FIRST GIFT TO THE INDIANS AT ALBANY.
"Albany was first visited by its discoverer, Capt. Hudson, on the 19th of September, 1609. The frank and generous natives made his people everywhere welcome, and they, in return, made their hearts gay with wine and aqua vitæ, till one of them became intoxicated, and greatly astonished the others."
Watson's Historic Tales of the Olden Time.
They come! they come! the pallid race,
The red men gather from the chase,
From forest-shade and light canoe
They throng that "water-bird to view,
Whose mighty wings that near the shore,
They deem their Great Manitto bore.
Frank is their welcome to the band,
The ready smile, the open hand,
The proffered fruits, with gladness prest,
The purple plum in downy vest,
The clustering grape, the corn-sheafs gold,
The untaught greeting, warm and bold.
But by what gift, what token strong,
Did Europe's sons, renowned in song,
Mark their first visit to the child
Of simple faith and daring wild?
A cup! a cup! but who may tell,
What deadly dregs within it swell?
The sickening eye, the burning cheek,
Its fearful magic strangely speak,
And on their turf of verdant die,
See! they who taste it helpless lie.
