Page:Records of Woman.pdf/139

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THE AMERICAN FOREST GIRL.
131



THE AMERICAN FOREST GIRL.




A fearful gift upon thy heart is laid,
Woman!—a power to suffer and to love,
Therefore thou so canst pity.




Wildly and mournfully the Indian drum
    On the deep hush of moonlight forests broke;—
"Sing us a death-song, for thine hour is come,"—
    So the red warriors to their captive spoke.
Still, and amidst those dusky forms alone,
    A youth, a fair-hair'd youth of England stood,
Like a king's son; tho' from his cheek had flown
    The mantling crimson of the island-blood,
And his press'd lips look'd marble.—Fiercely bright,
And high around him, blaz'd the fires of night,