
 
 On every erring child of earth that passes to the 
 skies ! 
 
 Your envy, pride and selfishness will then be buried 
 deep 
 
 In earth with your lost robe of flesh, in everlasting 
 sleep ! 
 
 And all your higher principles will day by day ex 
 pand 
 
 Beneath the love of loving hearts in this celestial 
 land! 
 
 Then fear not death, my fellow-men, but calmly wait 
 the day 
 
 That shall announce your second birth. Good night, 
 I must away ! " 
 
PART SIXTEENTH. 
 
 EXPLANATIONS OP THE "WISER ONE," 
 
 reigned throughout the circle for a mo- 
 ^ ment, then a strain 
 Of the same delicious music poured its volume forth 
 
 again. 
 Hark ! what is that air, familiar, so distinctly floating 
 
 down? 
 Ha, the circle add their voices! Tis the ballad of 
 
 "JOHN BROWN!" 
 How the music harmonizes falling soft each heart 
 
 upon; 
 How the chorus stirs the spirit " John Brown s soul 
 
 is marching on!" 
 When the song at last was finished, lo! a presence 
 
 bright was seen 
 By the side of GAFFER, looking calm and lovingly 
 
 serene. 
 
 161 11 
 
162 
 
 Robed in stuff of finest texture, band of gems around 
 
 its head, 
 Oh, how thrilled those hundred pulses when in tender 
 
 voice it said: 
 "Brothers, I have been enabled by your harmony 
 
 to-night 
 To become en rapport with you, and be patent to 
 
 your sight. 
 Rapport signifies condition thus, if with your body s 
 
 eye 
 You would view a given object it were waste of time 
 
 to try 
 Until you are placed en rapport with it by the rays 
 
 of light; 
 Light, then, is a fixed condition necessary to your 
 
 sight. 
 "What is light? Tis magnetism; tis the moulding 
 
 law of God: 
 
 Tis the life and love of atoms, Nature s great divin 
 ing rod. 
 As I said, His magnetism tis the law by which 
 
 you see 
 Blocks and stones, or one another, fields and fences, 
 
 flower or tree, 
 Yet intensest floods magnetic might pour ever from 
 
 the skies, 
 And your spirits dwell in darkness, were you not 
 
 endowed with eyes. 
 
163 
 
 Yet the eye is not the seer, tis the spirit that be 
 holds ; 
 >Tis the eye receives the vision which the light reflects 
 
 and moulds; 
 And when you shall lose your body and your eyes 
 
 you still will find 
 That your light is magnetism, softened, deepened, 
 
 and refined. 
 
 Now each one of you behold me by this same mag 
 netic light; 
 Let its silver cord be broken I should vanish from 
 
 your sight; 
 With your eyes you do not see me ; close them and 
 
 you ll find it true, 
 
 Only by your spirit vision am I visible to you. 
 Through your ears you do not hear me, stop them, 
 
 and you still will find 
 Every sentence that I utter comprehended by your 
 
 mind. 
 That effects arise from causes is one of the sternest 
 
 laws, 
 And by GAFFER though you see me, GAFFER still is 
 
 not the cause ! 
 He is simply a reflector by whose aid I turn the 
 
 light 
 On your inner sense of vision, this reveals me to 
 
 your sight. 
 
164 
 
 And were not your minds receptive, did not harmony 
 
 prevail, 
 From between us, I nor GAFFER could a moment lift 
 
 the veil. 
 I perceive that you are asking in your minds the 
 
 reason why 
 All men may not hold communion with the dwellers 
 
 of the sky? 
 The solution of this question few earth minds can 
 
 understand, 
 Though it is the simplest knowledge taught you in 
 
 the summer land ! 
 
 Twould he hard to make a brother, born into exist 
 ence blind, 
 By description fix the colors of the rainbow on his 
 
 mind; 
 Still I shall attempt to teach you why it is that we 
 
 may come 
 Freely unto certain of you, while we cannot unto 
 
 some. 
 First, remember, men are different, no two beings 
 
 are alike, 
 And the truth of this assertion every mind at once 
 
 will strike. 
 Walk some autumn through your orchard, raise your 
 
 eyes, and you will see 
 A vast difference in the apples, growing on the self 
 
 same tree, 
 
165 
 
 Here is one all dwarfed and wrinkled, by its side 
 
 one large and fair ; 
 Both the children of one parent, nursed by the same 
 
 sun and air. 
 So with men, from low surroundings some will rise, 
 
 unfold, expand, 
 Crown their day and generation with a record great 
 
 and grand, 
 While a child of the same parents in vile ways will 
 
 take delight, 
 Die, and leave behind him memories dark as Egypt s 
 
 fabled night. 
 I refer you to the functions; though all eat, and 
 
 sleep, and walk, 
 Have their bright and gloomy moments, laugh and 
 
 cry, reflect and talk, 
 Do not all perform them different ? Do you know 
 
 of any two 
 Who are similar in these things, or like either one 
 
 of you? 
 As by viewing Nature s functions we decide upon 
 
 God s plan, 
 
 So the outward manner, surely, tells us of the in 
 ward man. 
 Note the child upon a journey ever meeting faces 
 
 new, 
 
 It will pick the children-loving at a single inter 
 view. 
 
166 
 
 Thus a self-hood of conditions, multifariously com 
 bined, 
 Is this wonderful immortal crown of all created 
 
 kind. 
 Not a single message, therefore, can the longing spirit 
 
 send 
 Through a mortal whose condition is not suited to 
 
 that end. 
 
 The musician that assayeth to produce a sweet re 
 frain, 
 Every cord to proper tension is most careful first 
 
 to strain; 
 Men are instruments of music some with hut one 
 
 string are found, 
 Others two, and more another, tuned their proper 
 
 notes to sound. 
 While we sometimes find, though rarely, those in 
 
 whom each separate cord, 
 Nicely tuned, forever utters perfect sounds of sweet 
 
 accord. 
 Now, as spirits cannot tune you, it is plain that they 
 
 must choose 
 Those whose natural condition makes it possible to 
 
 use. 
 Thus have I attempted plainly to impress upon your 
 
 mind 
 The chief reason why we cannot use the mass of 
 
 human kind. 
 
167 
 
 But of vastly more importance to each brief sojourner 
 
 here 
 Is the knowledge we would bring you from our 
 
 sublimated sphere. 
 We have truths to give you, brothers, broader than 
 
 your wisest give, 
 Truths that light the " * Dismal Yalley, " and instruct 
 
 you how to live. 
 Man is not a fallen being; from the lowest forms 
 
 of life 
 He has risen, out of tumult, out of discord and wild 
 
 strife, 
 
 Out of thick and groping darkness, out of supersti 
 tions blind, 
 
 Out of bigotry, intolerance, and narrowness of mind, 
 Out of gross and cruel practices that long have 
 
 stained the race, 
 
 Man has risen and is rising to a more exalted place. 
 " By their fruits " ye are "to know them " and 
 
 along man s path you ll find 
 Fruits abundantly attesting the progressiveness of 
 
 mind. 
 Turn your gaze adown his pathway for two hundred 
 
 thousand years, 
 Note the caves and holes he lived in, and his barb*- 
 
 rous clubs and spears. 
 Huts and tents, and bows and arrows, rude canoes 
 
 along the shore. 
 
1C8 
 
 Are his only signs of progress for a thousand ages 
 
 more. 
 Then a glimpse of agriculture and of pastoral life 
 
 appears, 
 Which, with unperceived improvement, lasts a long 
 
 decade of years. 
 Then we find the clans uniting under laws for general 
 
 weal, 
 Notice also woven fabrics, gold and silver, iron and 
 
 steel, 
 
 Costly stuffs of silk and linen, famous for their gorg 
 eous dyes; 
 Teeming cities, grander dwellings, and huge edifices 
 
 rise; 
 Swords, and instruments of torture, armors, shields, 
 
 and engines, dire, 
 That projected monstrous missiles and incendiary 
 
 fire ; 
 Wars prevail, and cities crumble, new ones still arise, 
 
 more grand; 
 Ships loom up man s mind is spreading o er the sea 
 
 as well as land. 
 Slowly onward roll the ages, man expands from year 
 
 to year 
 Hieroglyphics come and vanish, written languages 
 
 appear ; 
 Startling truths, by bold proclaimers in the teeth of 
 
 error hurled, 
 
169 
 
 Stir the rage of blinded bigots, and electrify the 
 
 world. 
 That earth, and all the shining stars, were planets, 
 
 huge and round, 
 And moved through space though long denied, great 
 
 truths, at last were found. 
 The long, dark night that shrouded man at last came 
 
 to a close, 
 And mid the murmurs of the world the sun of 
 
 printing rose. 
 Then rapid were the strides of mind though fiercely 
 
 error clung 
 To her dark ways, and o er all light her baleful 
 
 shadows flung; 
 She persecuted, cursed, and scorned, and raved in her 
 
 distress, 
 As year by year truth s sun arose, and her dark shade 
 
 grew less. 
 Now Freedom raised its head and bade oppression 
 
 lax its hand, 
 Then steam was born, and ribbed the earth with many 
 
 an iron band ; 
 Then throbbing telegraphic threads bound shore with 
 
 distant shore, 
 Thus triumphed mind o er time and space, on earth, 
 
 for evermore! 
 The planets all are sun-born things, and in the sea 
 
 of space 
 
170 
 
 Swim round and round the mother orb, each in its 
 
 proper place. 
 Oh, many shut this truth away, and will not hear a 
 
 word, 
 Yet is it writ on every brood, and every mother 
 
 bird. 
 Eternal space is filled with God, and there was never 
 
 hour 
 When every atom did not throb with his life-giving 1 
 
 power. 
 He did not need a voice to call a something out of 
 
 naught, 
 Fruits of his life the gleaming suns were one by one 
 
 outwrought I 
 From every loaded orchard bough this truth is plain 
 
 to see, 
 Its shining worlds of fruit attest the God within the 
 
 tree! 
 Your sun, projected into space, unnumbered ages 
 
 rolled, 
 Convulsed and torn by laws that sought its functions 
 
 to unfold ; 
 And when maturity was reached, its monstrous womb 
 
 was rent, 
 And forth into the realm of space a radiant child 
 
 was sent, 
 And ages, more than man can count, rolled onward, 
 
 morn by morn, 
 
171 
 
 Until at length this earth of yours was, in its season, 
 
 born. 
 And millions upon millions more of ages wandered 
 
 by, 
 
 Ere Nature s forces ceased to strive, and dwelt in 
 
 harmony. 
 In early days, ere cambrian rocks or Cumbrian yet 
 
 were formed, 
 With living, moving forms of life the shoreless ocean 
 
 swarmed, 
 Thence slowly upward, age by age, progressed the 
 
 mighty plan, 
 Until all types were grouped in one, and lo ! that 
 
 one was man! 
 Although his mind was dark and fierce, and knew not 
 
 west from east, 
 Though evil, yet was he a good, considered with the 
 
 beast ; 
 The law that raised him up will still for age on 
 
 age refine 
 
 The offspring of his loins until eternity shall shine 
 With love, and wisdom, and great truths, and things 
 
 the good most prize, 
 Incarnate in a race whose source we vainly would 
 
 despise. 
 And, brothers, when your souls have gained, within 
 
 the body s case, 
 
172 
 
 The sum of good that earth can give they 11 seek a 
 
 higher place. 
 And there will still unfold and rise, and rise and 
 
 still unfold, 
 Expand with joys whose extacies no tongue has ever 
 
 told. 
 The world doth make sad work with souls insists 
 
 that each shall take 
 A load of principles that lived but for the body s 
 
 sake. 
 The spirit needs not selfishness, nor envy, hate, or 
 
 fear, 
 Those are the forces made to drive and chain the 
 
 body here. 
 And when the body falls to earth they surely will 
 
 not rise 
 Along with love, and hope, and faith, and wisdom, to 
 
 the skies. 
 But if your life on earth be bad if good you do 
 
 not seek, 
 
 Then will your spirit attributes indeed be very weak. 
 And what I mean by seeking good is strive to let 
 
 your mind 
 Expand with sympathetic love toward your fellow 
 
 kind. 
 Be not absorbed in gaining wealth keep well this 
 
 fact in view: 
 
173 
 
 All earthly honors, in themselves, are worthless trash 
 
 to you. 
 Be kind and gentle in your homes ; remember, love 
 
 is best 
 Developed in the youngling ere it leaves the parent 
 
 nest. 
 Decide opinions for yourself, yet reason deep and 
 
 long 
 On things profound ere you pronounce them either 
 
 right or wrong. 
 Think much upon your future life, and often of each 
 
 friend, 
 Who from your circle hath passed on to where your 
 
 footsteps tend. 
 Thus shall your life on earth be blessed, and scores 
 
 of tender eyes 
 Will pour a flood of love to light your pathway to 
 
 the skies. 
 I pray you, therefore, heed my voice ; be patient in 
 
 the right, 
 Forgetting not your great reward; brothers, adieu, 
 
 good night." 
 
PART SEVENTEENTH. 
 
 THE "FOLKS AT HOME "-LETTER FROM BARRY TO 
 MANOMIN- GAFFER S STORY, 
 
 wore on in RICHARD S dwelling months 
 T of mingled hope and fear 
 All good tidings straightway darkened by the bad 
 
 they feared to hear. 
 "War, they felt, was no respecter wise and noble, 
 
 good and true, 
 Quite as often as the vicious, fell before its bolts, 
 
 they knew. 
 
 Anxiously they watched for letters, and when " mail- 
 day " came and passed 
 Each would ask the inward question, " Will this 
 
 letter be his last?" 
 Oh, those letters were such treasures read, re-read, 
 
 and read again, 
 Until every word and sentence became fixed upon 
 
 the brain. 
 174 
 
175 
 
 All deserved a better record than this humble book 
 
 of mine 
 Sentiments most high and noble, glowing in each 
 
 word and line. 
 Fine descriptions of the country which the troops 
 
 were marching through, 
 Minute details of each skirmish, observations fresh 
 
 and new, 
 Fillial words, so hope sustaining, full of tenderness 
 
 and love 
 Toward each member of the household trustful faith 
 
 in God above ; 
 Confidence in final triumph, though the sky so dark 
 
 did seem, 
 Formed the burden of his letters were his almost 
 
 constant theme. 
 One June evening, while the shadows softly round 
 
 the doorway crept, 
 And from off the blooming prairies smells of sweetest 
 
 v fragrance swept, 
 Underneath the spreading branches of a patriarchal 
 
 tree 
 Sat MANOMIN, deeply thinking of the unborn yet 
 
 to be. 
 EICHARD stealthily approached her, taking something 
 
 from his cap, 
 And a moment leaning o er her, gently dropped it 
 
 in her lap. 
 
176 
 
 How she started! how she clutched it! Then her 
 
 eyes with tears grew dim, 
 Tears of joy too great to utter, joy to hear once 
 
 more from him. 
 Then, with face suffused with blushes, swiftly she 
 
 tripped up ihe stair, 
 And with palpitating pulses sank into the rocking 
 
 chair. 
 Through her soul a storm of joy swept, making all 
 
 her senses reel, 
 When twas o er she lit her candle, and then broke 
 
 her letter s seal: 
 
 " DARLING ONE, once more the pleasure of addressing 
 
 you a line 
 That may keep you strong in courage and in love 
 
 and hope, is mine. 
 Courage to sustain you, darling, should some rifle 
 
 ring my knell; 
 Love to blunt the edge of sorrow, hope that all may 
 
 yet be well. 
 Down Virginia s fertile valleys we are marching, 
 
 day by day, 
 Over hills and through deep forests patiently we 
 
 wend our way, 
 Through the dark ravines and gorges, over hamlet, 
 
 farm and town, 
 
1 
 
 Daily we go sweeping onward, like a freshet pouring 
 
 down. 
 Into corn cribs, fields and orchards, houses, stores, 
 
 as on we go, 
 
 Sadly does this living river every second overflow. 
 There are many things enacted which I do not 
 
 care to tell, 
 War, at best, is wretched business, that I m sure 
 
 you know full well. 
 But there is a little story, interesting, strange and 
 
 true, 
 That concerns our honest GAFFER which I will relate 
 
 to you. 
 Tester evening, after sundown, in the fading twilight 
 
 dim, 
 Having found that he was absent I went out in search 
 
 of him. 
 We were camped near by a farm house, deeply set 
 
 within a grove, 
 And, as if to further hide it, climbing vines luxuriant 
 
 strove. 
 In the rear, enclosed by palings, with its tombstones 
 
 glittering white, 
 Wrapt in peaceful, sacred silence a small graveyard 
 
 met my sight. 
 Moved by some strong inward prompting I removed 
 
 the wooden pin 
 
 12 
 
178 
 
 That secured the little wicket, swung it back and 
 entered in. 
 
 And although I closed it gently and walked on with 
 muffled tread, 
 
 Yet distrustfully the "breezes seemed to whisper over 
 head, 
 
 And the willows, hending downward, to the staring 
 tombstones said: 
 
 " Let us watch this Yankee soldier here among the 
 Southron dead! " 
 
 E en the moon looked down suspicious from her win 
 dow in the skies, 
 
 Peering at me through the branches of the trees in 
 mute surprise. 
 
 But I wandered on in silence down the shaded, grav 
 elled nave; 
 
 Suddenly I saw a figure stretched full length across 
 a grave. 
 
 I was startled for a moment, then discovered by its 
 clothes 
 
 That it was a Union soldier, still as if in death s 
 repose. 
 
 Thoughts swept o er me of assassins with foul pur 
 pose lurking near, 
 
 And I drew my "Colt," determined I would sell 
 existence dear. 
 
 But no murderous hand assailed me, triggers clicked 
 not on the air, 
 
179 
 
 So I carefully moved forward heavens, Was GAF 
 FER lying there ! 
 Frightened, I sat down beside him, felt his pulse 
 
 and raised his head; 
 He was clammy, cold and rigid and I thought he 
 
 must he dead. 
 But he bore no mark of bruises, stabbed he certainly 
 
 was not, 
 For 1 ripped his vestments open and no mark of 
 
 thrust or shot 
 Was there anywhere about him, then the thought 
 
 occurred, perchance 
 This apparent death was really nothing but a spirit 
 
 trance. 
 So I sat me down determined that the issue I would 
 
 bide, 
 When a drowsiness came o er me and I laid down 
 
 by his side. 
 Then my inner sight was opened and the graveyard 
 
 blazed with light, 
 While amid the foliage moving there were scores of 
 
 beings bright; 
 And I saw that standing near me, with his features 
 
 lit with love, 
 There was GAFFER in communion with a maiden 
 
 from above. 
 Oh, her radiant beauty, darling, was a glorious sight 
 
 to see, 
 
180 
 
 And my spirit thrilled when GAFFER turned and 
 
 brought her unto me. 
 Her tender eyes and loving look and faultless form 
 
 and face, 
 Her silvery voice and winsome ways, her arilesness 
 
 and grace, 
 
 The fascinating, thrilling touch of her angelic hand 
 Within my mind have crystalized that glimpse of 
 
 Summer Land. 
 And never more can I forget the calm and holy 
 
 bliss 
 Which renders life in that bright world so different 
 
 from this. 
 Here selfishness, distrust and hate their promptings 
 
 never cease, 
 There all is brotherhood and love, enjoyment, rest 
 
 and peace. 
 My trance was brief and coming to and raising up 
 
 my head, 
 Saw GAFFER in his normal state, who then in low 
 
 tones said : 
 Sit up, friend HARRY, close to me and hear while 
 
 I impart 
 To you a tale that long has lain a secret in rny 
 
 heart. 
 
 A score of years ago my home was in this farm 
 house here ; 
 
181 
 
 I was a tutor from the north, employed by HUGH 
 
 DE VERE, 
 
 A rich, aristocratic man and proud as he was rich, 
 With many a thousand rood of land and many a 
 
 bondman, which 
 He seemed to think endowed him with more virtues 
 
 and what not, 
 Than couid by any means belong to those in humble 
 
 lot. 
 The very opposite of this his wife was. kind and 
 
 mild, 
 
 With heart as tender and as pure as any little child. 
 She recognized the home of man and woman as on 
 
 high, 
 And felt that all the aims of earth should be to learn 
 
 to die. 
 She was a lady, nay was more, an angel of earth s 
 
 sphere. 
 And like her was her only girl, sweet ADELAIN 
 
 DE VERE. 
 She and young HUGH my pupils were she eighteen, 
 
 he a score, 
 He but reviewed his Yirgil and some things he d 
 
 learned before; 
 While drawing, botany and French and music she 
 
 assayed, 
 And rising o er all obstacles surprising progress 
 
 made. 
 
182 
 
 HUGH was his father s counterpart, full of that gassy 
 
 pride 
 Which leads your pompous southern man to scoff at 
 
 and deride 
 All honest men whose wealth results from toil of 
 
 their own hands 
 And ever ruffianly parades his " " niggers " and his 
 
 lands. 
 I bore the arrogance and pride, the insults, taunts, 
 
 and sneers 
 Of both the senior and the son for two long, bitter 
 
 years. 
 Still not so bitter that I would not gladly take the 
 
 pain 
 Aye, twice the pain of those two years to live them 
 
 o er again. 
 For in those trying days there came a compensation 
 
 dear : 
 It was the plighted love and troth of ADELAIN DE 
 
 YERE. 
 And, HARRY, I had dived into my soul s inmost 
 
 retreat, 
 Had plucked its choicest flower of love and laid 
 
 it at her feet. 
 
 We met in secret oftentimes within this little wood, 
 Full well we knew the consequence if son or father 
 
 should 
 
183 
 
 Discover our attachment ere our plans were more 
 
 matured, 
 That fearful insults by us both would have to be 
 
 endured. 
 The time for which I had engaged was drawing to 
 
 an end 
 And anxiously those fleeting hours I watched, you 
 
 may depend; 
 For I had promised I would seek her father and 
 
 demand 
 His sanction of his daughters choice in giving me 
 
 her hand. 
 And if withheld, as well we knew it was most sure 
 
 to be, 
 Then boldly forth she had agreed to brave the world 
 
 with me. 
 I 11 not recall the bitter things that were that morning 
 
 said, 
 Nor tell you of the vile abuse the son heaped on 
 
 my head. 
 
 It is sufficient that I left the house that very day, 
 And that same night from neath this tree I bore my 
 
 bride away. 
 Young HUGH collected a rough band and followed 
 
 in our rear, 
 But we were made ""bone of one bone"" ere he 
 
 could interfere. 
 
184 
 
 In frenzied rage he bade his band burst in my eham- 
 
 ber door 
 A ruffian entered and got stretched at once upon 
 
 the floor. 
 Then pistol shots flew thick and fast and wildly raged 
 
 the strife, 
 My blood was boiling and I fought terrifically for 
 
 life. 
 The bullets rained all round the room ; at last, shot 
 
 through and through, 
 I fell upon the floor, but not till HUGH was stretched 
 
 there too. 
 
 Then came a blank and when at length my con 
 sciousness returned, 
 
 That HUGH was dead, my wife insane and I pro 
 scribed, I learned. 
 A score of men were organized to mete me out my 
 
 doom 
 As soon as I had gathered strength enough to leave 
 
 my room. 
 A colored maid of ADELAIN S had watched around 
 
 my bed ; 
 To some asylum, far away, my wife was sent, she 
 
 said, 
 And bade me, if Pd save my life, to rise that night 
 
 and flee, 
 That in a wood near by she had concealed my horse 
 
 for me. 
 
185 
 
 By some strange luck my wounds had proved mere 
 
 punctures of the flesh 
 Which left me, when my fever passed comparatively 
 
 fresh. 
 This fact was gloated o er by those who lay in wait 
 
 for me ; 
 Already they had made the noose, and picked the 
 
 gallows tree. 
 I fled and shortly after heard my wife had ceased to 
 
 live, 
 Then sought I that seclusion deep which only woods 
 
 can give. 
 And there, mid simple hearted ones, rude children 
 
 of the wood, 
 
 I brooded o er my loved and lost in deepest solitude ; 
 Twas then that spirits first began to swarm around 
 
 and give 
 Those tokens that when death ensues they do not 
 
 cease to live. 
 And often with my ADELAIN sweet converse I would 
 
 hold, 
 
 But not until to-night have I been able to behold 
 Her own dear self, and here beneath this huge old 
 
 trysting tree 
 She has in person met and pledged eternal troth 
 
 to me. 
 You saw her for a little space and many more 
 
 beside ; 
 
186 
 
 God speed the day that I may go and claim my 
 
 angel bride. " 
 Such is the story GAFFER told and such I give to 
 
 you, 
 
 And only add I think it true and strange as it is 
 
 true. 
 Now, darling one, I ll close this scrawl by bidding 
 
 you take heart, 
 Be not cast down if years shall lapse and find us 
 
 still apart. 
 The longest time doth close at last and round the 
 
 hour will roll 
 That shall unite us evermore, one life, one love, 
 
 one soul. 
 Be mindful of the chance of war, my life hangs on 
 
 a thread, 
 
 A thrust, a shot, a bursting shell, and private THORN 
 TON s dead. 
 But still I have a clinging faith that yet down here 
 
 below, 
 Stretch years of joy for you and me God grant it 
 
 may be so. 
 With prayers that you may keep your health, be 
 
 cheerful, and not pine 
 O er my long absence and great peril, I am forever 
 
 thine." 
 
PART EIGHTEENTH. 
 
 THE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN -BATTLE OF PAIE OAES- 
 
 HAEEY S LETTEE DESCEIBING THE BATTLES OP 
 
 MECHANICSVILLE, GAINES MILL, MALVEEN 
 
 HILL, &c, CONSEQUENT UPON THE 
 
 FAMOUS "CHANGE OF BASE." 
 
 surged the crimson wave of war, but the 
 whole country s face was turned 
 
 To Chickahominy s low swamps, where our brave 
 army s camp fires burned ; 
 
 "Where thousands of our gallant men sank down 
 beneath malaria s breath, 
 
 And like a fog before a wind were swept away to 
 sudden death! 
 
 For one long month in that low swamp did our de 
 voted army lay, 
 
 While swifter than a battle s breath miasmas swept 
 our men away ! 
 
 And by and by a furious flood broke o er the treach 
 erous river s banks 
 
 And rolled a turbid lake between our army s decim 
 ated ranks. 
 187 
 
188 
 
 On CASEY S. COUCH S, HEINTZLEMAN S small camps 
 
 of isolated men 
 The sanguinary rebels poured the whole of their 
 
 vast army then. 
 Oh, weird and wild the slaughter there, ten thousand 
 
 of our brave men fell; 
 "Why was this fearful battle fought, ah, who in this 
 
 broad land can tell? 
 Why was a treacherous stream allowed so long to 
 
 roll its waves between 
 That wasted army, when a child their awful peril 
 
 might have seen? 
 Thank God, the rebels prospered not, fruitionless 
 
 their bloody schemes 
 Were rendered by our gallant men. Brave BERRY S 
 
 glorious Wolverines 
 And York State s gallant hearts were there, and 
 
 Keystone s boys, firm as her rocks, 
 And old New England s adamants that loved the 
 
 fiercest battle shocks. 
 And there they stretched a wall of steel across that 
 
 sanguinary plain, 
 Against which their wild sea of foes beat furiously 
 
 two days in vain. 
 Hushed is the noise, decayed the dead, faded the 
 
 flash of saber strokes, 
 But never will our land forget the fruitless slaughter 
 
 of Fair Oaks! 
 
189 
 
 For though in wild disordered mobs the rebel host 
 
 was put to flight, 
 While thousands of their ragged dead outlined the 
 
 boundaries of the fight, 
 And though all Bichmond fled the town and all the 
 
 South grew white with fear, 
 Yet "Young Napoleon" failed to march his army 
 
 on their flying rear ! 
 
 Though STONEWALL JACKSON, further north, by FRE 
 MONT S heroes hard bestead, 
 Was paying all along his route a constant tribute 
 
 of his dead, 
 
 And though the rebel JOHNSTON fell and LEE de 
 clared their cause was lost. 
 Yet paralized McCLELLAN lay with Chickahominy 
 
 uncrossed ! 
 For three weeks more he dallied on in that low 
 
 country s poisonous heat, 
 And then occurred that change of base which seemed 
 
 so much like a retreat! 
 The rebels heard with wild amaze this great strategic 
 
 move of MACK S 
 While hourly waiting in suspense his rushing column s 
 
 fierce attacks. 
 Then bugles sounded, drums beat loud and ring of 
 
 sabres stormed the ear, 
 And forth like bees from all their camps they streamed 
 
 upon MCCLELLAN S rear. 
 
190 
 
 Wild was the strife that soon began, for one long 
 
 week by day and night, 
 Our wasted, weary but brave boys maintained that 
 
 fierce, unequal fight. 
 The glorious deeds of those who fought in that ill 
 
 starred campaign so well 
 I ll leave for HARRY, who was there, in his long 
 
 letter home to tell ! 
 
 " DEAR MOTHER, once again I take my pen in hand 
 
 to write to you, 
 To tell you I am safe, and of the dangers I ve been 
 
 passing through. 
 For ere this reaches you there will the lightning s 
 
 swifter feet have run 
 All through the land in haste to tell our bloody deeds 
 
 of battle done. 
 And well I know that hearts at home will ache with 
 
 anxiousness to see 
 This white-winged messenger of love come flying 
 
 through the mail from me. 
 God knows I would not add one beat of Time s 
 
 great pendulum unto 
 Your poignant seconds of suspense, so haste at once 
 
 to write to you. 
 Along and fearful march we ve had, through wood 
 
 and swamp, through field and flood, 
 
193 
 
 One constant roar by day and night a week s red 
 
 carnival of blood. 
 I cannot give the full details of those terrific days 
 
 of strife, 
 Those days of hunger and distress, those days so 
 
 prodigal of life. 
 I have not time to tell you now all of that long 
 
 and murderous fray 
 Nor heart to tell you of the scenes, the fearful scenes 
 
 upon the way. 
 Yet still I feel impelled to give such facts as came 
 
 beneath my ken, 
 In justice to the brave deeds done and hardships 
 
 suffered by our men. 
 
 Around Mechanicsville we lay with Eichmond s gleam 
 ing spires in sight, 
 
 Hoping and praying every day for orders to begin 
 the fight. 
 
 There was a strength of conscious right in every 
 loyal heart that beat 
 
 In anxious hope before those walls, which would have 
 urged with rapid feet 
 
 The living bodies of our men, swifter than whirl 
 winds swift descent, 
 
 O er abattis and rifle pits despite the storm of mis 
 siles sent, 
 
192 
 
 O er bastions, batteries and men, forward with resist 
 less power 
 Until the " On to Richmond " bud in Richmond should 
 
 have bloomed a flower! 
 That longed for order never came but airy rumor, 
 
 with swift feet, 
 Went whispering round from tent lo tent that we 
 
 were ordered to retreat. 
 One man amid that mighty host, one small, weak 
 
 man, aye only one, 
 Who d kept us in those poisonous swamps beneath 
 
 a scorching summer s sun 
 Till thousands of our best men died, now bade us 
 
 turn our backs and flee ! 
 Flee from a foe we came to fight flee from the 
 
 very task which we 
 Had left our homes and firesides, our wives and 
 
 children to perform; 
 In bitterness we turned away from trenches which 
 
 we came to storm! 
 We were not left to go in peace, for on our sullen 
 
 rear was poured 
 In long, deep, yelling, swarming lines the whole 
 
 exultant rebel horde ! 
 We fought as only angry men, forced gainst their 
 
 will to shameful flight 
 By iron discipline of war we fought as only such 
 
 can fight. 
 
193 
 
 The Chickahominy still split our splendid army s lines 
 
 in twain, 
 The bloody tide from slaughtered men had flowed at 
 
 Seven Pines* in vain. 
 So when we came to Games Mill where all our 
 
 army should have been, 
 We had to face LEE S whole command with thirty 
 
 thousand of our men. 
 Brave HEINTZLEMAN, and KEYES, and COUCH, and 
 
 FRANKLIN, HOOKER, KEARNEY, too, 
 The dashing, gallant, one-armed PHIL, so quick and 
 
 bold to dare and do, 
 Brave KICHARDSON S and SEDGWICK S boys, and SUM- 
 
 NER S lying far from harm, 
 Across the river, twelve miles off, in idleness at 
 
 BARKER S farm ! 
 Oh, God! the agony of mind no human pen has 
 
 power to tell, 
 As sharp to those who did not fight as unto those 
 
 who fought or fell. 
 Oh, mother, fancy, if you can, our little army of 
 
 brave men 
 In long thin lines stretched o er the field, from hill to 
 
 hill, and glen to glen. 
 Prom golden dawn to dusky eve lying beneath a 
 
 scalding sun, 
 
 * Fair Oaks. 
 
 13 
 
194 
 
 Fighting a fierce exultant foe outnumbered by them 
 
 three to one, 
 When just within three hour s march lay sixty thousand 
 
 of our boys 
 Chafing- with rage at being held in hearing of that 
 
 battle s noise ! 
 In vain our brave men stood their ground and in grim 
 
 silence fought and fell, 
 In vain our heated, well worked guns rained storms 
 
 of grape, and shot and shell, 
 In vain our horsemen few, but brave, with naked 
 
 sabres gleaming bright 
 Made furious charges on our foe, now on our left, 
 
 now on our right, 
 In vain, in vain, while beaten back, our brave men s 
 
 tears fell free as rain, 
 
 And rallying, still more desperate fought oh match 
 less valor all in vain! 
 Our cannon one by one were lost until no longer 
 
 one remained, 
 And while outnumbering us in front, the swarming 
 
 foe our rear had gained. 
 
 Call after call for help was made, and as those dread 
 ful hours went by 
 We strained our ears in hopes to catch the ringing 
 
 cheers of succor nigh. 
 But all day long McCLELLAN sat, far from all harm, 
 
 with brow serene, 
 
195 
 
 Unmindful of our fearful fate great God above I 
 
 what could he mean? 
 T will not blame him, mother dear, nor call him coward 
 
 till I know 
 That he has been upon the field, and flinched before 
 
 an equal foe. 
 Thus far ten battles we have fought and though he 
 
 stigmatized McCALL s 
 And CASEY S men as cowards, he ne^er heard the whiz 
 
 of hostile balls! 
 Though at Fair Oaks I saw that when our two days 
 
 bloody fight was done 
 He pompously rode o er the field, past many a dead 
 
 and wounded one ! 
 But do not deem I wish to hint that he s a coward, 
 
 e en in jest, 
 I know not how he might behave with lines of bayonets 
 
 at his breast ! 
 But to my story, just at night loud cheers rang up 
 
 the echoing glen, 
 And sweeping on with gleaming guns came FRENCH S 
 
 and brave MEAGHER S men. 
 Ha ! ha ! how thrilled our weary hearts with wild 
 
 delight s hot flushing flow; 
 And quick as thought our broken lines reformed and 
 
 dashed upon the foe ! 
 Ah, fiercely then the rebels fought, hushed was their 
 
 loud, exultant mirth, 
 
196 
 
 With but a dozen fresh brigades we might have swept 
 
 them then from earth. 
 
 They did not come, but darkness did, and we aban 
 doned the attack, 
 Then came an order from our chief to cross the river 
 
 and fall back ! 
 Oh, then indeed our hearts were racked with most 
 
 excruciating pain ; 
 
 Obliged to march away and leave our sick and wound 
 ed with the slain! 
 All night we toiled along the road while thickly flew 
 
 the rebel shell, 
 And every now and then some brave, true-hearted 
 
 son of freedom fell. 
 Thus marched we on for six long nights, halting at 
 
 every dawn of day 
 To plant our batteries and place our weary lines in 
 
 war s array. 
 Then all day long twas roar and noise, and whiz of 
 
 balls, and yells, and heat, 
 At night tramp, tramp! through swamp and flood, in 
 
 silent, sullen, grim retreat. 
 At length one morn our heavy eyes were gladdened 
 
 by a joyful sight: 
 The shining waters of the James reflecting back the 
 
 morning s light, 
 Three hundred bristling cannon stretched across the 
 
 slope of Malvern Hill, 
 
197 
 
 And rows of rifle pits all dug which we were hasten 
 ing on to fill. 
 Loud rang the cheers, for every man beheld this 
 
 vision with delight, 
 Assured that we had reached at last the termination 
 
 of our flight. 
 Eight well we knew those silent guns the dirge of 
 
 thousands soon would sing, 
 And space for miles and miles around with their loud 
 
 bellowings would ring. 
 And proudly we could once more stand and say to our 
 
 exultant foe : 
 Come on and try the issue here, not one inch 
 
 farther will we go. " 
 Oh, keenly does the private feel the stinging shame 
 
 of a retreat, 
 Keener than serpent s fang if he has not been first 
 
 in battle beat. 
 The shots may plunge, the shells may burst, and 
 
 bullets sing around his head, 
 The wounded fall and writhe and groan, the field 
 
 be covered with the dead, 
 Day after day the strife may rage mid winter s frosts 
 
 or summer s heat, 
 
 Yet bravely will he struggle on without once think 
 ing of retreat. 
 And therefore when we reached the hill, we cried, 
 
 " Hurrah, the die is cast! 
 
198 
 
 Come on, you ragged rebel knaves, this chase, thank 
 
 God, has ceased at last! " 
 And on they came in treble lines and furiously the 
 
 strife begun, 
 And you have doubtless heard ere this that it was a 
 
 most bloody one. 
 The rebels bravely charged the hill while from three 
 
 hundred cannon sped 
 All forms of missiles through their ranks and choked 
 
 their pathway up with dead! 
 
 Again and yet again they charged, and oft our gun 
 ners would stand still 
 And for a moment cheer their pluck, then give them 
 
 grape shot with a will ! 
 At every roar great gaps were made in their thick 
 
 ranks, yet on they came ; 
 Tis said that whisky, powder-drugged, their wretched 
 
 senses did inflame. 
 Straight on they marched in scorn of death, amid the 
 
 roar, with steady tread, 
 And cheered when they had got so close that all our 
 
 shots flew overhead! 
 Then from the rifle pits we rose, the cheering rebels 
 
 paused amazed, 
 And turned to flee too late, too late, ten thousand 
 
 well aimed rifles blazed! 
 Oh, how they fell before us then, like autumn leaves 
 
 before a blast ! 
 
199 
 
 They could not form their ranks again, that charge 
 had proved their best and last. 
 
 Now pond rous shells came screaming up from gun 
 boats near the James shore, 
 
 Which with our batteries and guns made old earth 
 tremble with the roar. 
 
 In wild disorder, through the woods, the frightened 
 beaten rebels fled, 
 
 And left behind them all their sick, their badly wounded 
 and their dead. 
 
 The battle s smoke has cleared away, and left me 
 
 without scratch or harm, 
 While GAFFER, brave and noble friend, received a 
 
 bullet in the arm. 
 And PARTICK DEEGAN, too, I hear, was badly wounded 
 
 in the thigh, 
 And though the wound is quite severe the surgeon 
 
 says he will not die. 
 
 And further says, when he gets well Lieutenant DEE 
 GAN he will be, 
 For valor shown at Games Mill, in charging on a 
 
 battery. 
 But I must close this lengthy scrawl ; best love to 
 
 each and every one ; 
 God preserve you, mother dear, as He thus 
 
 far has kept your son." 
 
PART NINETEENTH. 
 
 THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN-REST AT LAST- "LETTERS 
 
 PROM HOME!-MANOMEN TO HARRT-HER PAINFUL 
 
 PRESENTIMENTS -"GOD KEEP THE BULLETS 
 
 FROM TOUR HEART, THE BAYONETS 
 
 FROM TOQR BREASTf" 
 
 LL hostile sounds were hushed at last, the fearful 
 
 roar of arms was still, 
 warm life blood in crimson streams now dyed 
 
 the slopes of Malvern Hill. 
 The broken, beaten rebel hordes but late so fierce 
 
 had fled dismayed, 
 
 No longer swarmed their threatening lines with flash 
 ing gun and trenchant blade. 
 The wounded all were gathered up and in those 
 
 trenches lying low, 
 Gone to their long and last account, reposed the 
 
 fallen of our foe. 
 Peace to their souls ! for they were brave, mistaken 
 
 true, but brave men still, 
 And to their madness freely gave all man can give 
 
 at Malvern Hill. 
 200 
 
201 
 
 Our own. immortal slain were grouped in separate 
 
 graves apart from those. 
 Yet narrow was the strip between a country s saviours 
 
 and her foes ! 
 To Turkey Bend our army marched and camped on 
 
 James grateful banks, 
 And sought the rest so long denied to its thinned, 
 
 weary, way-worn ranks. 
 And though the plain that round them spread was 
 
 low and sterile, black beneath 
 The scorching rays of July s sun, yet it did seem 
 
 a goodly heath 
 To our poor tired heroes, who might eat and sleep 
 
 and rest and dream, 
 Unsummoned by the long roll s call, or plunge into 
 
 the James stream, 
 And wash arid bathe, aye frolic, too, untroubled by 
 
 a hostile sound, 
 Ah yes, that scorched unlovely plain to them was 
 
 fair and holy ground : * 
 "etters from home!" rang through the camp. "And 
 
 are there any, sir, for me?" 
 Twas HARRY S question. "Yes, my lad, you re 
 
 lucky, sir, for here are three." 
 "Withdrawn from prying eyes apart where nature his 
 
 intenseness shared 
 
 * The leading facts and principal features of the description of the Pen 
 insula Campaign have been taken from an article in "Harpers Monthly," 
 May and June No3. 1865; by JOHN S. C. ABBOTT, entitled " Heroic Deeds of 
 Jleroic Men. 
 
202 
 
 His spirit reveled in the feast his far off loved ones 
 
 had prepared. 
 His heart beat warm with glorious joy, obliviously 
 
 the hours sped 
 As from MANOMIN unto him this letter o er and o er 
 
 he read : 
 
 "It is Sunday morning, HARRY, and the air is sweet 
 
 without, 
 And through the trees before the door bright birds 
 
 flash in and out; 
 Both your father and your mother and little JESSIE, 
 
 too, 
 And one who loves you more than all, are writing 
 
 unto you. 
 Do you ever think, dear HARRY, of the day when 
 
 we first met? 
 Like a white robed angel that bright morn stands in 
 
 my mern ry yet! 
 Oh, I was but a wild thing then, decked out in 
 
 beaded hood 
 And Indian skirt and moccasins, dark daughter of 
 
 the wood, 
 Who loved naught but her fishing rod, her gun and 
 
 light canoe 
 
 Until that ever blessed morn God sent her unto you. 
 But now my gun is red with rust, my fishing rod is 
 
 broke 
 
203 
 
 And all my Indian tastes and dress have vanished 
 
 into smoke; 
 For now I m EICHARD THORNTON S child, the blessed 
 
 and the good, 
 And oh, tis meet I lay aside those relics of the 
 
 wood. 
 But still I love the wild woods yet and Ida s jewelled 
 
 shore, 
 And hourly wish the time would come when you and 
 
 I once more 
 Might stroll together as of old. Oh, HARRY, in my 
 
 heart 
 
 A light went out and left it dark when we were 
 
 forced apart; 
 And some prophetic inner sense seems whispering 
 
 in my ear, 
 
 " Alas, poor child, that light shall ne er be re-il 
 lumined here ! " 
 Sometimes in dreams I see you stretched in death s 
 
 eternal sleep, 
 When with a cry of wild affright I waken up to 
 
 weep. 
 And then tis me that some fierce deed removes from 
 
 earth away 
 Oh, why does this strange feeling haunt my breast 
 
 from day to day? 
 I shall be mindful of war s chance, and oh, I know 
 
 full well 
 
204 
 
 That any moment but a " thrust, a shot, or bursting 
 
 shell" 1 
 May rob me of the one bright form my soul so longs 
 
 to see, 
 One warm, true heart whose priceless love is all in 
 
 all to me! 
 Eut if a soul s most earnest prayers, put up by day 
 
 and night, 
 Can shield you from disease of camps and perils of 
 
 the fight 
 Then are you safe, my life, my love, for there does 
 
 not arise 
 From all the murmuring lips of earth up to the 
 
 bending skies, 
 Up through the thronging angel choirs, up to the 
 
 Ear divine 
 A name so often born in prayer, oh darling one, 
 
 as thine ! 
 But notwithstanding all my faith fear s cold and 
 
 anxious flood 
 Flows through the chambers of my soul like poison 
 
 through the blood, 
 And sharp impressions of keen grief and trials I am 
 
 loth 
 To think upon bum in my heart and fiercely menace 
 
 both. 
 Tis said the Sioux* are in a rage because they ve 
 
 not been paid; 
 
 * Pronounced Sooa. 
 
205 
 
 That they will rise and wage a war some settlers 
 
 are afraid; 
 But they are so far south of us that we need have 
 
 no fear, 
 I m sure an army might be raised ere they could 
 
 reach us here. 
 
 The farm is doing excellent, the corn is very fine, 
 The wheat and oats are heading out, the garden s 
 
 care is mine; 
 Still I have leisure time to read and practice every 
 
 day 
 And many of your favorite songs have learned to 
 
 sing and play. 
 
 In freedom s service late enrolled are several neigh 
 bor s names : 
 GEORGE BANCROFT and young PERCY BARNES and 
 
 gallant JOSEPH JAMES, 
 The brave young cockney HENRY COOK and JACOB 
 
 PRETZLE, too, 
 Who burn to show Columbia what her foster sons 
 
 can do, 
 Broad shouldered, stalwart JULIUS FROST, JIM DICKEN, 
 
 trapper JIM; 
 No truer rifle pours its death than that which rings 
 
 for him. 
 The two KINKEADS, the WHITEFIELD boys, JAMES 
 
 SHOTWELL, true and good, 
 
 Son of that fine old man who lives down in the six 
 mile wood 
 
206 
 
 Hard by the shores of that sweet lake, where every 
 
 passer by, 
 Upon the scenic banquet spread regales with eager 
 
 eye. 
 All whom you love are well, HARRY, and send their 
 
 love to you, 
 And pray your blessings may be great and hardships 
 
 may be few. 
 You hope to get a furlough soon to visit us, you 
 
 say, 
 Oh may God swiftly speed the time and hasten that 
 
 white day ! 
 To GAFFER give my kind regards, his story touched 
 
 my heart, 
 
 Oh, I can realize the pain when ruthlessly apart, 
 Two souls that beat as one are torn by rude and 
 
 ruffian hand, 
 And His a blessed thing to know there is a better 
 
 land 
 Where every wrong will be set right and all mistakes 
 
 be known, 
 And every soul that seeks for love will recognize 
 
 its own 
 True counterpart, true other half and they, a perfect 
 
 ONE, 
 
 May live forever steeped in bliss, accountable to none ! 
 To PATRICK DEEGAN give my love ; may God s pro 
 tecting care, 
 
207 
 
 By day and night, in camp and field be with him 
 
 everywhere ! 
 
 He is a noble gallant man, a generous hearted friend, 
 God grant unscathed he may be brought out safely 
 
 to the end. 
 Alas, my paper is most full, oh, God, how can I 
 
 close ? 
 Would I could be transported too to where this letter 
 
 goes! 
 Good bye, my darling, yet it wrings my soul to say 
 
 good bye, 
 For now, just now I seem to feel an hour of anguish 
 
 nigh! 
 Good bye once more ; God grant I may soon hear 
 
 again from you 
 Despite the whisper in my heart, " This is your last 
 
 adieu I " 
 Oh must I close, my darling one? May you be ever 
 
 blest ; 
 God keep the bullets from your heart f the bayonets 
 
 from your breast!" 
 
PART TWENTIETH. 
 
 THE FRONTIER HOMES-PEAEFUL RUMORS- ARRIVAL OF 
 HARRY -A TERRIFIC FIGHT IN THE DARK WOODS -AWFUL 
 MASSACRE OF THE THORNTON FAMILY- THE BODY OF 
 MANOMIN NOT FOUND -THE HEGIRA OF THE SETTLERS - 
 HEART RENDING SCENES OF MURDER -BATTLES OF BIRCH 
 COOLIE AND RED WOOD LAKE - CAPTAINS MARSH AND 
 STROUT DEATH OF LITTLE CROW, 
 
 Qj/HE waving grain was ripe and full and expectation s 
 
 ^ heartbeat high 
 
 At every Douglas County hearth o er this especial 
 
 harvest nigh. 
 Those frontier farmers who had toiled so long, so 
 
 patient and severe, 
 Had lived in cabins rude and dark for many a weary, 
 
 weary year, 
 Subsisting only on such fare as could be snatched 
 
 from woods or streams 
 Now saw in their broad fields of grain the rich fruition 
 
 of their dreams! 
 208 
 
209 
 
 The first rude cabin each had built, with rough, uneven 
 
 puncheon floor, 
 With walls unseemly "chinked" and "daubed" and 
 
 flat, trough roof besodded o er, 
 
 Behind a grander edifice was now forever hid away, 
 Where, neath the gnawing teeth of Time it crumbled 
 
 slowly to decay. 
 Their flocks and herds increased apace and broader 
 
 grew their cultured land, 
 And from each passing year they wrung some meed 
 
 of gain with horny hand. 
 Long and severely they had toiled but now they felt 
 
 themselves repaid 
 For every extra hardship borne or every special effort 
 
 made. 
 
 Indeed they deemed themselves quite rich, and care 
 less of the future s store, 
 Viewed most complacently the years now looming 
 
 grandly up before ! 
 Ah, false security ! how soon their hopes were mixed 
 
 with anxious fears ! 
 Then confirmation of the worst, then flight and terror, 
 
 blood and tears! 
 For many days the airy tongue of trackless rumor 
 
 had proclaimed 
 The temper of the sullen Sioux as daily growing 
 
 more inflamed. 
 
 14 
 
210 
 
 None but the nervous gave them heed and they soon 
 
 whistled down their fear, 
 " The Sioux 1 oh pshaw! too few ! too far ! no danger 
 
 of their coming here!" 
 And gaily they cut down their grain and gaily rose 
 
 their harvest glee, 
 As if such things as scalping knives and murdering 
 
 Indians could not be. 
 At length, as rumors grew apace, and some began to 
 
 heed the tale, 
 Came HARRY THORNTON from below upon the stage 
 
 coach with the mail. 
 Then for a moment the fierce tales of hatchet, knife 
 
 and fire brand, 
 "Were quite forgotten as they rushed around the coach 
 
 to shake his hand, 
 "I m glad to see you, friends," he said, "but there 
 
 is little time to spare, 
 The murdering Sioux have scattered out along the 
 
 frontier everywhere. 
 So I must hasten home at once; I thought to meet 
 
 my father here ; 
 Alas, alas, I know not why, but I am racked with 
 
 strangest fear. 
 
 Will any one go with me home ? " Three men step 
 ped out, three true and good, 
 Stepped out at once with gun in hand and promptly 
 
 answered that they would. 
 
211 
 
 Twas Uncle DARLING and ED. WRIGHT and ANDREW 
 
 AUSTIN, all brave men 
 As ever made a rifle ring o er lake or forest, hill 
 
 or glen. 
 The Ibur set out, it was five miles, and through a 
 
 forest deep and dark, 
 And they had travelled half the way to THORNTON S 
 
 dwelling house, when hark! 
 The ring of rifles faintly came borne to them on 
 
 the rayless air, 
 " In God s name, boys, let s hurry on, I fear those 
 
 shots mean mischief there!" 
 Twas HARRY spoke and then each one went springing 
 
 on with speedier tread, 
 And presently they saw the house "Hold on a 
 
 moment ! " DARLING said ; 
 "Quick! quick! there s Injuns! fly to trees! be cool 
 
 and cautious and take care ! " 
 Just then six livid sheets of flame flashed out upon 
 
 the darkness there, 
 And six clear, ringing, loud reports awakened all the 
 
 echoes round, 
 And AUSTIN and poor EDWIN WRIGHT fell stricken 
 
 lifeless to the ground ! 
 Swift as two tigers from their lairs sprang DARLING 
 
 and young HARRY out, 
 Six stalwart Indians drew their knives and rushed 
 
 upon them with a shout ! 
 
212 
 
 The foremost two went down at once before their 
 
 rifles deadly breath, 
 And HARRY quickly sent a third with his revolver 
 
 down to death. 
 Another s brains were scattered wide by " Biting 
 
 Betty s 1 crashing breech, 
 Then hand to hand they waged the fight, one Indian 
 
 but remained for each. 
 The strife was brief, for DARLING wrenched the Knife 
 
 from out his foeman s grasp 
 And struck him dead, and quickly then his tomahawk 
 
 he did unclasp 
 And rushing up dashed out the brains of HARRY S 
 
 foe in time to save 
 The swift, keen scalping knife s descent that would 
 
 have sent him to his grave ! 
 
 They stopped not there for words or tears or com 
 ments on that furious fight, 
 But rushing on to THORNTON S house oh, God! 
 
 how dreadful was the sight ! 
 Poor THORNTON, mangled, cut and slashed, lay stripped 
 
 and swimming in his gore, 
 And ESTHER, stabbed and scalped and shot, lay dead 
 
 and naked on the floor ! 
 And ESTHER S father ! oh, my God ! how must these 
 
 horrid deeds appal! 
 His head was severed from its trunk and grimly 
 
 nailed against the wall ! 
 
213 
 
 Sweet little JESSIE, angel child, sure demons would 
 
 have spared her life, 
 But these vile murderers cut her throat and stabbed 
 
 Ixer with a scalping knife! 
 MANOMIN S body was not found, but smeared with 
 
 blood her rifle lay 
 Across the threshold and they said, " She has been 
 
 killed and dragged away." 
 Those were the six that now lay dead a few rods 
 
 back there in the wood, 
 But oh, great God! it was too late, it seemed their 
 
 death had done no good ! 
 Whose pen can paint, whose heart conceive the rush 
 
 of grief, the wild despair 
 That bleakly swept poor HARRY S soul as he beheld 
 
 the slaughter there ? 
 "Oh Jesus! bend thy shining head down from thy 
 
 glittering throne to-night ! 
 Let all high heaven s pitying hosts look down upon 
 
 this fearful sight! 
 And give me strength of heart and limb and eagle 
 
 steadiness of eye 
 To run these ruthless redskins down and hunt them 
 
 till the last shall die! 
 Oh, God! how black this world has grown in one short 
 
 hour! can it be, 
 That I am left an orphan boy with none on earth 
 
 to cherish me ? 
 
214 
 
 Oh, no ! my blessed country stands with outstretched 
 
 arms to claim her boy! 
 yes! yes! I m thine, Columbia! henceforth you are 
 
 my only joy ! 
 You are my father ! mother, too ! you are MANOMIN, 
 
 all my life ! 
 You are my sister ! and oh, God ! I m thine for war 
 
 and bloody strife ! " 
 Then came the hot tears gushing forth he wept 
 
 as only strong men can, 
 And Uncle DARLING with wet eyes said, " Come, 
 
 my boy ! come ! be a man ! " 
 And with a mighty effort then he crowded back 
 
 upon his heart 
 That bitter, scalding flood of grief that had so rent 
 
 his soul apart ! 
 Then for MANOMIN long they searched, they called 
 
 her name but failed to hear 
 The faintest answer or response from any human 
 
 being near. 
 No single trace of her appeared, no track of foot 
 
 or shred of dress 
 To guide them in their anxious search or ease one 
 
 pang of their distress ! 
 They did not dare to linger long, reluctantly they 
 
 gave her up, 
 Thus to the very brim was filled with bitterness poor 
 
 HARRY S cup. 
 
215 
 
 A team was geared and in the box the bodies tenderly 
 
 were placed, 
 When quickly .with sad, heavy hearts their fearful 
 
 footsteps they retraced. 
 They picked up AUSTIN and young WRIGHT and 
 
 hurried forward to the town 
 To find a swarm of fugitives from up the country 
 
 pouring down, 
 
 With tales of prowling Indian bands, of houses wrap 
 ped in flame and smoke, 
 Of mothers murdered, children brained, of rifle shot 
 
 and hatchet stroke ! 
 Oh, all was panic and despair and faces paled and 
 
 hearts grew white, 
 Both men and women for a time were wild and 
 
 helpless with affright ! 
 But rapidly they organized ; there were a hundred 
 
 stalwart men, 
 And as they gripped their trusty guns they lost all 
 
 fear of Indians then. 
 In four rude coffins, quickly made, in one broad grave 
 
 were HARRY S dead 
 That night interred in DARLING S yard, and stones 
 
 heaped o er their lonely bed. 
 With Uncle DARLING at their head the settlers all 
 
 now started out, 
 Expecting every mile to hear the ring of rifles on 
 
 their route. 
 
216 
 
 And every night they saw all round the glare of 
 
 flames across the plain, 
 And flying fugitives came in to tell their tales and 
 
 swell the train. 
 But one bright morn, with thankful hearts, they saw 
 
 St. Cloud s white houses shine, 
 And one wild ringing shout of joy went flying down 
 
 that lengthy line ! 
 Their wives and little ones were safe, need dread no 
 
 more the hatchet s gleam, 
 The sudden shot, the" scalping knife, the Indian s 
 
 awful midnight scream ! 
 
 And they would take their guns at once, and reso 
 lutely turning back, 
 
 Would follow up the murderers trails like blood 
 hounds on a victim s track. 
 They went, and oh ! what tongue can tell the dreadful 
 
 sights that met their eyes? 
 Young children s heads cut off and turned all ghastly 
 
 glaring to the skies! 
 Bodies cut up and trees festooned with all their 
 
 horrid fragments, there, 
 Girls disembowelled and on limbs hung tied together 
 
 by the hair. 
 Great stalwart men shot down and scalped, their heads 
 
 oft skinned completely o er, 
 While their young wives in agony were nailed stark 
 
 naked to the floor ! 
 
217 
 
 Small children s eyes dug out while each dark socket 
 
 held a musket ball, 
 And unborn babes ripped out and spiked alive and 
 
 writhing to the wall! 
 Oh, you, who walled within warm homes may safely 
 
 seek your couch at night, 
 You cannot feel the deathly fear, the wild and 
 
 withering affright, 
 That swept along that broad frontier, like prairie 
 
 fires rushing down, 
 And drove a thousand households there all breathless 
 
 to the nearest town! 
 
 Their grain in stack or shocked in field, and house 
 hold goods behind were left, 
 And. soon by Indian s torch of them were the poor 
 
 fugitives bereft. 
 Their cows and oxen too, were killed, shot down 
 
 wherever they were found, 
 And wantonly were left to rot where er they fell, 
 
 upon the ground. 
 
 Day after day the Indians swarmed and dogged our 
 
 little party s track, 
 And at Birch Coolie in the night at last they ventured 
 
 to attack. 
 But they were met by storms of balls that stretched 
 
 their warriors in the dew, 
 
218 
 
 And though they were a thousand strong yet durst 
 
 not charge upon those few ! 
 
 All the next day they prowled around that little hand 
 ful of brave men, 
 While from behind each clump of grass their rifles 
 
 echoed through the glen. 
 And all next night they hugged the camp and kept 
 
 their guns at steady play, 
 Ashamed and maddened that so few could keep 
 
 their thousand braves at bay! 
 And once that night with wild war whoop the Indians 
 
 to their feet did bound 
 And rushed upon the rifle pits the whites had dug 
 
 in circle round. 
 But they were met with laughs of scorn and such 
 
 a murderous storm of lead 
 That in a moment all the field was thickly spotted 
 
 with their dead. 
 Next morn some reinforcements came, the Indians 
 
 fled and were pursued, 
 And all along their bloody trail their wounded warriors 
 
 were strewed. 
 Two days they fled and on the third at Eed Wood 
 
 Lake they made a stand, 
 For LITTLE CROW* had joined them there with all 
 
 the warriors of his band. 
 
 *The chief of the Sioux. 
 
 
219 
 
 Three thousand stalwart Indian braves against five 
 
 hundred of our men,* 
 But yet so burned their hearts with rage they took 
 
 no thought of numbers then. 
 At early morn, ere yet the sky was streaked with 
 
 red, the fight begun, 
 
 And oh ! it proved to those vain Sioux a most disast 
 rous, bloody one. 
 Pierce as a tiger HARRY fought, and though the 
 
 bullets whistled shrill, 
 T\vas mere child s play to one who d faced the rain 
 
 of death at Malvern Hill. 
 With glaring eyes he M watch to see some skulking 
 
 Indian show his head, 
 Then lightning like his " Spencer 1 roared and straight 
 
 the vengeful bullet sped ! 
 Oft he and DARLING, side by side, would rush upon 
 
 some red skinned crowd, 
 And "Biting Betty s" ringing roar would rise above 
 
 the conflict loud. 
 Then crash of skulls and scattered brains, terrific yells 
 
 and hasty flight, 
 Would tell at once where those two men in fearful 
 
 earnest waged the fight. 
 For half a day the conflict raged, then LITTLE CROW 
 
 in error fled, 
 
 *Five companies of the Fifth Minnesota and about one hundred citizens. 
 
220 
 
 But left behind him on the field vast numbers of 
 
 his warriors dead. 
 Brave MARSHAL, straight upon their camps, rushed on 
 
 his men that very night, 
 Four hundred prisoners he took and put the rest 
 
 again to flight. 
 Of all the battles through the State I would I had 
 
 the time to tell, 
 How STROUT and his heroic boys at Acton thrashed 
 
 the murderers well, 
 Or give a record of the names of those who perished 
 
 in the strife, 
 Like Captain MARSH, who was among the earliest 
 
 ones to lose his life. 
 Or tell of Abercrombie s siege, where many an Indian 
 
 bit the dust, 
 
 And thus to vengeance paid the price of all his mur 
 ders and his lust! 
 Suffice to say the Indians fled before the whites 
 
 avenging hands, 
 And o er Dacotah s treeless plains were soon dispersed 
 
 in little bands. 
 Where, ere a fortnight more had passed, old Biting 
 
 Betty s sulphurous breath 
 Had stretched rebellious LITTLE CROW forever stiff 
 
 and stark in death ! 
 
PART TWENTY-FIRST. 
 
 EVENTS PEOM AUGUST 1862 TO NOVEMBER 1863 -DEATH 
 OP GAFFEE AT THE BATTLE OF C HAN TILL YHAEEY AT 
 ANTIETAM-UNCLE DAELING S LETTEE TO HAEET-EE 
 BELIEVES MANOMIN TO BE DEAD-EAEEY S DESPAIR 
 HE DETEEMINES TO THEOW AWAY HIS LIFE IN BATTLE - 
 HIS EECKLESS FIGHTING AT FEEDEEICXSBUEG, CHAN- 
 CELLOEVILLE AND GETTYSBUEG-BATTLE OF LOOK OUT 
 MOUNTAIN-HAEEY SHOT -HIS FAEEWELL TO EAETH, 
 
 a huge old moss-grown rock that heaved it s 
 
 shoulders high and brown 
 On Minnetonka s* quiet shore two swarthy men were 
 
 sitting down. 
 The eldest looking one had passed, bv some few 
 
 years, the prime of life, 
 But round, unwrinkled, only seemed to have been 
 
 toughened by its strife. 
 The gathering " crows feet " round his eyes, the 
 
 drifts of silver through his hair, 
 
 *Minnetonka is the large and beautiful lake near St. Paul that forms the 
 headwaters of Minnfliaha Falls. 
 
 221 
 
222 
 
 Were nearly all the outward signs he gave of all 
 
 his years of wear. 
 His was a sunny, genial face, lit up by eyes of 
 
 gentle blue, 
 That beamed so kindly when at peace, but when 
 
 aroused would flash you through. 
 He was a tall, athletic man, broad-shouldered, power 
 ful and straight, 
 And when he walked displayed great ease and natural 
 
 gracefulness of gait. 
 The other was a youthful man, with earnest, truthful, 
 
 large blue eyes, 
 
 Round limbed, well built, compact and strong, of some 
 what more than medium size. 
 His rich brown hair curled closely round a finely 
 
 shaped, well balanced head, 
 And through the russet of his cheeks there glowed a 
 
 healthful tinge of red. 
 He wore the jaunty army cap, his clothes, too, were 
 
 the army blue, 
 He was as trim a soldier lad as e er Columbia s 
 
 armies knew. 
 But through the sunshine of his face there crept a 
 
 shadow of distress, 
 Bespeaking some sharp inward grief which he seemed 
 
 striving to repress. 
 With heavy rifles both were armed and both looked 
 
 weary and way-worn ; 
 
223 
 
 The garments of the elder one were somewhat tat 
 tered, too, and torn 
 "Well, HARRY," said the elder man, " tis time that 
 
 1 was toddling back; 
 Your furlough s up, you ve got to go, but I kin 
 
 foller on their track. 
 I reckon that atween us both, from fust to last, we 
 
 must have laid 
 A hundred of the cusses out. At that last fight 
 
 the way we made 
 The fur fly from their pesky hides I tell you now 
 
 want noways slow; 
 But come, my boy, give us yer hand, the sun is high 
 
 and I must go. 
 Tf no durned redskin gets my scalp I 11 write ye 
 
 quick as I git back, 
 Fer may be I kin find some clue to put me on 
 
 MANOMIN S track, 
 Fer, by old Goshen, I ll be durned ef I dont think 
 
 she s all right yit, 
 So don t look on the shaddery side, but brighten up 
 
 your heart a bit. 
 I reckon it ll all come right, eft don t no use to 
 
 whine or sigh 
 Take care yerself, old fellow, now, God bless you, 
 
 boy, good bye . good bye ! " 
 They wrung each others hands and spoke once more 
 
 affectionate good byes, 
 
224 
 
 Then turned, and as they walked on, brushed the 
 
 shining- tear drops from their eyes. 
 Now southward HARRY S face was set, but oh, with 
 
 what distress of mind, 
 His only joy the lingering hope that Uncle DARLING 
 
 yet might find 
 MANOMIN somewhere, sound and well, and she might 
 
 be preserved for him, 
 Though mid his sorrow s surging waves this little 
 
 light of hope burned dim. 
 
 He weighed the chances o er and o er and sorrow 
 fully shook his head, 
 " Oh no, she could not have escaped, she surely, 
 
 surely must be dead ! " 
 Long time in silent thought he walked and just as 
 
 St. Paul s spires gleamed 
 Full on his soul some inward joy some deep and 
 
 quickening pleasure seemed 
 To light his face with radiant glow "Ah yes, my 
 
 GAFFER, why, oh why 
 Did I not think of thee before? thou link between 
 
 the earth and sky ! 
 Thou path by which celestial feet descend to loved 
 
 ones here below, 
 God speed my journey to thy tent; the truth at last 
 
 I then shall know!" 
 Poor HARRY ! he had yet to learn that there was 
 
 still for him in store 
 
225 
 
 Another pang of poignant grief, a world of bitter 
 
 trouble more! 
 For, in his absence many a field had by our " boys 
 
 in blue" been won, 
 And many a grand, heroic deed at cost of precious 
 
 lives been done. 
 GAFFER, his friend and tent-mate, he, who loved him 
 
 as he loved his life, 
 At wild Chantilly s crimsoned field had fallen in the 
 
 fearful strife* 
 Tie was a color bearer there and in the thickest of 
 
 the fray 
 His flag defiantly was borne ; he fell just as we won 
 
 the day. 
 The losses on that hard fought field the country will 
 
 remember well, 
 For there PHIL KEARNEY, dashing PHIL, and brave, 
 
 impetuous STEVENS fell. 
 And many and many a soldier boy, dear to some 
 
 heart in this broad land, 
 Came to his death in valorous strife to stay the sweep 
 
 of treason s hand. 
 When HARRY reached the front at last, one clear, 
 
 serene September day, 
 Twas but to take his place at once in line of battle s 
 
 dread array. 
 Yet dread no longer unto him; for death s menace 
 
 he little cared, 
 
 15 
 
226 
 
 Since there had not on all the earth one loving heart 
 
 to him been spared. 
 And so he begged for GAFFER S place and through 
 
 Antietam s* bloody fray 
 He bore the flag with flashing eyes till our brave 
 
 boys had won the day. 
 Wherever fiercest raged the fight, wherever fastest 
 
 fell the brave, 
 There, high above the flame and smoke was HARRY S 
 
 banner sure to wave, 
 But still amid that fearful rain of cannon shot and 
 
 shell and ball 
 
 Death mocked him, like a coy coquette, scarce vent 
 uring near him through it all. 
 Three months sped on ; our army lay along the Rap- 
 
 pahannock s banks, 
 Waiting to hurl its strength once more against fell 
 
 treason s bristling ranks. 
 Waiting to give, in freedom s cause, once more a 
 
 harvest of brave lives; 
 Lives dear to many darkened hearths, lives dear to 
 
 many anxious wives. 
 And there to HARRY came, one morn, the letter he 
 
 so long had prayed, 
 
 Yet now its privacy he felt scarce strength of pur 
 pose to invade. 
 
 *The battle of Chantilly wag fought Sept. 1st and Antietam Sept. 5th 1862. 
 

 227 
 
 Oh, how the frost fell on his heart as this short 
 
 sentence sharp he read: 
 " I Ve sarched the woods and from the signs conclude 
 
 MANOMIN must be dead!" 
 His brain swam wildly and all earth seemed spinning 
 
 giddily around; 
 Convulsively he clutched at space, then reeled and 
 
 fell upon the ground. 
 He d wandered off into a grove ere he had ventured 
 
 to unseal 
 His letter, that no one should see what his emotions 
 
 might reveal. 
 He did not faint, but nearly so ; his heart grew cold 
 
 and numb and still, 
 His nerves seemed palsied and divorced from their 
 
 allegiance to his will. 
 But by and by his paleness fled, once more his cheeks 
 
 their color knew, 
 And with his heart s pain in his eyes he read the 
 
 dreadful letter through : 
 
 "We re back again, all safe and sound, cleaned out, 
 
 but glad it is no wus, 
 I do not think the redskins come much nearer than 
 
 your place to us. 
 They thar sheered off and went around and struck 
 
 the prairie way below 
 
That Dutchman s claim at Maple Lake, and tuk the 
 
 "old trail " road, I know; 
 And consequently nary house jest hereabout cept 
 
 yourn was burned, 
 Though, blast their hides, they ve done too much to 
 
 make me love them, I ll be durnedj 
 I went across to your old place to see if I could 
 
 get some clue, 
 Some sign that daylight might reveal, of whar that 
 
 gal of yourn went tu. 
 The house and stable both are burnt; oh tis too 
 
 cussed bad I swear, 
 I tell you now, my dander riz at thoughts of what 
 
 last happened there! 
 Now, HARRY, comes the painful part ; the hope I had 
 
 has now quite fled; 
 I ve sarched the woods and from the signs conclude 
 
 MANOMIN must be dead ! 
 I found some bones picked clean and bare, some small 
 
 leg bones, a hand and head, 
 And buried them down by the brook; oh yes, I m 
 
 sure the gal is dead." 
 
 Thus fell his last remaining hope and he determined 
 
 in his mind, 
 If rebel balls would only strike, he would not long 
 
 remain behind! 
 
229 
 
 Next morning he was put to test: three times the 
 
 engineers had tried 
 To make the string of pontoons fast across upon the 
 
 other side. 
 But rebel rifles raining death, from Kappahannock s 
 
 southern bank, 
 Had so appalled this corps of men that from the 
 
 bloody task they shrank. 
 Then eight brave fellows volunteered and HARRY 
 
 was among the eight; 
 Across the stream in open boat defiantly they paddled 
 
 straight. 
 Now one, now two, now three went down, ere they 
 
 had reached the sheltering shore, 
 But quickly finishing their work the eager men be 
 gan to pour 
 In living streams across the bridge, and mounting 
 
 rapidly the hill 
 
 Instinctively deployed in line, and charged the earth 
 works with a will! 
 Then earnestly the fight began, far up and down 
 
 that river s shore 
 Was one vast sea of rushing men, and cheer and 
 
 flash, and smoke and roar! 
 And recklessly did HARRY fight; rushing where 
 
 thickest fell the shot, 
 And though he envied all who fell and courted death, 
 
 he found it not! 
 
230 
 
 Then furiously he charged the guns and fought the 
 
 gunners, hand to hand, 
 Yet still he fell not but was dragged away by one 
 
 of his command. 
 For, all the valor of our men the bloody field had 
 
 failed to gain ; 
 
 "Fall back, fall back" the trumpets blew; five thou 
 sand lives were lost in vain! 
 Five thousand lives ! and for each one some living 
 
 heart would shriek in pain, 
 Yet HARRY lived who thought that none were left to 
 
 mourn had he been slain. 
 Our army then re-crossed the stream, whipped by 
 
 bad generalship alone, 
 For, by the men in no fight yet was more determined 
 
 valor shown. 
 Then came a blank of five long months, five wretched 
 
 months of fear and doubt, 
 When grave men shook their heads and said, " God 
 
 only knows how twill come out ! " 
 Then in the balmy month of May, in two commands, 
 
 at dead of night, 
 Our army crossed that stream once more, a second 
 
 time renewed the fight. 
 Two piteous days, of fearful strife, two harvest days 
 
 for reaper Death, 
 Who held high revelry amid that smoking battle s 
 
 sulphurous breath; 
 
231 
 
 Two days of seconds measured oft by drops of blood, 
 
 from hearts that beat 
 The last life throbs of dying men, and then what 
 
 then? one more defeat!! 
 Right gallantly each soldier fought, and HARRY, in 
 
 brave BIRNEY S corps, 
 There on that field of Chaneellorville outdid ail deeds 
 
 he d done before ! 
 
 When STONEWALL JACKSON S furious men came sweep 
 ing down upon their flank 
 How lightning like his rifle flashed; and many a 
 
 headlong rebel sank 
 Forever down, to rise no more, before its withering, 
 
 upas breath, 
 His treason thus, in some small sense, made dimmer 
 
 by the sponge of death! 
 
 But HARRY lived to fight again ; and soon at Gettys 
 burg he lay 
 In line with BARNUM S* Empire boys, keeping the 
 
 rebel ranks at bay! 
 A July s sun hung overhead, blistering the very 
 
 earth beneath, 
 Tinging with red the battle s smoke that rose in many 
 
 a graceful wreath, 
 As if to twine about the brows of patriot spirits, as 
 
 they rose 
 
 * General HENRY A. BABNUM of Syracuse, N. Y., then Colonel of tins 
 449th N, Y. Vola., raised in central Nw York. 
 
232 
 
 
 
 At every battle throb from where their bodies lay 
 
 in deaths repose! 
 For three long days the air was thick with viewless 
 
 messengers of death, 
 And heavy with the voided grime of half a thousand 
 
 cannons breath ! 
 And every second men went down beneath that rain 
 
 of shot and shell, 
 And all about where HARRY stood, his comrades every 
 
 moment fell. 
 Yet not a hair of him was touched, for him no fatal 
 
 missile sped, 
 He stood upon enchanted ground between the living 
 
 and the dead ! 
 With glorious victory was crowned this last, fierce 
 
 effort of our boys, 
 And Independence Day * imbued with fresher cause 
 
 for annual joys. 
 Not all the laurel wreaths that hung about the mem - 
 
 ries of that field, 
 Could unto HARRY S mourning heart one throb of 
 
 pleased emotion yield ! 
 And now how burdensome was life, as idle days went 
 
 shuffling by; 
 He only seemed to live but when in battlers front he 
 
 sought to die ! 
 
 * The battle of Gettysburg and the siege of Yicksburg came to a triumpbr- 
 ant conclusion on July 4th 1863. 
 
283 
 
 But by and by an order came, and to the West he 
 
 was transferred, 
 And heartily he prayed that now the boon he craved 
 
 might be conferred! 
 
 November s morn was clear and chill and Lookout 
 
 Mountain s base was blue 
 With old Potomac s veteran boys, led on by gallant 
 
 HOOKER, true. 
 Three battle lines extended up the rough declivity 
 
 to where 
 A long, high pallisade of rock frowned grimly down 
 
 in silence there. 
 The Hundred Forty-Ninth New York, by gallant 
 
 BARNUM swiftly led, 
 Around the shoulder of the hill dashed on with free 
 
 and careless tread. 
 And from the rifle pits, like bees, they drove the 
 
 rebels quickly out, 
 Then rushing up the rocky steep chargea on the 
 
 batteries with a shout! 
 They snatched five rebel ensigns down and captured 
 
 prisoners in crowds, 
 While proudly o er the rebel works their colors 
 
 streamed, above the clouds! 
 And where was HARRY while that storm of shrieking 
 
 shot and screaming shell, 
 
284 
 
 Of rifle balls and sweeping- grape, all round those 
 
 veteran columns fell? 
 With blazing eyes and throbbing heart and firm set 
 
 teeth and flowing hair 
 He bore, bare-headed, up the steep his country s 
 
 dear old banner there ! 
 He was the first to reach and plant his flag upon the 
 
 mountain s crown, 
 And as he swung his cap and cheered a lingering 
 
 rebel shot him down ! 
 His comrades gathered quickly round and tenderly 
 
 they raised his head 
 " Oh sergeant, lift me to my feet, help me stand up," 
 
 he faintly said; 
 " Oh boys, this is a glorious morn ! Away on Mission 
 
 Ridge now shines 
 Our country s banner in the sun, and gleam our long 
 
 victorious lines ! 
 And here we are on Lookout s crown; below a mist 
 
 the view enshrouds; 
 Oh, God ! I thank thee for this death, in triumph 
 
 here above the clouds ! 
 Oh, sergeant, I shall soon be gone; I soon shall 
 
 know a glorious birth ; 
 
 Then raise me up a little more and let me bid fare 
 well to earth ! 
 Dear mother earth, I loved thee once ; thy roughest 
 
 features once lo me 
 
235 
 
 Were lines of loveliness, but now I joy, old earth, 
 
 at leaving thee ! 
 For many and many a month, dear earth, I ve 
 
 walked thy bosom in despair! 
 But now, oh, God be praised, old earth, I m going 
 
 where my loved ones are ! 
 Oh, sergeant, see those shining forms, my sister, 
 
 mother, father too, 
 And thousands more I do not know; wait, wait, 
 
 I m coming unto you! 
 Oh, comrades, let my grave be made above the clouds 
 
 up here in light! 
 Goodbye, old earth oh, boys, good bye now lay 
 
 me down oh, world, good night! 1 
 
PART TWENTY-SECOND. 
 
 THE SAVIOR AND THE SAVED -AN INDIAN LOVER -THE 
 CANOE JOURNEY OF TWO HUNDRED MILES -THE INDIAN 
 VILLAQE AT LEECH LAKE -MANOMIN S WRETCHEDNESS 
 AND DESPAIR-MORE HEARTACHES THAN ONE, 
 
 let us turn to that sad night that night that 
 
 HARRY clambered down 
 Mid heart-felt welcomes from the coach, at Douglas 
 
 County^s county-town. 
 The day had been a sultry one and round and red 
 
 the sun had set, 
 And RICHARD wiped his brow and said: "To-morrow 
 
 will be hotter yet." 
 All day among his bending grain most resolutely he 
 
 had swung 
 His heavy cradle, without rest, excepting when the 
 
 whetstone rung 
 Its sonorous peans on his scythe, saying as plain as 
 
 tongue could say: 
 " To work, to work, oh idlers all, be of some use in 
 
 this your day!" 
 236 
 
237 
 
 Across Lake Ida s surface lay the golden tresses of 
 
 the sun; 
 But shortening fast with every pulse, they vanished, 
 
 and the day was done. 
 With every outward door swung back no panel barred 
 
 the threshold, wide, 
 Of KICHARD S dwelling, or shut out the glimpse of 
 
 happy life inside. 
 The evening rneal was long since o er, and every 
 
 trace of it put by, 
 And all the household gathered round without one 
 
 cloud upon the sky, 
 The social sky, of their bright world, which goes to 
 
 prove, despite the din 
 Of brimstone clergy, heaven is found, and only to be 
 
 found, within. 
 There is not, neither can there be, in space s vast 
 
 dominion, wide, 
 An outward cause to curse the soul its heaven or 
 
 hell must spring inside. 
 While innocently thus they sat, not dreaming aught 
 
 of harm was nigh, 
 Toward the house six painted Sioux were creeping 
 
 stealthily and sly. 
 Then sudden as the lightning s stroke there was a 
 
 blinding flash and roar, 
 
 And EICHARD THORNTON headlong plunged, a bleed 
 ing corpse upon the floor! 
 
238 
 
 With fury flashing from her eyes MANOMIN sprang 
 
 and seized her gun: 
 Another roar and she, too, fell as murdered EICHARD 
 
 had just done. 
 They then with hellish leisure, next, shot ESTHER 
 
 and her father down, 
 And stabbed the child and cut her throat and snatched 
 
 a trophy from her crown. 
 For whisky they then searched and searched, and 
 
 finding none they stripped the dead 
 And gashed them horribly, and nailed against the 
 
 wall the old man s head! 
 "While they were rumaging the house, ransacking all 
 
 the rooms overhead, 
 MANOMIN dragged herself away, for though shot 
 
 through she was not dead. 
 Her absence they discovered soon and forth they fared 
 
 to bring her back, 
 "Hush! hark!" and quick as cats they crouch and 
 
 creep along the forest track. 
 Twas HARRY S party drawing near, and stimulated 
 
 by their hate 
 The Indians rushed to take more blood, but quickly 
 
 met a murderer s fate. 
 PEWAUBEC, son of BIG DOG* had encamped that 
 
 night on Ida s shore, 
 
 * Chief of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwaya. 
 
239 
 
 And as he walked toward the house was checked by 
 
 the first rifle roar, 
 And crouching down behind some brush he lay and 
 
 saw with inward pain, 
 The hellish deeds which he well knew he had no 
 
 power to restrain. 
 For had he been discovered there their frenzied joy 
 
 had passed belief ; 
 Earth has no glory for a Sioux like scalping an 
 
 Ojibway chief! 
 When they went stealing off to meet the little party 
 
 in the wood 
 He rushed up to the house to see if he could yet 
 
 do any good. 
 The ghastly sight that met his eyes at once assured 
 
 him all was o 1 er, 
 When from the brush along the bluff that ran close 
 
 by the kitchen door 
 He heard a groan, and thinking first it might be some 
 
 Dacotah* snare, 
 He cautiously approached the spot ; but twas MANO- 
 
 MIN lying there! 
 MANOMIN! how his throbbing heart sent the blood 
 
 spinning to his head 
 He raised her as he would a child and toward the 
 
 lake with rapid tread 
 
 * Another name for the Sioux 
 
240 
 
 He bore her tenderly, and laid her down upon a 
 bed of furs 
 
 In his canoe, and speedily from its beach moorings 
 loosened hers. 
 
 Together then, with moose-wood line, the two canoes 
 he quickly tied, 
 
 And soon the savior and the saved were gliding o er 
 the waters wide ! 
 
 When in the brush MANOMIN fell external conscious 
 ness had fled, 
 
 And now, as it came struggling back, she gazed upon 
 the stars overhead, 
 
 And tried to summon the events of the past hour, 
 but the pain 
 
 That darted through her, as she stirred, induced un 
 consciousness again. 
 
 There was a long- point making out from Ida s 
 timbered, eastern shore, 
 
 Due northward from the dwelling house and distant 
 half a mile or more; 
 
 And when PEWAUBEC rounded this he turned his 
 course toward the land, 
 
 And in a quiet little nook he drew the boats upon 
 the strand. 
 
 Then with a woman s tenderness, softly and carefully 
 did he 
 
 Lift up MANOMIN, couch and all, and place her under 
 neath a tree. 
 
241 
 
 He plucked some <; balm of Gilead*" leaves arid 
 bruising them expressed the juice 
 
 Which, in a curious birchen dish, he set one side 
 for further use. 
 
 He then undid a roll of things f and drawing forth 
 a linen sack 
 
 Tore off some bandages and put with care the precious 
 remnant back. 
 
 A small bright fire next he built near by his patient 
 on the ground, 
 
 Then with his hunting knife removed the garments 
 from about the wound. 
 
 The second sternal bone was pierced and after tra 
 versing a line 
 
 Descending and a little curved, the bullet issued 
 near the spine. 
 
 That it was a most dangerous hurt PEWAUBEO felt 
 quite well assured, 
 
 *The balm of Gilead tree with its odorous, healing foliage grows pro 
 fusely on the shores of Lake Ida, in Douglas County, Minn. 
 
 {-The Minnesota Ojibway Indians or Chippeways as they are sometimes 
 called always make their excursions in summer time in light birch bark 
 canoes, and never set out from home without first making up a bundle of 
 things, among which will be found some clean empty linen bags to get meal, 
 flour, salt, or any such article, from the settlers when they reach the settle 
 ments. PEWAUBEC whose name signifies iron was the only son of Bio 
 DOG, the chief of the Leech Lake Ojibways. Leech Lake was distant about 
 two hundred miles from THORNTON S house on Lake Ida, due north, and the 
 numerous lakes between Ida and Leech Lake are all strung together by 
 connecting streams. ram 
 
 16 
 
242 
 
 And fruitful of sharp, shooting pains, and difficult 
 
 of being cured. 
 He bathed it tenderly and dropped some clean bear s 
 
 oil within the wound, 
 And pouring in some balm he wrapped his bandages 
 
 quite tight around 
 Her bust entire, and then placed her gently in the 
 
 boat once more, 
 Pushed off, and all that night he plied, without one 
 
 resting spell, his oar. 
 When consciousness returned again MANOMIN lay 
 
 some little time, 
 Perplexed to know if she was still on earth or in 
 
 some happier clime. 
 Her ears were filled with songs of birds ! how clear 
 
 and soft and sweet the air! 
 "While she was gently, gently swung within some 
 
 fairy bower there. 
 All round her fragrant foliage hung, softening the 
 
 percolating light; 
 Oh, had she then in truth passed through death s 
 
 dismal, rayless vale of night? 
 If so, where were the radiant ones she fondly hoped 
 
 would meet her there? 
 She listened, but no life but bird s was there apparent 
 
 anywhere. 
 She turned her head : " Why, how is this ? I m lying 
 
 in a boat, I see, 
 
243 
 
 And on some stream, but moored beneath this low, 
 
 thick overhanging tree. 
 Now I remember! oh, my God! my mem ry serves 
 
 me but too well ! 
 So vividly that fearful scene, of where poor father 
 
 THORNTON fell, 
 Cruelly murdered, who, good man, had never wronged 
 
 a being yet, 
 Deep in the marrow of my brain is stamped, I never 
 
 can forget ! 
 But I was shot, what more was done, oh God, too 
 
 surely I might know, 
 All. murdered without doubt, but then how came I 
 
 here in this canoe ? 
 This is no vile Dacotah s boat! Oh heav ns, how 
 
 fiercely through my heart 
 Bushed all my wild Ojibway blood when forth those 
 
 dogs of Sioux did start ! 
 But I am rescued ! and I know this is the chemon* 
 
 of a chief; 
 And my glad heart cries out " megwitchl f " to him 
 
 who came to my relief. 
 For oh, I do not want to die until one loving arm, 
 
 I know, 
 Shall clasp me round and one dear head bend o er me 
 
 lovingly and low!" 
 
 * Canoe. f Thanks! 
 
244 
 
 Her further meditations here were broken by a rifle 
 shot, 
 
 So near and clear it made her start, and for an 
 instant she forgot 
 
 That she was on Ojibway ground, moored in an ob 
 scure, quiet stream, 
 
 And without meaning it she gave a half suppressed, 
 sharp, nervous scream. 
 
 There was a sound of bounding feet, a strong, swift 
 rushing through the wood, 
 
 The branches o er her swung apart, and gazing through 
 PEWAUBEC stood ! 
 
 She raised her hand but could not speak, but elo 
 quently her dark eyes 
 
 Poured forth her soul s deep gratitude, not tricked 
 in affectation s guise, 
 
 But springing pure and unalloyed from out her being s 
 inmost seat, 
 
 Fell on PEWAUBECT s thirsty soul like floods of heaven s 
 nectar, sweet. 
 
 " You must not move or speak," he said ; " I Ve killed 
 a partridge and will soon 
 
 Prepare some broth that you may dine, for by the sun 
 tis nearly noon." 
 
 He shut the branches and was gone and as his foot 
 fall died away 
 
 She closed her eyes and thought how much she d 
 reason to thank God that day. 
 
245 
 
 PEWAUBEC had prepared his camp down near the 
 
 lake s white, wave- washed shore ; 
 From where MANOMIN S boat was moored twas 
 
 distant twenty rods or more. 
 For here was water to be had and plenty of dry 
 
 driftwood, too, 
 Besides, an Indian always lies, if traveling in t, near 
 
 his canoe. 
 With careful hand PEWAUBEC cleaned his partridge, 
 
 and the breast, quite fine 
 Chopped up with his sharp hunting knife, upon a 
 
 trencher of white pine. 
 All of the pieces of the bird into the kettle, scoured 
 
 bright, 
 He put, with water and with salt, then rubbed his 
 
 kindling wood alight, 
 And as the fragrant steam arose, a spoon he fashioned, 
 
 neat and small, 
 Of fine grained, delicate white ash for her to eat her 
 
 broth withal. 
 You should have seen him as he stood up to his 
 
 middle in the brook, 
 Feeding MANOMIN tenderly, a lover s fondness in 
 
 his look. 
 A lover s ! ah, poor dusky child ! chief, and a proud 
 
 one, though you be, 
 Although that maiden bears thy blood her love stoops 
 
 not to such as thee ! 
 
246 
 
 Between the one who holds her heart and thy grave 
 
 nations loftiest chief 
 A chasm yawns which all your love could never bridge, 
 
 in her belief. 
 Two weeks and more with watchful care PEWAUBEC 
 
 plied his busy oar, 
 Until the wigwams of his tribe loomed up, one morn 
 
 on Leech Lake s shore. 
 With thick leaved boughs he d canopied the boat 
 
 wherein MANOMIN lay, 
 So closely woven as to turn the burning sunlight all 
 
 away. 
 And over this, on rainy days long rolls of birchen 
 
 bark he drew, 
 Also at night that her fair face might not be wetted 
 
 with the dew. 
 Each night he bathed and dressed her wound with 
 
 that fine delicacy and care 
 That marks the truly gentle heart, and is so winning 
 
 and so rare ! 
 He had forbidden her to speak so long as her pierced 
 
 lung felt sore, 
 
 Therefore no word did they exchange in all that four 
 teen days and more. 
 His gun and fish spear yielded them a sure subsistence 
 
 every day. 
 While luscious berries and wild plums were found 
 
 abundant on the way. 
 
247 
 
 And thus a fortnight flitted on, until, as I have said 
 
 before, 
 The wigwams of his tribe loomed up one grateful 
 
 morn on Leech Lakers shore. 
 While yet far out upon the lake sharp eyes his coming 
 
 had descried, 
 And that an object strange he towed had quite as 
 
 quickly been espied ; 
 Out from that depth of giant pines the curious crowds 
 
 came swarming down. 
 Along the gracefully curved beach and round the 
 
 moorings of the town. 
 From little bays along the shore and every reedy 
 
 nook and brake 
 Loaded canoes shot thickly forth to meet the young 
 
 chief on the lake. 
 In hurried sentences he told the foremost ones what 
 
 had occurred, 
 And bade them turn their boats about and tell those 
 
 coming what they d heard, 
 Then to the village hasten back and have an easy 
 
 litter made, 
 Whereon in comfort might be borne the weary, wasted, 
 
 wounded maid, 
 And have his wigwam cleared and cleaned, and with 
 
 new mats the roof repaired, 
 Make ready some clean bandages and have some 
 
 cordials prepared. 
 
248 
 
 His orders strictly were obeyed and soon MANOMIN S 
 
 weary head 
 Pressed in deep rest and gratefulness the downy 
 
 pillows of her bed. 
 Eight glad was she that her own sex her wants 
 
 henceforward would attend. 
 And speedily beneath their care her fearful wound 
 
 began to mend. 
 How fared it with PEWAUBEO now? Long, solitary 
 
 walks he M take, 
 Or all alone in his canoe would often row far down 
 
 the lake. 
 
 Within the garden of his heart, way down the long- 
 ago, had sprung 
 Beneath MANOMIN S winsome ways, and the sweet 
 
 prattle of her tongue, 
 The hardy, climbing plant of love; and as it once 
 
 sought to entwine, 
 In after years, about her heart a frost pinched back 
 
 the venturous vine ; 
 A frost of dignified rebuke, a frost almost as keen 
 
 as scorn 
 Out back the plant upon his heart, with many a 
 
 lacerating thorn. 
 For though this plant bears sweetest flowers whilb 
 
 neath requited lore it grows, 
 Yet beaten down, its thorns become sharper than those 
 
 which guard the rose. 
 
249 
 
 And at that time she had not given to HARRY THORN 
 TON the rich flower 
 
 Of her young love, which bloomed unseen within her 
 spirit s inmost bower. 
 
 But now, that their two lives were knit together like 
 a warp and woof 
 
 How could PEWAUBEC cherish hope ? What could he 
 do but stand aloof? 
 
 But stand aloof and wait, and wait, with face so calm 
 she would not guess 
 
 Beneath his calmness writhed a heart in fearful 
 spasms of distress. 
 
 He so determined, and each day would take his stand 
 beside her bed, 
 
 Give her condolence o er her grief and point to brighter 
 skies ahead. 
 
 Reminding- her of coming joys, when war should 
 loose its crimson clutch 
 
 Upon the gallant soldier lad by whom she was beloved 
 so much ; 
 
 And sing Ojibway songs to her, and daily thus per 
 formed his part 
 
 So well, MANOMIN never dreamed that love for her 
 gnawed at his heart. 
 
 The ground was whitening o er with snow, which 
 lodging on the evergreen 
 
250 
 
 That garlanded those druid pines, made up a rare 
 
 and gorgeous scene. 
 MANOMIN daily gained in strength, and on this day 
 
 essayed to write 
 To HARRY, a concise account of all that happened 
 
 on that night 
 That fearful night the murdering Sioux shot down 
 
 her dear ones in cold blood, 
 And how PEWAUBEC saved and bore her o er two 
 
 hundred miles of flood. 
 She sent her letter to Crow Wing whence it was 
 
 posted on its way, 
 But never came to HARRY S hand and never has, 
 
 unto this day. 
 The winter passed and with light feet came tripping 
 
 in the balmy hours, 
 With wreaths of sunbeams round their heads and 
 
 clothed in odors of sweet flowers. 
 Now every day, returning home, came Indians, singly 
 
 and in crews, 
 Who had been trapping down below, with fragmentary 
 
 bits of news. 
 MANOMIN learned the house was burned and all the 
 
 settlers had fled, 
 " Two men were shot down in the woods close by to 
 
 THORNTON S house," they said, 
 " That very night," and then the thought, swifter than 
 
 lightning through her thrilled 
 
251 
 
 " We looked for HARRY at that time ; it must have 
 
 been that he was killed! 
 " Oh, yes, it surely must have been, for now His 
 
 seven months, and more, 
 
 Since I last wrote, and if alive he would have ans 
 wered long before; 
 Who could the other one have been ? Poor Uncle 
 
 DARLING, I Ve no doubt 
 What would T not most gladly give to find this matter 
 
 truly out?" 
 About a fortnight after this the trader at that post 
 
 came back; 
 He M been as far down as St. Cloud, and had some 
 
 papers in his pack. 
 
 He sunned away MANOMIN S fears, assured her DARL 
 ING was all right, 
 That he and HARRY killed six Sioux near THORNTON S 
 
 house that awful night: 
 That DARLING had been over there and "ransacked 
 
 all around," he said, 
 And wrote to HARRY that he thought "from all the 
 
 signs, you must be dead." 
 "And when I told him differently you should have 
 
 seen the man 1 s delight, 
 He clapped his hands and danced and laughed, and 
 
 wrote to HARRY that same night. 
 I saw the broad grave in his yard where all the 
 
 THORNTONS are interred. 
 
252 
 
 ED. WRIGHT and AUSTIN are the ones about whose 
 
 killing you have heard."" 
 He told her of the different fights and "in them," 
 
 Uncle DARLING said, 
 
 "I reckon me and HARRY knocked a hundred red 
 skins on the head ! " 
 " He is the only man but one who has yet ventured 
 
 home again, 
 And when I left, ten days ago, he was just dragging 
 
 in his grain. 
 Here are some papers I have brought, I think you 11 
 
 find some news in them ; 
 
 I see old GAFFER has been killed, that most mys 
 terious of men. 
 And Uncle DARLING bade me say, although as yet, 
 
 no single word, 
 Since they had parted near St. Paul, from soldier 
 
 HARRY he had heard, 
 Yet he was feeding on the hope of letters coming 
 
 every day, 
 And the first one that he received he M forward to 
 
 you, right away. 
 But in the mean time while it seems as everything 
 
 was upside down, 
 He thinks you d find no safer place than in this 
 
 little Indian town." 
 So thought MANOMIN and remained, and as those 
 
 long, long weeks went by, 
 
253 
 
 And brought no word from him she loved how oft 
 
 sheM steal away and cry. 
 Often and often she had writ and why unanswered 
 
 could not tell 
 So powerless all her efforts were to break or pierce 
 
 the mystic spell 
 That seemed surrounding her like brass; what was 
 
 it? could it then be fate? 
 She would not grant it and resolved to curb her 
 
 swelling soul and wait! 
 Wait with a quiet placid front while hope grew sick 
 
 within her heart, 
 And nervous, gloomy fear usurped its chamber, and 
 
 would not depart. 
 So sped the summer months away, and saucy autumn, 
 
 bold and brown, 
 Scattering its coin of golden leaves laughed gaily 
 
 through that Indian town. 
 The blackbirds sang their farewell notes, the lingering 
 
 loons adieus were heard, 
 And early snows on tiptoe came and yet from Mm 
 
 no word J no word ! 
 And in the stillness of the night, when she should 
 
 long have been asleep, 
 She d turn her face toward the wall and wring her 
 
 hands and weep and weep! 
 And often through the day forget to play her calm, 
 
 impassioned part, 
 
254 
 
 And shadows, rising to her face, betrayed the dark 
 ness of her heart. 
 
 PEWAUBEC grieved for her but thought if there were 
 deeper depths of woe 
 
 Than hope deferred, to wring the soul, that sharper 
 pang was his to know. 
 
 Poor lonesome, wretched, heart-sick girl, how can my 
 feeble pen, unskilled, 
 
 Portray her desolation when she learned her lover 
 had been killed? 
 
PART TWENTY-THIRD. 
 
 HAEEY KECOVEKS-IS PKOMOTED-THE AEMT AT LOST 
 MOUNTAIN -HAEEY EELATES THE EXPERIENCE OF HIS 
 TEANCE-WHAT HE SAW IN THE SUMMEE LAND -THE 
 FOUNDLING; HOUSE AND OHILDEEN S PLAT GEOUND-A 
 LECTUEE IN A CELESTIAL TEMPLE -THE BATTLE PEAL 
 -"FALL IN! FALL DTI" 
 
 here that stretcher ! lively, boys ! there s 
 much to do, 1 the surgeon said, 
 
 " This lad, though very badly hurt, has only swooned, 
 he is not dead!" 
 
 They lifted up the wounded one and bore him tender 
 ly away, 
 
 And in a state of syncope for days and days poor 
 HARRY lay. 
 
 The rueful, chilly weeks went by, now white with 
 January s snow, 
 
 Now dripping with the rains of March, now radiant 
 with the lovely glow 
 255 
 
256 
 
 Of May s sweet presence, young and fair, then re 
 dolent and all atune 
 
 With glorious rose-breath, and the soft, sweet voices 
 of the birds of June. 
 
 And day by day and week by week did HARRY S sun 
 of health arise, 
 
 And rosier grew his ashen cheek and warmer glowed 
 his kindling eyes; 
 
 And soon at war s hot, flaming forge, with cheerful 
 heart and willing hand, 
 
 Freedom s bold, skilful artisan, once more he nobly 
 took his stand. 
 
 But now no knapsack weighed him down, he grasped 
 his gleaming gun no more, 
 
 A captain HARRY had been made and pistols and a 
 sword he wore. 
 
 Around " Lost Mountain s " rocky base, at close of 
 one warm summer day, 
 
 Far down in Georgia, SHERMAN S hosts ready for 
 battle grimly lay. 
 
 The soft, round moon was climbing up the airy stair 
 case of the skies, 
 
 And quiet, dreamy stars looked down as peacefully 
 as angels eyes. 
 
 The surgeon sat in HARRY S tent watching the moon 
 beams as they played 
 
 Among the rows of arms astack, when, turning sud 
 denly, he said: 
 
257 
 
 "I say, my boy, tell us the tale you ve often promis 
 ed to, some day, 
 Of what befell you in the while that you at death s 
 
 dark doorway lay; 
 Procrastination is a thief that filches time, is truly 
 
 said, 
 So if you feel in trim to-night to spin the yarn, 
 
 just heave ahead!" 
 "Most willingly I will, my friend, and tis a curious 
 
 tale, forsooth, 
 Though valuable the more to you, who will be sure it 
 
 is the truth: 
 After I bade adieu to earth a heavy, drowsy feeling 
 
 stole 
 All through my being s avenues, and seemed to seize 
 
 my very soul. 
 The mellow, rosy light grew dark, my dear ones 
 
 faces fled my sight, 
 
 And I seemed stranded, for a space, upon the death- 
 lashed shores of night. 
 But gradually the light returned, again my dear ones 
 
 gathered round, 
 And loving lips were pressed to mine and tender arms 
 
 were softly wound 
 Around me in a close embrace, and fairy fingers 
 
 smoothed my hair, 
 But she, whom I had died to see heart of my heart ! 
 
 she was not there ! 
 
 17 
 

 258 
 
 As when, the heary midnight air, a flash of lightningf 
 
 swiftly cleaves 
 And then the great, unmeasured void in deeper, 
 
 thicker darkness leaves, 
 So r like a sword, this keen truth cut my spirit to its 
 
 very core, 
 And left behind it a deep sting, far sharper than 
 
 I d felt before. 
 A deep, humiliating sense of how perversely I had 
 
 tried 
 To rend this robe of flesh away without resort to 
 
 suicide 
 Burned like a coal within my breast, and made me 
 
 long for earth again 
 To bide my fuller time ; but oh, I thought this hope 
 
 was all in vain! 
 My guardians had perceived my thoughts, and that I 
 
 stood there self accused, 
 Ashamed and saddened that God s love I had so 
 
 foolishly abused 
 As to grow restive neath events Time s onward 
 
 sweep had brought about, 
 And, like a wayward, fretful child, from life s great 
 
 schoolroom had rushed out! 
 Then drawing near they gently said: " Tis well 
 
 your monitor reproves 
 Your headlong haste to wrench away your chains of 
 
 flesh, and it behoves 
 
259 
 
 You well to listen to its voice, and by the memory 
 
 of your pain 
 Determine not strive against its plain admonishment* 
 
 again. 
 Know, then, your body is not dead, and soon again 
 
 you will resume 
 
 Its dark habiliments, and all its obligations re-as 
 sume. 
 She, whom you yearned for, is not here; it is not 
 
 ours to tell you more ; 
 For doubts, uncertainties, mishaps are given to your 
 
 earthly shore 
 For you to battle with and solve, endure and yet 
 
 again endure; 
 They are the em ry wheels of life that keep your 
 
 spirits bright and pure. 1 " 
 I now looked round me and observed I stood near 
 
 where my body fell ; 
 I saw you feeling of its heart, and most distinctly 
 
 heard you tell 
 The stretcher bearers to make haste, and as they bore 
 
 it off, behold! 
 A long, fine line united us, brighter by far than 
 
 burnished gold. 
 " Where er you go, " my guardians said, " this line 
 
 will bind you to your form, 
 And, like the line that keeps the ship fast to the 
 
 anchor in the storm, 
 
260 
 
 Will hold you firmly to the earth, where you must 
 
 soon again return, 
 And for a further space submit the lower laws of 
 
 life to learn." 
 My friends thronged round me, now, in crowds, and 
 
 for a while, bewildered, I 
 Could only shake their hands and laugh, and laugh 
 
 and shake their hands and cry! 
 I thought I knew what twas to feel deep, strong 
 
 emotions sweep the heart, 
 But oh, a sense of that wild joy I know no words 
 
 that could impart ! 
 " Come, 1 " said my guardians, " time flies fast with 
 
 you, who still are of the earth, 
 Come, glean awhile in fields of truth; come, gather 
 
 gems of royal worth ! " 
 And as through space we sped like light with no 
 
 apparent moving cause, 
 Much did I speculate upon this motion and its source 
 
 and laws; 
 Which when perceived my guardians said, " We move 
 
 by the same law that you, 
 When chained to earth with clogs of flesh, tugged at 
 
 by gravitation, do. 
 Whene er you wish to move about your will says 
 
 firmly, " go I must?" 
 
 And straightway it proceeds to go dragging about 
 its load of dust. 
 
261 
 
 Hast never seen the acrobat, who springs in air and 
 
 spins thrice round, 
 Alighting neatly and exact, square on his feet upon 
 
 the ground? 
 If then his will, with all its load, shall move through 
 
 space so free and swift, 
 Ought not our wills to do much more with no such 
 
 weight of flesh to lift?" 
 
 We were now passing over groves, and gently-un 
 dulating hills, 
 Sweet little nooks, and tinkling brooks, and dancing 
 
 waterfalls and rills. 
 Small lakes, as clear as mirrors turned their flashing 
 
 faces toward the sky, 
 Fringed by tall trees whose trunks appeared like 
 
 pillars of rich porphyry. 
 All of the larger streams were bridged by fairy 
 
 structures of one span, 
 
 Whose fine material no words I know of could de 
 scribe to man. 
 Anon an edifice arose, far more than Babel towering 
 
 high, 
 And stretching on through fields and groves further 
 
 than scope of mortal eye. 
 Its timbers seemed like beams of light, finer than 
 
 finest crystal glass ; 
 Its architectural design the highest mind could not 
 
 surpass, 
 
262 
 
 Neither of earth nor of the skies, "for all the brightest 
 
 ones above 
 Contributed to raise this pile, under the inspiring call 
 
 of love, 
 Love for the little still-born babes that come, like 
 
 spotless flakes of snow, 
 Each moment from some home of earth, whose darker 
 
 life they never know. 
 Here in this house their " Father s house of many 
 
 mansions " in the skies, 
 These little throbs of Father God first learn the office 
 
 of their eyes 
 First learn to be, to act and think, feel that they hold 
 
 immortal life; 
 But those emotions, strong and deep, perfected by 
 
 your earthly strife, 
 They lack, and never will possess ; so envy not their 
 
 early birth 
 Into this life, but rather pray to grow and ripen on 
 
 the earth!" 
 Oh, God! it was a sight to see, from every quarter 
 
 of the sky, 
 
 The guardian angels flocking in to this great Found 
 ling House on high ! 
 Each in its bosom bearing up a little palpitating 
 
 gem, 
 But worth, in all its helplessness, more than the richest 
 
 diadem ! 
 
And this great play-ground of the spheres was all 
 
 aflash with childish fun 
 Here fair-haired Saxons leaped and played with Afric s 
 
 scions of the sun, 
 And sweet Circassian giris and boys and dark-eyed, 
 
 graceful youth of Ind 
 Mingled their greetings and their games, free and 
 
 impartial as the windi 
 It seemed to me I could have lived forever in that 
 
 merry din, 
 Breathing the pureness of its life, drinking its holy 
 
 spirit in. 
 But my two guardians bade me on, and soon we 
 
 reached a radiant wood, 
 
 Where, vaster than the ends of earth, an airy, glit 
 tering temple stood. 
 " Here meet the millions of the world that long ago 
 
 have passed away, 
 The noble, wise and lovely minds the history-beacons 
 
 of their day! 
 Here are devised the thousand things that mark the 
 
 progress of your earth, 
 Here locomotives, telegraphs and telescopes sprang 
 
 into birth ; 
 Here all industrial implements, now used by man, 
 
 were first bethought; 
 The secret of the camera was first within this temple 
 
 caught; 
 
264 
 
 And all the rising policies that mark the upward 
 
 stride of man, 
 Up to the present hour of time, here had their rise, 
 
 here first began ! 
 Come in the lecture room and hear if there may not 
 
 be same wise word, 
 Some priceless wisdom-gem let drop that will enrich 
 
 you to have heard. 
 They led the way through leagues of aisles, arcades, 
 
 rotundas, corridors, 
 With soft, warm, glowing roofs overhead, beneath, 
 
 rich, noiseless amber floors ! 
 
 Within the auditorium, vaster than earth s blue arch 
 ing sky, 
 Where seats, packed full of shining ones, ran round 
 
 in ample circles high, 
 We took our place amid the hosts both sexes 
 
 gathered there to hear 
 A treatise on Familiar Things, by teachers from the 
 
 Seventh Sphere, 
 U I see, "one of my guardians said, " your mind 
 
 is not exactly clear 
 On how it happens here should be a lower and a 
 
 higher sphere 
 On earth the self same law prevails, and spheres are 
 
 numerous there as here, 
 But oft overridden wealth, sometimes, buyin^, its 
 
 owner a false sphere 
 
265 
 
 There are no riches here except the wealth of wisdom 
 
 and of love, 
 Each soul, unerring, knows its sphere when born into 
 
 this life above! " 
 He ceased, and then upon my mind the speaker s 
 
 thoughts fell clear and bright 
 
 " ; Thus have I tried to prove to you that naught 
 
 exists except the Right; 
 Eternal Father God alone fills all the endless realm 
 
 of space; 
 He is an integral of Good for other Pow r there 
 
 is no place! 
 There is no special point in space where God is, more 
 
 than other where; 
 Man braves the sea while strangling him it tells 
 
 him plainly, God is there! 
 He leaps from off a precipice, and by sharp pains, 
 
 and broken bones, 
 Or loss of life, is told, God s here ! in unmistakably 
 
 clear tones, 
 Falls into fire, and is taught by the disorganizing 
 
 flame 
 That God is also present there, and is, as everywhere, 
 
 the same 
 Great Living Order of All Things, against whom man 
 
 can never sin! 
 
 Whose Life is Law impartial, stem, and knows no 
 outward^ no within ! 
 
266 
 
 Out from His life the planets sprung, as fruit from life 
 
 within the tree, 
 
 And planet laws of life have raised up man to im 
 mortality ! 
 What soul was asked, would it be born? would it be 
 
 wakened into life, 
 To toil and sweat, mid doubt and fear to eat the bitter 
 
 bread of strife, 
 Blinded by Priestcraft, robbed by law, taxed by its 
 
 rulers for each breath, 
 
 Consuming tons and tons of life to be in turn con 
 sumed by death ! 
 And then, by the ""enlightened world"" when it 
 
 has reached this " "far off shore"" (!) 
 If not immersed, be damned by some, and if immersed 
 
 be damned by more! 
 Law, pitiless, impartial law, moved by the vital force 
 
 of God, 
 Developed Man from forms of life lower than ornament 
 
 the sod. 
 He comes, a puling, helpless babe, that may be barely 
 
 said to live, 
 And how or why he grows and thrives the faintest 
 
 reason cannot give. 
 He grows just as the grasses grow, no special law for 
 
 him was made ; 
 He blooms, decays, he falls and dies, his body in the 
 
 earth is laid, 
 
267 
 
 But he dies not, forevermore he is the ultimate of 
 
 life! 
 And will for age refine and rise, no matter through 
 
 what line of strife 
 He has fulfilled the mandate, stern, that brought him 
 
 on and off the earth, 
 No matter in what barb rous age was cast the hour 
 
 of his birth; 
 ]STo matter to what creed he clung, or if he clung 
 
 to none at all; 
 No matter whose poor slave he was, or who have 
 
 trembled at his call; 
 He still is G-od s own darling child, the choicest 
 
 product of His life, 
 And though he may for ages show the scars and 
 
 bruises of earth s strife, 
 Yet at the last, refined and bright, his gladdened soul 
 
 with joy will rise 
 And with hosannas unto God march up the causeway 
 
 of the skies! 
 Go bear to all the ends of earth, wherever gropes a 
 
 brother man, 
 And prefer him these living truths, revealments of 
 
 the mighty plan. 
 God raises up no special ones as leaders of the toiling 
 
 mass, 
 
 All such are ministers of Pride a worthless, self- 
 commissioned class 
 
268 
 
 Who, for the living that they get, load down the mind 
 
 with error s chains ; 
 Cast off these incubii digest your mental food through 
 
 your own brains ! 
 What is a dinner howe er rich or life sustaining, 
 
 worth to you, 
 To build your wasting form up, which some other 
 
 stomach has passed through ? 
 On all beneath him man refines, and we in turn on 
 
 man refine, 
 The highest working next below, clear up through all 
 
 the endless line. 
 And naught is Wrong and all is Eight " here 
 
 rang the trumpets battle peal, 
 "Fall in! fall in! steady, my men! Fire!! Now give 
 
 them the cold steel ! " 
 A sad and bloody comment on the pleasant theory 
 
 above 
 A sharp, hard, argument against the growing potency 
 
 of love, 
 Was the fierce strife of headlong men that woke the 
 
 echoes round that hill, 
 Whose endless, multiplying tongues like screaming 
 
 devils screeched, "kill! kill!" 
 But still it is a truth for all, that will live on and shine 
 
 for aye, 
 When deadly passions long have slept with all the low 
 
 things that decay! 
 
PART TWENTY-FOURTH. 
 
 SHEEMAN S CAMPAIGN IN GEOEGIA-FEOM ATLANTA TO 
 CHATTANOOGA -SHEEMAN S GEEAT MAECH TO THE SEA 
 HAEEY S LETTEE PEOM SAVANNAH THE END OF THE 
 WAE-HAEET S LAST LETTEE TO MANOMIN-HIS SENTI 
 MENTS UPON THE ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN, 
 
 hundred days of ceaseless toil, hard marching 
 
 over hills and rocks, 
 Through forests, glades and swamps and streams, 
 
 daily administering hard knocks 
 To treason s groggy, battered crown more than two 
 
 thousand trying hours, 
 And then our brave boys cried "Hurrah! Atlanta 
 
 is forever ours!" 
 Upon Lost Mountain s rugged steep and rocky Ken- 
 
 esaw s high crown, 
 At Smyrna, Camp-ground, Peach-tree Creek, was 
 
 many a gallant life laid down. 
 But now the rough campaign was o er, and a brief 
 
 period of rest 
 Was granted to those faithful boys our glorious 
 
 Army of the West. 
 269 
 
270 
 
 There, after wandering around, from point to point, 
 
 and post to post, 
 For some two hundred days or more, like an unhappy, 
 
 restless ghost, 
 Came Uncle DARLING S last brief note, informing 
 
 HARRY of the place 
 "Where lived that special presence he loved most of 
 
 all the human race. 
 He dreamed not as he read with joy its rude, rough 
 
 characters, that day, 
 The warm, true heart that coined them was a cold and 
 
 lifeless lump of clay.* 
 His soul brimmed over with delight he saw the 
 
 unborn future s hours 
 Come tripping up, all wreathed in smiles and crowned 
 
 with Hope s most precious flowers. 
 A constant, true and loving heart still hungered for 
 
 him on the earth, 
 Still hoped and waited, yearned and prayed to be 
 
 delivered from its dearth; 
 Still looked to see some angel hand reach down and 
 
 save it from despair; 
 The letter HARRY wrote that night was Heaven s 
 
 answer to its prayer. 
 Oh, what a flood of earnest love, long pent within 
 
 his swelling soul, 
 
 *See the article at the commencement of this volume headed "In 
 Memoriam." 
 
271 
 
 Now poured its ardent volume forth along his letter s 
 
 lengthy scroll. 
 He told her all the fearful things that had befallen 
 
 since the night, 
 His reason trembled on its throne in terror at the 
 
 dreadful sight 
 Of mother, father, sister, all he thought that earth 
 
 for him held dear 
 Murdered and mangled horribly, ere he could reach 
 
 them though so near. 
 He told her how he thought her dead, and what a boil 
 
 his heart became, 
 And how he sought her at death s door through every 
 
 battle s smoke and flame! 
 " And when at last that door swung wide and with 
 
 swift feet I hurried through, 
 
 Twas but to find a broader gulf was stretched be 
 tween myself and you ! " 
 He begged her to go down below ere winter should, 
 
 with icy hand, 
 Palsy the streams, or with huge drifts of blinding 
 
 snow blockade the land; 
 "For if you should not, oh, my own! no word of love, 
 
 the winter through, 
 No word to cheer our waiting hearts can be exchanged 
 
 between us two. 
 Then come below, down to St. Cloud, or better yet, 
 
 down to St. Paul, 
 
272 
 
 And there in patient hope await whatever fortune 
 
 may befall 
 
 Him whose uncertain pathway lies along war s dan 
 gerous, lurid track, 
 Who, having hold of Freedom s plow, until the end, 
 
 will not look back. 
 Enclosed I send you names of friends, some comrades 
 
 families, who live 
 In good condition at St. Paul and who, I know, will 
 
 gladly give 
 You room and welcome just as long as it may please 
 
 you to remain, 
 So start at once, comedown, come down; pray, let 
 
 me not beseech in vain ! " 
 
 Savannah s broad and silvan streets were swarming 
 
 with our " boys in blue," 
 Who said they d come from Tennessee because they d 
 
 nothing else to do! 
 But on their path full many a heart, unhoused, in 
 
 desolation wept 
 A track through Georgia, miles in width, with war s 
 
 red besom they had swept ! 
 And HARRY, who with all the rest marched from 
 
 Atlanta to the sea, 
 Was writing to MANOMIN there beneath a "Pride- 
 
 of-India " tree : 
 
278 
 
 "Mr BARLING since I wrote you last, how have 
 
 the fleeting hours sped! 
 
 A hundred more historic days down Time s long cor 
 ridor have fled! 
 Scarce had I mailed my last to you ere we were up 
 
 and in full chase 
 Of HOOD S rag muffins, who compelled our patient 
 
 army to retrace 
 Its footsteps many weary miles, that had been weary 
 
 once before, 
 And traces, all along the route, of many a gallant 
 
 action bore. 
 But not a single murmur rose from all those lines 
 
 of noble men; 
 Oh, if I loved our boys before, I worshipped the dear 
 
 fellows then, 
 Who with bright faces, willing hearts, elastic step 
 
 and cheerful shout 
 Shouldered their muskets, swung their caps and on 
 
 that backward march set out. 
 We followed swiftly, long and. well our nimble and 
 
 now cautious foe, 
 
 But did not once get near enough to strike the vaga 
 bonds a blow. 
 Around old Kenesaw s rough base we lay, when 
 
 gallant CORSE S guns, 
 From Altoona s Pass poured forth hot iron logic from 
 
 their lungs. . t 
 
 18 
 
274 
 
 Eight gallantly we strove to reach the rebel rear ere 
 
 they withdrew, 
 Eut getting wind of us, somehow, they raised the 
 
 siege and off they flew. 
 
 Away to Kingston next we pushed, then onward, fur 
 ther, marched to Rome, 
 Then crossed the Ostenaula, still pursuing treasons 
 
 flying gnome. 
 But our light, unencumbered foe kept well ahead of 
 
 us, despite 
 The superhuman speed we made, and could not once 
 
 be brought to fight. 
 Disgusted, we now paused awhile in Chattanooga s 
 
 sumptuous vale; 
 
 And long, I fear me, will its rich, purse-proud in 
 habitants bewail 
 The day their fertile valley shook beneath our army s 
 
 heavy tramp ; 
 Scores of broad fields were quickly turned into one 
 
 vast and noisy camp ! 
 "What foraging, for miles around ! what gathering in 
 
 of corn and meat ! 
 Right well our army understood the value of good 
 
 things to eat! 
 Nearly two weeks we rested there, recuperating beast 
 
 and man, 
 Then breaking camp and shouldering arms SHERMAN S 
 
 historic march began.* 
 
 * SHERMAN S grout inarch actually commenced from the valley of the 
 Chattanooga, on the first of November, 1864. See his own official report 
 on this subject. 
 
275 
 
 What shall I tell you of that march? There is but 
 
 little 1 can say, 
 As unimpeded we advanced a certain distance every 
 
 day. 
 The greatness of it does not rest on what we did or 
 
 how we fared, 
 But on the deeds we would have done the unknown 
 
 dangers that we dared! 
 Tis true we waded streams and swamps, built bridges 
 
 and laid corduroys, 
 But all such things, in times of peace, are common to 
 
 our western boys. 
 Our march was a great gala time, a pic-nic party. 
 
 the men said, 
 And well I warrant me that ne er were pic-nic 
 
 party better fed! 
 Eggs, ham and bacon, poultry, lambs, butter and 
 
 honey, milk and cheese, 
 
 Rich golden syrups, apple jams, and all such delica 
 cies as these, 
 
 Including ripe old mellow wines, peach brandy, bour 
 bons and cigars, 
 Fit for a prince, nay better yet, fit for the proudest 
 
 of the czars, 
 Were found abundant in each mess o er nearly all 
 
 that lengthy route, 
 For which we often had to thank our " independent 
 
 bummer scout/" 
 
276 
 
 But often, as I lay encamped neath the great pines 
 
 at close of day, 
 I thought with pity upon those whom we despoiled 
 
 upon the way. 
 
 Many a cupboard we left hare, stripped many a smoke 
 house of its meat, 
 And many a little one, I fear, will beg in vain 
 
 a crust to eat. 
 Such are the bitter fruits of war ; oh, how I pray 
 
 all wars may cease, 
 And folding up their crimson wings disturb no more 
 
 the reign of peace ! 
 I love the grandeur of the scenes each day before us 
 
 have been spread, 
 The rich savannahs, graceful streams and tall pines 
 
 chanting overhead, 
 Which have for centuries shook down their golden 
 
 spindles and gray burs 
 Until it seems as if our feet profaned a soft, rich 
 
 robe of furs! 
 Tis sad the music of these woods, whose " deep 
 
 diapasons " all feel, 
 Should jar with war s discordant sounds the hoarse 
 
 command and clang of steel 
 That now, where ages, solemn hymns have only floated 
 
 to the skies, 
 The bugle s slogan should ascend and smoke from 
 
 hostile camps arise ! 
 
 
277 
 
 Your letter reached me, darling one, and its sad con 
 tents made me weep; 
 A little longer, and I hope the sunny hand of joy 
 
 will sweep 
 Those cobwebs of our hearts away, and fill our beings 
 
 with delight; 
 Hold fast your faith, my chastened one, day even now 
 
 gleams through our night. 
 YYe re under marching orders, love; at every halt 
 
 I ll write to you, 
 And mail the letters every time there is a chance to 
 
 get them through. 
 Good bye, my own, and may the powers of earth and 
 
 air and heaven, above, 
 Protect you, shield you, keep you safe, my own, long 
 
 suffering, patient love. 
 
 The war was over! yes, oh yes, the wasteful strife 
 at last was done, 
 
 And Treason crushed and Freedom saved ! and still 
 the "many" were "in one!"* 
 
 Four years of devastating war four years of battle 
 and of blood 
 
 Eaids, murders, robberies by land and dreadful pira 
 cies by flood, 
 
 Four years of darkness and of doubt, distrust, anxiety 
 and pain, 
 
 *E Plnribus Unum. 
 
278 
 
 And heart-strings tensioned till it seemed they d burst 
 
 asunder with the strain, 
 When suddenly, with crushing force, GRANT hurled 
 
 his legions on the foe ! 
 Sharp was the struggle, sharp and short, and sudden 
 
 treason s overthrow. 
 .Richmond, was taken, LEE pursued, and soon he 
 
 yielded up the sword; 
 JOHNSON surrendered peace was gained oh, peace ! 
 
 white-robed and blessed word! 
 Long may our children lisp thy name palsied the 
 
 tongue who d change thee for 
 
 That seething synonym of blood, that word of dread 
 ful import WAK. 
 At Raleigh SHERMAN S army lay, with fresh gained 
 
 laurels round its brow, 
 Its work was done most nobly done twas soon to 
 
 be disbanded now. 
 And HARRY S joy was deep and full, for oh, his 
 
 coming bliss was near, 
 And by his own consent I give his last and joyful 
 
 letter here : 
 
 "DEAR MANOMIN I am writing, calmly as I may, 
 inditing, 
 
 On this lovely May-day morning, underneath a bloom 
 ing tree, 
 
279 
 
 While beneath me flowers are springing and above 
 me birds are singing, 
 
 And my heart with joy is brimming, my last letter 
 unto thee ! 
 
 Ere this note your hearthstone reaches you will know 
 all that it teaches 
 
 That " our cruel war is over 1 " and rebellion crushed 
 at last; 
 
 While upon Time s certain pinion, from sweet Cupid s 
 soft dominion, 
 
 For us both, my little precious, days of joy are dawn 
 ing fast. 
 
 We are under marching orders straight across Se- 
 cessia s borders, 
 
 We set out to-morrow morning on our gleeful, home 
 ward way. 
 
 Now there is no foe to harm us, not a danger to 
 alarm us, 
 
 And you II feel me nearer, darling, with the ending 
 of each day, 
 
 Until by and by, some morrow, that cold parasite of 
 sorrow 
 
 That has wrapped your heart like net-work, shall un 
 fold, a blooming vine, 
 
 ISTeath love s psychologic power it shall burst into 
 full flower 
 
 As we kneel together, darling, and are rendered 
 " * thine-and-mine. " 
 
280 
 
 Oh, that day is swiftly looming, I ean see it in the 
 
 glooming, 
 Down the future s murky vista, shooting up a courier 
 
 ray; 
 May its advent, then, be speedy, for our famished 
 
 hearts are needy 
 Fainting for the rare refreshment to be served them 
 
 on that day! 
 All the blooming woods are ringing with the early 
 
 songsters, singing, 
 Though their music scarce attesteth half theecstacy 
 
 they feel 
 As they revel mid the flowers in the warm sunshiny 
 
 hours; 
 So this letter to- you, darling, will not more than half 
 
 reveal 
 All the length and depth of measure of the ocean of 
 
 my pleasure 
 Whose ecstatic, blissful billows in unceasing surges 
 
 roll 
 Through my being, grandly sweeping, then in softer 
 
 echoes leaping 
 "With unnumbered, tender voices through the chambers 
 
 of my soul ! 
 Still above my sunny gladness hangs a mournful pall 
 
 of sadness, 
 Heaping high with heavy shadows the glad temple 
 
 of my heart, 
 
281 
 
 j 
 
 Through my spirit s essence stealing, seizing on the 
 
 throne of feeling, 
 While swift tears of vengeful sorrow from my eyes 
 
 unbidden start ! 
 Noble LINCOLN! murdered brother! can the world 
 
 produce another 
 Whom, amid intestine passion every one would love so 
 
 well? 
 Who, though drinking hatred s chalice bore no living 
 
 being malice 
 And had often grasped in kindness the red hand by 
 
 which he fell ! 
 Oh, how causeless, void of reason, was this last black 
 
 act of treason 
 Striking down with devilish venom a true friend who 
 
 would have cared 
 For his enemies with kindness, with a tender mother s 
 
 blindness, 
 And much keen humiliation to the traitors would 
 
 have spared. 
 
 To the darkness of perdition will the annals of tra 
 dition 
 Ever more consign thy memory, oh, fiendish J. WIL- 
 
 KES BOOTH I 
 Thou malicious, treacherous player, thou envenomed, 
 
 skulking slayer, 
 Genius wipes thy name forever from her list of royal 
 
 youth ! 
 
While a hymn to LINCOLN S praises every coming 
 
 minstrel raises 
 On all the earth s broad continents and islands of the 
 
 sea, 
 And the angel choirs o er us bear aloft the swelling 
 
 chorus, 
 There shall nothing rise but hisses and anathemas 
 
 for thee! 
 But, my darling, I m digressing and my time, just 
 
 now, is pressing, 
 So I ll turn again, though briefly, to the subject of 
 
 our joy, 
 Every instant growing surer, out of sorrow rising 
 
 purer 
 For affliction is the touch-stone that exposes life s 
 
 alloy. 
 I must close this little letter, and I grieve that tis 
 
 no better; 
 Heaven bless you, oh my precious there! ] hear 
 
 the mustering drum! 
 Keep your lamp well filled and burning for the absent 
 
 one returning-, 
 Else before you are aware of it the bridegroom will 
 
 have come ! 
 
PART TWENTY-FIFTH. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF WINTER AT LEECH LAKE -A NEW CHAR 
 ACTER -AN ACCOUNT OF MANOMIN S FATHER MANOMIN 
 MEETS A STRANGER-HEARS FROM HARRY LOVE S CROSS 
 PURPOSE PEWAUBECK WITH ANEW LOVE THE JOUR 
 NEY TO ST, PAUL-THE RADICAL POWER OF LOVE-WHAT 
 MANOMIN DOES WITH HER MONEY HARRY ARRIVES 
 THE DOUBLE WEDDING-SONG OF THE MARRIAGE CHIME, 
 
 r HiTE, sheeted winter laid its glittering hand upon 
 the murmuring lips of lakes and streams, 
 
 And silence reigned through all that icy land, save 
 when the lynx-cat woke the night with screams, 
 
 Or fiery-eyeballed wolf howled through the wood, or 
 Hyperborei struck their harps of pines ; 
 
 And gracefully through that vast solitude, the trackless 
 snowdrifts stretched their curving lines; 
 
 And not a bird, excepting now and then a moping ra 
 ven, toiling with cold wing, 
 
 To wake the frozen echoes of the glen or cheer the 
 hope with promises of spring. 
 283 
 
284 
 
 And bleak, and cold, and cheerless as that scene was 
 poor MANOMIN S winter-driven heart 
 
 No flower of Faith or tiniest leaflet green a hope of 
 spring-time struggled to impart. 
 
 Three wintry months their ghostly robes had trailed 
 past every wigwam in that Indian town, 
 
 For ninety days the shivering pines had wailed before 
 the arctic tempests driving down, 
 
 Since that sad morning poor MANOMIN bent, with shiv 
 ered hopes, so low, her graceful head, 
 
 O er the brief letter Uncle DARLING sent, that told her 
 he, whom she adored, was dead. 
 
 Oh, God ! it was a moving sight to see the deep intense- 
 ness of that young thing s grief, 
 
 So like a tender, young and blooming tree by stroke of 
 lightning turned to yellow leaf ! 
 
 But in those months, before the snows grew deep, from 
 far Fort Garry* a young cousin came ; 
 
 A shy young girl, who early learned to weep for pa 
 rents lost; MELLISSA was her name. 
 
 MANOMIN S father and MELLISSA S were the two sole 
 children of an humble man, 
 
 Whose days were spent amid the spindle s whir, where 
 streams of thread to eddying bobbins ran. 
 
 In great Manchester s busy hive was he an ever 
 ready, uncomplaining hand, 
 
 *Fort Garry is the Hudson Bay Company s settlement on the Red River 
 of the North, known also by the name of "Selkirk Settlement." 
 
285 
 
 A quiet, humble, steady, "busy bee" a type of man 
 
 peculiar to that land 
 That land where few have all, the many none all 
 
 wealth, intelligence and lordly ease 
 The few feed high on every luxury known the many 
 
 pinched for even bread and cheese. 
 Here GEORGE and THOMAS LEFINGWELL were born, 
 
 but ere they had attained to man s estate 
 They held the factory s drudgery in scorn and crossed 
 
 the sea in quest of better fate. 
 Of bold, adventurous spirit, they struck out at once 
 
 across the continent s broad face, 
 Where they would not be rudely pushed about by 
 
 swarming, jostling seekers after place. 
 One married a Scotch girl, in Selkirk town, and first 
 
 to trapping, then to trading turned, 
 The other one at Crow "Wing settled down, married a 
 
 bright-eyed Indian maid and learned 
 Firstly and foremost all the Indian ways, their tongue 
 
 and s-uperstitions and beliefs, 
 Their loves and hatreds, all their games and plays, their 
 
 hopes and fears, traditions, joys and griefs. 
 And by shrewd sympathy in all their ways he bound 
 
 them to him, with magnetic chain, 
 Which bit of strategy, in after days, contributed im 
 mensely to his gain. 
 This was MANOMIN S father, and I ve told how he gave 
 
 up his life, one stormy day, 
 
286 
 
 And left MANOMIN heiress to much gold, but what be 
 came of it I Ve yet to say. 
 
 The other was MELLISSA S sire, and she, as did MA 
 NOMIN, lost her mother first, 
 
 And then her father, shortly after, he was slain one 
 morning by a gun that burst, 
 
 A brash old musket which he tried to fire in celebra 
 tion of the Queen s birth day 
 
 But ah, that vitreous flint s impingement dire did "fix 
 his flint " and turned his joy to clay ! 
 
 He, too, like THOMAS, left his girl some wealth, an 
 education such as he had gained, 
 
 An honest heart, sound body and good health, a mind 
 in ways of truth and virtue trained. 
 
 Her eyes were blue as heaven s ow r n azure sky, her 
 tresses soft and golden as the rays 
 
 Of autumn s sun, that tell when draweth nigh the mel 
 low, dreamy, Indian-summer days. 
 
 And she, it was, who with MANOMIN, now, lived at the 
 mission house in Leech Lake town, 
 
 And strove to charm the shadows from her brow, and 
 sun away the white frosts, settling down, 
 
 Thicker and thicker daily round her heart, while 
 fainter burned the fire of her eye, 
 
 Until it seemed that some magician s art were needed 
 quickly that she might not die ! 
 
 Time s pulse throbbed on, and northward came the sun, 
 and winter s legions struck their tents and fle.d ; 
 
287 
 
 Those days of painful silence were all done, and nature 
 seemed arising from the dead. 
 
 But still the grave in poor MANOMIN S heart this glor 
 ious quickening did not seem to share ; 
 
 Wherever else spring might new life impart there 
 seemed to be no resurrection there ! 
 
 But, like a spectre, sad and silent, she, the daily routine 
 of her life went through ; 
 
 Not one glad note or rippling sound of glee the un 
 strung spinnet of her spirit knew. 
 
 Far down into the depths of those dark pines alone she 
 wandered, nearly every day, 
 
 And there, at one of nature s many shrines, for hours 
 together she would weep and pray ; 
 
 With sobs would say, "Oh, HARRY! do you hear? 
 unbolt the door of your bright home, on high, 
 
 And let me feel your precious presence near, or rend 
 away the veil Hwixt you and I ! " 
 
 The spring time passed, the summer came and went, 
 the buskined foot of autum pressed the ground, 
 
 And frightened streams, with purple leaves besprent, 
 crept into every morass that they found ! 
 
 On one raw day, when hung in sable hue of gathering 
 tempests, was the threatening sky, 
 
 When courier winds their frosty bugles blew, proclaim 
 ing the great Arctic Monarch nigh, 
 
 MANOMIN, wandering, as her wont, alone, alike indif 
 ferent to dame Nature s moods 
 

 288 
 
 Whether it froze, or thawed, or stormed, or shone 
 met, suddenly, a stranger in the woods. 
 
 He gazed at her ; she cast her glances down, he paused, 
 then turning back again, he said : 
 
 " I seek MANOMIN LEFINGWELL in town. 1 " That is 
 my name ! what would you? I m the maid. 
 
 Forth from his vesture then the stranger drew a letter, 
 he had brought her from Crow Wing, 
 
 One glance ! she seized it ! " God! can it be true ! " an 
 other look, and then the woods did ring 
 
 With a wild scream that made the stranger start, and 
 poor MANOMIN swooned and fell to earth, 
 
 But with her letter clasped unto her heart, as though 
 it held all life itself was worth ! 
 
 There was a stream of water close at hand, and mak 
 ing use of his soft castor s crown, 
 
 The stranger bathed her brow till she could stand, then 
 gently led her back again to town. 
 
 MELLISSA paled, and trembled with affright to see 
 MANOMIN, tottering along, 
 
 Led by a stranger, and in piteous plight her loosened 
 hair swept down in tresses long 
 
 Her waist unbound, while idly hung her zone "-He 
 lives! " she cried and sank into a chair, 
 
 " He lives on earth ! Oh God! before thy throne I thanh 
 thee for this answer to my prayer ! " 
 
 With thanks from all the stranger went his way ; he 
 was a trader looking after fur, 
 
289 
 
 And as MANOMIN S letter came the day he left Crow 
 
 Wing, he brought it on to her. 
 Now left alone she read, with heart aglow, that tender 
 
 missive through and through, and made 
 Decision instant to go down below, as HARRY earnestly 
 
 therein had prayed. 
 
 We 11 leave her packing up her things and turn a back 
 ward glance a brief one it must be 
 Upon MELLISSA LEFINGWELL S sojourn at Leech Lake 
 
 mission, and quite likely, we 
 May find some matter worthy of our ken, some strange 
 
 affair of love s cross purpose, which, 
 The patient muse still smiling on my pen, may be ar 
 ranged in this uncouth distich. 
 We dropped PEWAUBECK somewhere, on our track, 
 
 with a sad load of unrequited love, 
 But with a pride that kept confession back and lent 
 
 him strength to nobly rise above 
 The pow r that binds so many others down, the pow r 
 
 that makes so many fools, forsooth, 
 And gave this ancient adage its renown: " the course 
 
 of true love never yet ran smooth ! " 
 MELLISSA S eyes, as I have said, were blue, and her 
 
 fair skin was of a pinkish tint, 
 While her soft locks were of so rich a hue they would 
 
 have shamed the treasures of a mint ! 
 And was it strange, when often left alone, PEWAUBECK 
 
 should have come to her relief, 
 
 19 
 
290 
 
 Or they walk out and talk, in pitying tone, of pooi 
 
 MANOMIN S deep, destroying grief? 
 Or yet more strange, that in PEWAUBECK S heart an 
 
 azure orb of softness should arise, 
 That, in MELLISSA S absence, did impart the same 
 
 strange feeling as her own blue eyes? 
 Alas ! alas ! a tale too often told ! PEWAUBECK was a 
 
 man, and man I find 
 At least tis so maintained by sages old was simply 
 
 born to love all woman kind I 
 At all events he loved MELLISSA well, and twas a 
 
 thing most sensible to do, 
 
 And on no stony ground his passion fell right heart 
 ily MELLISSA loved him, too. 
 Now do not deem PEWAUBECK fickle, nor that worse 
 
 than no-sex thing, a male coquette, 
 Who, like a bee, sips sweets from every flow r, till 
 
 satiate grown, hums off in cold neglect. 
 For he had loved MANOMIN many years with all the 
 
 depth and truth there is to love; 
 Yet not the pleading of his boyish tears nor riper 
 
 eloquence her heart could move. 
 And lacking oil whereon its flame to feed, his lamp of 
 
 love was shorn of its bright beams, 
 Which left his heart a charnel house indeed, strewn 
 
 with the ashes of his early dreams. 
 How better, then, than yielding to despair,, he, like 
 
 the proud chief that he was, should give 
 
291 
 
 His torpid love unto another s care whose warm affec 
 tion bade it wake and live ! 
 
 Nor deem MELLISSA played th enticer s part she 
 loved MANOMIN and with love was paid, 
 
 But in sad coin struck from a heavy heart, uncurrent 
 at Affection s Board of Trade! 
 
 It lacked the sonorous ring of the true coin the empty 
 coffers of her being prayed, 
 
 And that her trailing life-lines chanced to join those of 
 PEWAUBECK S, who can blame the maid ? 
 
 And thus it happened, thus it came about, as unex 
 pected things so often do, 
 
 That where one wedding, even, was in doubt, there 
 seems fair promise suddenly of two! 
 
 MANOMIN and MELLISSA reached St. Paul upon the 
 St. Cloud coach, one chilly day, 
 
 And not a single incident, at all worth writing of 
 befell them on the way. 
 
 As soon as they were quartered and got warm, had 
 bathed, and dined, and rested, and felt strong, 
 
 MANOMIN wrote to HARRY of the storm her shivering 
 soul had been out in so long ; 
 
 It was a tender missive, I ll be bound, for you remem 
 ber that it made him weep; 
 
 It was the one, you recollect, that found him at Savan 
 nah, in bis onward sweep. 
 
292 
 
 Not much of note occurred to her that fall, nor yet, 
 indeed, the whole long winter through. 
 
 One day poor Mrs. DARLING, at St. Paul, she chanced 
 to meet, and for the first time, knew 
 
 That her heroic husband had been killed, and left 
 behind her, in a distant State, 
 
 And at the news her soul with horror chilled, and grief 
 her heart did deeply penetrate. 
 
 She freely gave the substance of her purse, prayed 
 her to bear up under what fate willed, 
 
 And thank the eternal Pow r it was no worse, that she 
 and her two children were not killed. 
 
 The spring time came, and with it came a man, dark- 
 eyed and swarthy, elegant and tall 
 
 " Why bless my stars ! it can t be ! yes it can! it surely 
 is PEWAUBECK, after all! 
 
 But oh! how changed !" his flowing hair cut close, en 
 robed in white man s clothes as black as soot, 
 
 His feet well ! well ! would any one suppose an In 
 dian chief would ever sport a boot ? 
 
 Oh, Love ! you are a little tyrant sure, the strongest 
 to thee bow the knee at times ; 
 
 But since of barbarous notions thou canst cure an Indian 
 chief I 11 bless thee in my rhymes ! 
 
 It was PEWAUBECK, then, that came that day, and 
 splendidly the noble fellow looked, 
 
 And from the " sea," her friends declared, straightway, 
 no worthier " fish " MELLISSA could have hooked! 
 
293 
 
 And glad, indeed they were to see him there, MANO- 
 
 MIN needed him to aid a plan 
 She had arranged with most elaborate care, but which 
 
 concerned a certain other man. 
 It was, to build upon the dear old spot, where she had 
 
 known so many days of bliss, 
 
 A handsome, snug and cosy little cot, and neatly fur 
 nish it throughout, and this 
 She had more than sufficient means to do, her coin her 
 
 banker having long since sold, 
 And bought " 5-20 V as she wrote him to, when 
 
 frightened coots $2.90 paid for gold. 
 MELLISSA, also, caused, at the same time, another cot 
 tage, on her cousin s plan, 
 To be erected near, and twas no crime that she should 
 
 mean it for another man ! 
 MANOMIN also had some tombstones and four rich 
 
 de-odorizing coffins made, 
 And then, with her own superintending hand, in nice 
 
 new graves, beneath a willow s shade, 
 She laid her dear ones near her cottage door, that she 
 
 might keep above them flowers in bloom, 
 And thus, while on the Earth-side of Time s shore, 
 
 grow more familiar with its gate, the tomb! 
 Events are crowding, I must crowd my theme twas 
 
 only on this July that s just past, 
 When one bright morn MANOMIN gave a scream, and 
 
 cried, " Oh, HARRY! God be praised at last " 
 
294 
 
 Ah, yes, indeed! the gallant lad stood there, their 
 cups were full, their sorrows were all done ! 
 
 There was a wedding shortly after where two pair of 
 souls were wed instead of one! 
 
 They took no wedding tour and needed none, but from 
 St. Paul straight to their homes they went, 
 
 Where, after all their generous wives had done, to 
 spend their lives there all should he content. 
 
 That HARRY was surprised and liked the cot his darl 
 ing built and furnished, I ve no doubt, 
 
 For does there live a sane man who would not? if so 
 please point this special wonder out. 
 
 And there they live, and there may they increase ; my 
 story s done, I have no more to tell, 
 
 So, if you please, we 11 leave them there in peace and 
 listen to what said their marriage bell : 
 
 SONG OF THE MAKKIAGE CHIME. 
 
 " It is ended ! it is ended ! four existences are blended! 
 
 Never more to be distracted by uncertainties 1 dark 
 spell ! 
 
 They are married ! they are married ! no love s prom 
 ise has miscarried, 
 
 All is well, is well forever, all is well that endeth 
 well! 
 
 Time is fleeting! time is fleeting! Life, its lessons 
 are repeating 
 
295 
 
 What has happened will still happen, all the tongues 
 
 of nature tell, 
 
 God is living ! God is living ! and perpetually giving 
 Other lives to rise and marry, bloom and perish, * 
 
 said the bell. 
 " Tis no matter, tis no matter, whether, amid show 
 
 and clatter, 
 
 In a palace or a hovel your first throb of life began ; 
 Flesh is mortal ! flesh is mortal ! just across the spirit s 
 
 portal 
 Swings the balance that shall weigh you, is the test 
 
 that tries the man! 
 
 There eternal, there eternal, mid existences supernal, 
 False or true, uncouth or lovely, every child of earth 
 
 must dwell, 
 Then I pray you, then I pray you, let no schemes of 
 
 earth betray you 
 Into shameful prostitution of your soulhood," sang 
 
 the bell. 
 "Love each other! love each other! every man on 
 
 earth s your brother! 
 Children of one common father, in the great stupend- 
 
 uous plan; 
 Then remember, then remember, you are an immortal 
 
 member 
 Of the Fatherhood of Deus and the Brotherhood of 
 
 Man! 
 
296 
 
 I implore you, I implore you, ever keep these truths 
 before you, 
 
 Search the chambers of your temple, every trifling 
 vice expel; 
 
 Live more purely, live more purely, twill be better 
 for you surely, 
 
 And eternal self-approval will reward you," said the 
 bell. 
 
 " Truth is spreading ! truth is spreading ! and the 
 -beams that she is shedding 
 
 Fall in places long in darkness, reach the farthest, 
 humblest hearth! 
 
 Creeds are falling! creeds are falling! Error s cham 
 pions change their calling, 
 
 And enlisting in God s army help to renovate the 
 earth ! 
 
 There are millions, there are millions, there are bil 
 lions upon billions 
 
 Of supernal bosoms thrilling with a joy that none may 
 tell 
 
 That forever, that forever, with one God-like, grand 
 endeavor 
 
 You have struck from dusky millions slavery s fet 
 ters," sang the bell. 
 
 " Time is sweeping, time is sweeping, onward, onward 
 years are leaping; 
 
 Every soul that hears my chiming very soon, I know 
 full well 
 
297 
 
 In the boundless ether o er us, with the many gone 
 
 before us, 
 Will be marching to the music of eternity s great 
 
 bell. 
 So adieu then, so adieu then, oh, I pray you to be 
 
 true men ! 
 Beaching upward, upward, upward, ever striving to 
 
 expel 
 Eising higher, rising higher, when your lives on earth 
 
 expire, 
 Marching grandly up the pathway of the ages, * closed 
 
 the bell. 
 
 THE END. 
 

romance of 
 
 rhythmical 
 Minnesota, 
 
 M57406 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY