LYDIA PLATT RICHARDS Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924010993818 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES ITHACA. N. Y. 14853 JOHN M. CLIN LIBRARY American. Monodies — «!j»^^8^"~»— LYDIA PLATT RICHARDS. I \ ^ J M M M f * UU* M M*U*UM M* M, 'f K ¥M UMMM,'*mM**mf*M*t*tM COPTBIOHTID C/YMA PI^TT BICHAEDS 189t. DEDICATED TO The poor, the weak, the unfortunate and the outcast. PRELUDE. 1 — Legbnd of a 30IM.B System 2— Wild WiLii 3 — Tammabend. Legend of the Bad Lands 4— SAIiOONO BliAOK AND JtTSTINA SnOW 5— Special Cobbespondents Stoby 6— ThbTbamp . - - T— The MiLIilONAIBE 8 — Fbank James 9— The Mixeb ... AMERICAN MONODIES. BY LYDIA PLATT BICHABDS. All day we rode beneath the July sun, To reach Dakota's Bad Lands ere the night ; But all in vain, our journey still undone; Yet northward far, some huge rocks tower upright, Gold-tipped by evening rays of phantom light. Still, tired beast and man seek nature's rest. Though fossil fauna of ja world invite ; If the spirit would, our flesh makes firm protest; Welcome to me, the setting sun sinks in the west. Professor Rock and escort from the fort, Are traveling far to read those rocks and sand. The professor then will write a wise report Of all the fossil wonders in that land,— In words prolix, which few may understand. Professor Rock with his assistants— three. Our guide, — Wild Will, with Pawnee band, Made up our train by kindly counting me. Sent by the Daily Lyre to write up all I see. Unused to saddle,— chafing, galling thought, For days and days, to keep that maddening seat. And proudly try to ride as "Special" ought; But this day's ride,— the sweltering July heat Were more than will or nerve could calmly meet. We halt; they all dismount, and fain would I, I slide, I slip, I fall, nor gain my feet. Wild Will said, smiling: "Mac, no'use to try. Your grit is good, for I have watched you on the sly.' He threw some robes down on the drouth-burnt ground, Then gently placed ilie on my meager bed; A saddle brought with blanket wrapped around, As pillow deftly slipped beneath my head. "The view is grand up here," he laughing said, Then left. I turned and gazing northward far, Saw vast sun-tipped domes before me spread Like strange cities, lost, wiiirled from some truant star. Wrecked on unfriendly shores, like Phoebus' borrowed car. Ruins vast, as angry gods had hurled them down, A wreck, colossal in that desert place; A fallen, blighted, weird, sepulchral town Whose massive vastness floods could not erase. Whose ancient grandeur gods could not efface ; Ghostly glare, uncounted spire and dome Whose spectral temples lend a phantom grace, feo wild and wide, these giant structures roam So vast and far a myriad million once might found a home. I turn my head, the scene so vague and vast, O'erwhelms my weary, wandering, whirling brain; A milder view before my vision passed Of fossil hunters probing fossil vein. In gorge below, cut by erosive rain. Exposing saurians, mollusks, serpents old, Which eager hands have come to seek, obtain; I watch them work till darkness bade them hold. They grudging quit, as miners leave a field of gold. A stream threads feebly through the gorge below. While on its banks our campflres brightly blaze. And more, some cooler springs of water flow From out deep clefts, eroded winding ways. This pure cool water, best we found for days ; They brought me some, a paltry pint or more. While the tethered mules can scarcely stop to graze, For they would drink and drink, nor leave the shore Till they had quaffed as mules had never quaffed before . Men raise a tent above me where I rest, Bring blankets, robes, bring food and place it there ; Professor Rock and "Will treat me as guest, As one who needs some kind fraternal care. They gave me food, but such a dainty share, A broiled quail, a slice of venison steak. Some coffee 'too, as mothers might prepare; Mayhap those days of thirst, its flavor make, For I was thirsty, wild with thirst and no mistake. Some lounging smoke, not so Professor Rock, Who greedy scans his fossil treasures o'er, Intent to find some key which may unlock Creation's scheme and Nature's hidden lore. Most worthy search for genius to explore. Let others strive for place, for fame, for gold. His shrine is nature, whom none can more adore; To men like him, her secret works are told, For lovers such, has nature kept these records old. These records rare, writ by the hand of Time, He reads them well and reading must believe ; Strange tome, so old, so new, so vast, sublime. Has nature kept her ledgers to deceive. As bank accountants falsify and thieve? Nature's vast scroll so lucid, grapliic, grand. So ill men read, the higher angels grieve. Though scientists and priests may write on sand Forever true the records writ by Time shall stand. The world, the universe, a printed page Whose fellow leaves, each far-ofl glowing star This cosmos tome eternities engage. We read the near, we fain would know the far, Our vision weak, while time and space debar; This grieves him much till death's decree seems kind Sent to exalt, not to degrade or mar. He hopes in far-off future spheres to And Unbounded answers to unbounded questioning mind. Devout and humble, man was never more, And chaste, and pure, and broad, and wise, and grand All beg him tell to-night from his soul's lore The story which we all may understand Of birth and growth of earth, of rock and land. The legend of a Solar System vast, They beg him tell, they clamor and demand ; He spoke and told the story of the past. Which I wrote down in rhyme but did not change, recast, "Hold, hold Professor Rook !" Will eager said, "You speak to-night to a wild and woolly crowd. Who can tell of love, glory, battles red, But not of science or her achievements proud. Tell us of earth, and space, and sun, and cloud, From chaos, darkness, down to murderous man ; Tell us the truth, nor fear to shout it loud. Explain creation on nature's working plan. How solar systems from primal atoms first began." "Gravitation;" sneered Wild Will in rank disgust; "Earth made itself," he jeering, mocking said. "Why not? It runs itself, if we can trust The school professors, who say mass that's dead Runs the universe — keeps steam up full head. Wards off the planets from the bulky sun. All done by weight, by mass, by bulk inbred. Yes, Newton deemed our solar system run By its own weight, and had since time itself begun."' "Gravitation," said Professor Rock, "indeed Does well in school books or the lecture field, Rut not in world formations which will need Some k*nown and active force to weld and wield Repellant atoms, like some mass congealed. Gravitation has one all-condemning flaw. Perpetual motion in vast bulk concealed ! Absurd ! Electric heat or polar law And spacic pressure may combine, repel or draw." LEGEND OF A SOLAR SYSTEM. Again Professor Rock, in dreamy tones, With eyes fixed on some fossil bones. Resumed the legend in a listless way, As thinkers do who have so much to say. "A legend old, writ by the hand of Time, In script so bold the record stands sublime. The tale go strange one scarcely can believe. Yet nature keeps no records to deceive. On mountains, rocks of every land and age. Nature unfolds a plain and pictured page ; Inscriptions wrought on deep Vulcanian rock. Data revealed by ancient earthquake's shock, Neptunian stones of different age and birth. Avow, announce the forces forming earth ; While mountains, plains and seas combining, show How nature wrought her changes long ago. The record stands and they ihay read who will. Read right, read wrong, read false, read well or ill; Still he who seeks the truth, whom truths delight His eyes will read this legend old, aright. His hand shall find the key which will unlock This book of flood, of fire and earthquake shock ; For him coy nature keeps her archives old, To him her laws and mystic methods told. Nature, nature the name which we bestow On God's wise works, which we can see and know. His works so sure, so fixed we call them — laws. Science from these, each true conclusion draws. Call Him Brahma, Lord, or Conscious Mind, Call Him whatever name you are inclined. The Absolute, Unconditioned or Unknown First Cause, Great Spirit, One Supreme, alone. Still reasoning man this truth has ever owned. Proved by his laws— a Euler reigns, enthroned, Since cliangeless laws make not themselves, indeed; Hence laws must prove a Maker did precede, A Maker— God — One greater than the law — Axiomatic truth — no fallacy nor flaw. Though priest or scientist may write on sand The annals kept by nature, ever stand The scriptures; science read from Nature's book To some may bear a sacrilegious look ; Still truth is truth ; though We refuse to hear Prom newer truths, the old have nought to fear; Though long-lived lies may dread the same, with cause All truth is safe when reading Nature's laws. That God wrought change by modes we understand Makes Creation's plan no less Omnicient grand. Though man with godlike mind may comprehend Not God, Himself — the beginning and the end. — But His works wrought out by universal laws, To further know,— all minds, impotent, pause. A hopeless quest, the clearer visions read ; A blank abyss from which the wise recede. Our earth a speck in universal space, A molecule, atoms which ether seas embrace. In the universe of God a moving mote ; Among the twinkling stars of lesser note. In the realms of all-embracing space. Our Solar System holds a paltry place ; Still viewed by man, how vast and passing great,. And proud is man of such a wide estate ; Aye, well may man revere the sun and earth. Since each from God had being, birth. Etheric Space, electric lines of -waving force Are not, save God, the Universal Source. If He in wrath should raise his potent hand Etheric waves would cease at His command. Till planets, earth and moon would clashing run Until they met some all-devouring sun. Upon whose glowing discs these falling specks, Impugning sink and leave no tell-tale wrecks. Yes, transformed and turned to vapors, each. Before they quite the igneous sun-clouds reach. The universe falls on in open curves. Two active forces make the planets swerve, — Repellant solar heat and pressure of all space. While falling bodies forever must displace The media through which they sink or fall, A vacuum, hence behind the moving ball. Which the pressure of universal space must fill. This pressing force, an impact of such skill That ever and forever hurls'the bodies far — As the orbits of planets, sun or star. They fall and fall in a never ending curve. Pressure, polarity, solar heat, conserve. Repellant centers, like electric sun And Spaeic pressure, — lo, the work is done! They fall and fall, — the maximum rate of speed Of bodies like ;— while denser take the lead. The universe flows on with rhythmical flow. As atoms waving in the sunbeams go : It is true the undulations are unseen. Since boundless seas of ether intervene. The nervous ether waves like Morse's line. The sun and planets each connect,— combine Though Spaeic pressure floats them sunder, far, Yet nerve-like ether binds them star to star. Analogy, induction, by their aid. For matter a universal law is made; That atoms free, or free combined, yet free In motion, form and force, agree. Our sun still glows with electric, pristine rays. Which woo or ward the planets on their ways. Attraction and repulsion equal quite, These rival hence to balance orbs unite. The electric sun, by polar force, controls The planets' orbits by their answering poles. Since earth is round, a globe, a ball or sphere. Equipoised, free to fall, revolve or veer. Pressed by ether's elastic waves of force. The sun but steers it on its falling course. In fact, earth falls where "resistance is the least,' "With maximum speed which never is increased. Earth has an atmosphere, the moon has none ; Air heats and lifts beneath a tropic sun ; A falling globe, unequal pressed by air Will roll, revolve, respond to solar glare. By atmosphere our day and night are made. Towards the sun the revolving movercent swayed ; Pressure made less upon the sun-lit side, — The earth revolves, a simple thing when tried. As if one-half the earth had been repelled. To follow round the night-dark side compelled, So free the earth revolves in yielding space. Electrified, no friction mars its face, For day and night we well may thank earth's air. Earth's atmosphere rhakes day and night her care But, to our Legend : So long ago it seems profane to tell. Each one may guess, will answer quite as well; From Creation's poles, though sundered far. From each there burst a glowing, living star. Young hearts of flame with trailing plumes of light, "We name them comets, when we view their flight. Callow youngsters, they seem to fall or go. Where "wild oats" of space in ample harvest grow, These world -seeds, out- thrown by mother orbs, Like child who gleans and gi-ows and still absorbs. One from right and one from leftward flows, Each one shall lure as onward far it goes, Meteoric streams shall follow on through space. With broad and curving, smooth, electric pace. Gathering wrecks and waste by aggregating force. From streams like these, shall systems, new, have source. These streams shall meet, by nature's fruitful law Shall meet from right to left, together draw. Shall meet in open, unconditional space. Where chaotic atoms, free, rppellant race, — Where aggregating forces first shall roam ; Then the ripe atoms shall be garnered home. Comets, electric, shooting down through space. Hurl truant atoms into crystalline embrace. Still, gleaning, falling on from sun to sun Initial forces; their race is just begun. Augmenting streams of mineral, sand and stone Prom solar depths, chaotic vapors, thrown, These polarized in qooler space unite. Crystallize and flowing fall, as from some height- Meteoric rocks of various kinds are made. And Nature's ever-saving laws obeyed. Ages roll on; those comets wandering glean. Their union foreordained and long foreseen ; Behold those truant stars, they near, they mieet. Impugn; they eddying whirl, they glow with heat Like living monsters, their heads belligerent close. While -momentum, many a fold around them throws. They burn, ignite with fierce electric flame,, Till one incandescent head the two became. Meteoric streams, in-pouring, falling, meet. Arrested motion lights the latent heat, The twain in-pouring streams to vapors came With center one continuous whirling flame , Such was our system in creative days, Chaotic atoms; a universal blaze. Born of the heat, cyclones expansive rise, Sweep out around primordial virgin skies; Unconditioned atoms feel the heat intense ; Borne on, around, they crystallize, condense. In line of least resistance, — teed the flame ; Consuming fire?, our system hence became. Self -feeding, the glowing electric ball, Heatward, the sweepings of outer space must fall. Pressed on, they sink within the seething maze. Add fuel to the world-devouring blaze. Debris, in-pouring streams from outer space. From right to left, far ages meet, embrace ; Streams, long as any comet's life-lit line. Flow on, and in, and vaporize, combine. Till all the wandering outcast atoms fall Like sweepings from creation's space-wide hall. Other world germs, with trailing, flery hair. Childlike fell in tlie whirling, glowing snare; They were sent eddying round and round by force. Unresisting; they forgot their onward course; Momentum, arrested motion, winding heat. The capture lawful and the chains complete. Forever more they circling, eddying stay. Satellites, subservient still they fall to-day. Such lesser comets wandering to and fro, Borne by their course, fall in the tangling glow. The denser ones halt near the central flame. While rarer ones the outer circuits claim. 10 Engulfed, drawn in, as in some vortex vast. Their meteor streams curve round the central blast Whose vortex wide by brighter rings was barred, Yav out as now the semi-suns stand guard. Wide and more ^ide, the gourmand, greedy flame Spread out till naught was left for it to claim ; Like fierce prairie fires, this pristine heat Consumed till there was nothing left to eat. Till barren space was reached whose garnered grain Some neighboring sun had swept off in its train. And when the glowing mass together drew. The atoms free, re-make as good as new. Since freed by heat, — vaporized in active grains. Affinity binds, and like to like enchains ; Evolution then shall work a natural change, Divide, combine, bring forth and re-arrange. Behold our system in creative days, A whirling, vast immensity of blaze ; A solar system resolved to atoms fine, Which nature's laws will organize, combine. Bare, mineral gaseous vapors reaching far. Until they pass our system's outmost star; Chaotic clouds of molecules, dense or rare, Potential atoms a system shall prepare. When electric forces held the mass in fiame. The rarer vapors to the surface came ; The dense in line of least resistance tend. While Spacic pressure aids the mass to blend. A flattened mass, with axis undefined, With surface rare and ringed and dim outlined ^ Creative heat had reached its utmost glow. The fuel less nor greater henceforth grow. Chaos complete. Its vapors cool, contract. Till each infant orb may fall, compact. U Cyclones, world-wide, now lend their cooling aid. Marked and more marked the planet rings are made. Till in some weaker space, mayhap a rent. One end retarded, the other faster sent. Till slow and faster ends press up, combine, And form a sphere which gaseous flames oulline. Indeed, each molten mass will form a ball. As matter free, is ever wont to fall. Cycles, mayhap had passed before our earth, Our lesser planet of a later birth, Was left to cool by slow receding sun , Our youthful earth creation scarce begun. Poor earth, so small, condensing quite too soon. Could therefore snare but one attendant moon. That hapless wandering star, which falling came. And pierced the tangling, eddying vaporous flame, • Was bound by polar chains, a captive, slave, And meek accepts the place her captor gave. When Spacic pressure fought earth's vapors back. For the youthful moon was left an open track; So long a slave, she lost her strength of will. Captive forever and subservient still. So even balanced is etheric space, That elastic pressure floats the orbs in place, Equilibrium everywhere maintained, Friction, by orbs electrified, disdained. Pressed, falling down through space so calm and fair. No ripple stirs our earth's embracing air. And since the day our moon had burning birth, She has ever fallen, curved around the earth; At first she looked with radiant face of flame ; When older, frigid she at last became. She showed the same, though scarred and wrinkled face And constant gazed where fain she would embrace. True as the needle to the northward star. So her unchanging hopes forever are, 12 The same, same frozen smile from age to age, Nor does she tm-n her face away in rage, When coquette earth one-half the time will woo, The next repel as jilting dandies do. Vain, cruel earth to treat poor Luna so, And wax belligerent at her love-lorn woe ; Since earth's repellant force so deep and great. The very seas indignant rise in hate, And wave and warn frail Luna back and off, Each ebb and flood but prove how earth can scofl. And hence pale Luna's faithful love is vain, Two hearts has her magnetic, turning swain. Ere differentiation's work begun, Earth aflame, repellant, like the sun. Terrestrial fires were fougnt by cooler space, Pressed back and forced to fall, to sink, retrace. Since universal pressure throbs and thrills. Disturbance sends through all its waving trills. No planets move, or turn, or veer, or fall. But the thrill, pulsation, ripples on to all Apart, yet one, each planet, moon and sun. One whole, one universe, since time begun. Terrestrial fires burn low, th^ir work near done. For earth another epoch has begun. A molten mineral mass, earth's center grows. While outer space its offerings, pressing throws, Magnetic earth, a mad, electric whirl. The denser minerals, deeper inward hurl. Some mineral dense, whose vapors heavy rise. And some which would not melt nor vaporize. For such there were which e'en creative heat Could not rend their atoms nor their wreck complete Far out, vapors, pressed back by tensive space. Compelled by Spacic pressure, turn, retrace. Etheric fullness makes such vapors sink. The inner ones forever first to shrink. 13 A center formed, magnetic from the start, Soon inward tendance makes for earth a heart, A hungry whirlpool, winding atoms near; On molten waves they sink or disappear, While far out atoms feel this inward flow. Compression leaves no other course to go,— The line of least resistance, where they fall. Paths of celestial movements each and all. The life-like ether spurns a foreign mass. Fights back the invading clouds of flre-born gas. While some vault up, some struggle to return Since tardy meteors fall and melt and burn ; Molten and turned to vapors, once again Made rare, they struggling try to rise, and then They meet, oppose the sinking crystal hail, Hence currents clash, and surge, and mad assail. Cyclones born of Plutonic raging heat. The work of sweeping atoms down, complete, Hot vapors rise, the cool rush down in turn, And hence till surface earth had ceased to burn, A whirlwind, fleet as man has never known. Lashed long this orb of seething stone, While waves more vast than ocean ever bore. Rolled ages 'round the earth's uncurbing shore. An aa-e of storms, of clashing mineral hail. Which fall, and beat, and crash, and mad assail- Fierce hissing, splashing on the molten sea Where some will melt, or turn to vapors, free; Buoyant once more are floated upward far, To meet the falling mica, qviartz and spar; A pouring storm of mineral hail and rain. Till some, unmelted, as floating films remain. Radiation adds her cooling, chilling hand. The molten waves subside, the films expand. The forming crust is often broken, rent, Red streams of lava, oozing, find a vent, U And cooling add a deeper floating; floe, Which spreads, expands and cooling seems to grow Like ice floes huge, heaped up in northern seas. liike them, the Lava masses seem to freeze, •These rock-floes, wide, upon the molten main A golden sea, soon bound by granite chain ; This floating film of broken igneous stone , Obeyed a law assayers long have known, That molten minerals float a rarer cold, As lighter slags float on the molten gold. Uneven, hence earth's crust was formed at first, Here thick, there thin, inclined to yield or burst, One place a mass of firm, united stone, Others a seething sea, by whirlwinds blown. Whose breath exhales a flood of new-born gas Which upward vaults to join some outer mass, As the surging sun hurls hydrogen, to-day Ejected from its yawning sunspots gray. Earth was not formed in tranquil air or seas. Nor did her surface calmly forge or freeze, Contending forces had disrupted, long Ere earth grew dark with crust continuous, strong. Avalanches of downpouring mineral hail. Augmenting, while they crush and mar, assail. Had formed for earth a deep firm crust Of adhering crystals and dense mineral dust. Polarity formed those crystals in suspense. Those sinking sooner, being those more dense. Mayhap mixed in were here and there a stone, A precious stone, a diamond formed alone, And rubies, too, emeralds and pagan gold, While deep, deep, deep in earth's central sea, Metals immured, no man shall ever free. Low vaporous clouds of iron— mineral ore, — They drift, they meet, they loud exploding pour Each of its kind, with booming thunder hurled An earth-wide avalanche down on the youthful world 15 In masses, hence, we find them yet to-day. As they then fell, so they remaining stay. Out-lying vapors, there were many yet, Which re-crystallizing forces had not met. Such mineral vapors may come to earth in rain, Later deposits form or mineral vein. Compressing still the contracting mundane mass, Sent out to space continuous clouds of gas. Far out heyond our present atmosphere. In vapors thick and dark they disappear. Darkness, blackness, embracing earth and sky, A reeking gloom where only horrors lie. Oceans unformed, were yet as steam-like clouds, Whose fold the dark and dreadful earth enshrouds. When electric forces held the earth in flame. The rarer atoms the outmost circuits claim. The aqueous vapors, none else rose more high. Or longer float or greater in supply. Of every gas which forms the land or sea, Each graded, rose, each kind had its degree. The denser metals were the last to rise ; In strata, hence, earth-cooling vapor lies. In sinking back to earth each kind retains The order, grade, it held in vaporous veins. Hence vapors fell, condensing as they rose ; In order, like their strata, now repose. Ages roll on, how many none may know, Earth, ever-cooling, though the process slow. Encrusted, dark, no more a blazing ball, Oceanic clouds, black as a funeral pall. Shut out the sun and every gleam of light. A change from glare and glow to blackest night. The air grows cool, the aqueous vapors dense. The pouring long primeval rains commence ; Incessant thunder, lightnings, wind and hail, Add fury to this earth-submerging gale ; 16 Like cloud-bursts, the rains from seas on high, Came down like oceans poured from out the sky. Fell hissing, sissing on the heated stone, Exploding loud, huge fragments far were thrown ; These rains were met by flying rocks and steam. While each booming dike sent up its lava stream,- Which warring met the fierce invading rain. Nor did the pent-up heat contest invain ; Back, back to barren space, in vapor hurled, This pluvial gift to a thirsty, thankless, world. Igneous rocks, by rain were riven, burst. Aye, cleft ten thousand, thousand feet; at first Some deem it strange that deep Plutonic rock Could yield to aught save earthquakes rending shock Forgetting heated rock reSents the rain. And bold explodes and booming bursts in twain. Meanwhile, the deep, firm, underlying rock Feels oft the earthquake's sundering cleaving shock. And parting deep, pours forth wide lava veins. Which combatting meet the still, unwelcome rains. Earth's outer-crust grown firm, contracting still. As mineral cooling ever has and will ; Its vice-like pressure binds the central sea ; This all-compressing force of such degree. The arch uplifts with earthquake's rending roar. And through each cleft the pent-up minerals pour. Meantime the rain- clouds marshal for assault. Once more are hurled back to the ether vault ; Again and yet again the tireless rain Pours down its oceans, ere they may remain; At length they stay, a black and boundless sea. Where soon initial teeming life shall be. Since primordial, unconditioned virgin space Has spores, life-germs of every living race. Chaotic germs await creation's hour. Nutrition, warmth, develop natal power, 17 "While aqueous vapors sweep the life-germs down. Some grow and live though myriads die or drown, Nor deem this false, profane or half absurd; To-day, on earth, the same has oft occurred. All life, from germs, — conditions nurse their growth Earth's primal stage developed each and both. An epoch long of wind, cyclone and rain. Till earth was one deep, sullen, shoreless main. Without one rook in its all-embracing bed, To rear above the flood its grim^ defiant head. But pent up heat, imprisoned deep and long, Resents the surface pressure,— compress, strong. The pent up gases rive the rock-fllm wide. Uplift the surface and upheave the tide. The deep earth-crust breaks in some weaker part, Where mountains form and stony islands start. The confined heat forever seeking vent. Till earth's firm crust is deeply scarred and rent. From yawning clefts the igneous mountains grow. From up-thrown crust and lava overflow. Like cake quick baked— the surface parts in twain, While through the crack flows out the softer vein. To bake or cool a first-class mountain chain; By heat pent up, the mountains all were' made; Some netlier force the primal rocks conveyed; High on the mountain's bulging, towering crest, Their presence there this inner force attest. Upheaving long, upraising more and more. Till above the sea, the land-long ridges soar. Convulsions mar and change the earth's cool crust, While oceans grind and rains and waves adjust. Uplifted mountains, clothed in sand and slime, — A home where life may find a friendly clime. Those simple forms, life-germs from virgin space. Primordial spores find here a quickening place. Protoplasm, vital cell, or germ, or spore, Nature can change or add forevermore. 18 Nurture and warmth from seed, or spore, or germ. Evolves a fish, or fern, or rush, or worm. Environment, like food and warmth are there ; Nature, allwise, has never failed ; in care The life-germs grow, nursed long on nature's breast On pregnant air, or drinks which they digest; Such food came pure from nature's larder, vast Like manna old to Hebrew wanderers cast. Germs, free germs from ripe chaotic space. Primordial spores of every plant or race. Of every form of life or living thing. Of plant, or beast, or reptile, worm or king. More cycles pass ; environments are ripe For man, or species of the highest type. The life-germ forms from what it feeds and where, Be that food blood or milk from gas or air. Conditions change or modify the germ, One grows a king and one a loathsome worm. 19 WILD WILL. Professor Bock had ceased his lecture strange, Returned to classing fossils with calm haste, As though he must that night assort, arrange His treasures rare, lest vandal hands should waste; He holds each bone as brokers on exchange. So loth to part with hoards they once embraced, Unmindful that his legend did not please. Since average man cares not for nature or her keys. Another tale they all demand, implore. Something to thrill, arouse, inspire ; To science, they refuse to listen more, Too oft they heard of everlasting fire. But Will, they all declare must ope his store Of tales, adventures or roisfortunes dire. Reveal his inner soul and bring to light The reason why men called him "Wild," and by what right 20 THE SONG OF WILD WILL. "Yes, friends, If you -would like to hear A record far from blameless, clear; A life of bitterness and wrong, III suits the happy, thoughtless throng; Yet you the whole sad page shall see. Then you may judge iny case and me. I once was temperate, godly, true, I am not boasting friends to you,— Little I care for thoughts of men, Though it was different with me then. A milder boy were hard to find. One of your Sunday — Library kind. Then no one thought to call me "Wild," For I was meekness when a child ; We lived in North Nebraska, too, As all honest, poor men do. My father, he was noblest, best. Burnt offering for the sinful west ! How came he west? The old, old tale. An eastern rich man's son from Yale, No trade, no craft by which to live. This first grand art, schools seldom give. His father died, he then was heir, The only child with none to share. Gifted and rich — found friends by scores. Who eager seek his open doors ; They eat, they drink, they borrow too, As friends of rich men kindly do ; He was not versed in business lore, He signed their bonds, then signed some more ; 21 Of course, false friends too soon betray, And leave him countless debts to pay. Bankrupt and ruined, friends are fled. My father changed that day, they said. His -wealth departs, though honor stays, Abiding all his future days. My mother! would that I could tell The virtuous life she lived so well, So broad, so pul'e, so generous, kind ; If she had faults, my eyes were blind. She was so just, so free from taints. Through her all womankind seem saints ; God knows the outcasts on the street Are pearls beneath our swinish feet ! I had one sister, too,— Adell, Her worth, a lifetime could not tell. We two children left of nine, Seven died in youth, — the doom was mine To live and live on to the end. Without a home or loving friend. Adell was older, some ten years, A second mother she appears ; Where e'er I went she liked to go. All that I did I let her know. Yes, I can almost see her now. Her large brown eyes and pure white brow Her auburn hair in natural curls, Divinest beauty seen in girls ; Her hair in forty curls or^more. And twice its length would sweep the flooi Such hair, such curls as her's belong, To dreamland pictures or to song. On horseback, Delia was my pride. She was one woman who could ride ; She rode with me or Captain Gaines, Long, long glad rides o'er grassy plains. 22 Betrothed to Gaines, she loved him, too, As angel-women always do. I liked him well, at least I tried. To see the things I could abide ; For friends were few and-neighbors less. Nor were his visits in excess. I was a boy, I watched their ways. Their cooing words and long, fond gaze. He would clasp her hand and bridle rein. And slowly ride across the plain ; I marveled then to see them ride. So moping, crowding, side by side. For well I knew one word would start Their ponies bounding wide apart. I used to tell them: "Show your speed !" To please me, then Adell would lead A short, tame race ; ere long they lag. And coo, and spoon, and crowd, and drag. Ah, now I am glad they loved so well. Glad because it pleased Adell. She had a saucy, playful trick Of whipping me, not with a stick. But with her hair, and as it whirls, She would whip me with her swinging curls Ah, little thought I, the time could be Those curls would make "Wild Will" of me, Their slightest touch upon my face. Like stripes the Eussian's knout can trace. Nebraskan homestead, wild and lone, (To me, our eastern home unknown. For I was young when we went west ; The change forgotten— unimpressed,) Our house stood high on bluffs or banks, Built strong of logs and heavy planks, And there were bolts to bar each door ; Stout shutters guard the windows more ; 23 A sort of squatters' fort, indeed, And there was cause, and there was need. Southward prairies, open, free. Without one hill, or shrub, or tree ; Where sky met earth in mingled blue. The eye, no line between them drew; To east and west were draws and rUls, With groves and some bare sandy hills ; Not trees enough to hide the view. Just here and there a scattered few. To northward, hills, tree-crowned and high. Rose back from where the stream flows by ; Still we had ample space to see. Which seems like freedom unto me. Our homestead, lone, no house in sight, A frontier home, a poor man's plight; I loved that home in boyish pride, I loved the landscape, broad and wide; I loved the river, flowing dark, I loved the trees in nature's park ; I loved the flsh, the flowers, the birds, I loved our large increasing herds. I loved all things below, above. The glorious earth seemed made to love, Then earth, all things to me were fair ; Since then, all earth seemed blackened, bare Peopled with dwarfed and crawling things, So great the change which misery brings. At length there came a day, — that day. Which seems forever yet to stay ; That morn, I still remember all. My father's loud and cheerful;call. I answered, "Yes," and sprang upright. Then saw that it was growing light ; For we rose early in those days, To haste the cattle out to graze, 24 Before the sun rose blazing high, Or hunger roused each biting fly. I heard the cattle gently loo, The song-birds made a concert, too, The rooster's challenge and reply. And Shep was barking, loud and high, And by the din and noise they make, All are up and wide awake. The morning meal was quickly spread; Father gave thanks with reverent head ; And when the morning meal was o'er We all knelt on the rough plank floor ; Then father prayed and sister sung, As with an angel's trilling tongue. I took my rifle, sack and horn. As was my wont on every morn. My task was herding on the plain To keep the stock from corn and grain ; For all unfenced our tasseled corn, Waved gently on that August morn. I whistled loud for Shep ; he came : I pat his head, repeat his name ; He wagged, and jumped, and writhed for joy. He loved me well, my work, employ; He seemed excited, keen to go ; Fool that I was, I could not know He tried to tell me, tried all day; Stupid ! I drove him off, away, His actions strange, were new to me ; Too soon, alas, my eyes could see. I led my horse and oped the gate ; The laggard herd pass out sedate. As though they too, by instinct knew, The last time I should drive them through. 25 I mount my horse in boyish haste, Adjust the belt about my waist ; Adell, the darling, comes my way, Of course, some warning words must say, She whispered "Will," lest others hear, And in her eyes there seemed a tear; I reined up Nell close to her side, I spoke ; her quivering lips replied : "O, Will, I feel so fearful strange, I think there is danger on the range. Just as I felt when Captain Gaines Was shot and scalped out on the plains ; Now, since his noble life is o'er, I seem to fear for you the more. Nor deem it fancy, want of sense. Which makes my fears for you intense, By unknown laws, I seem to know, The coming of some direful woe, I cannot name, nor place, nor show, Yet all my soul sees horror, woe. Now Willie, what I want of you, Is herd the cattle in our view; Please drive them southward; please do, Will, Then I can see you from our hill ; Do drive them southward," still she pled. And raised her hand to reach my head. For she must kiss me ere I go. I caught her hand, then bending low. And half in earnest, half in fun, I kissed lier twenty times if one, I kissed her forehead, cheeks and eyes, I kissed her chin where dimple lies. And as I kiss, a breeze now whirls About my head her wealth of curls ; I felt them fond, caress my face. And twine, and fondle, and embrace ; I turned my horse, without one word. And rode to overtake my herd. 26 I drove them where she asked me to, As wise men ever should and do ; I did not drive one mile away, And in the saddle, too, I stay; Her fears I did not feel nor share. To please her was my only care. A Blackhawk, of the Morgan breed, Par-famed for bottom and for speed ; My father brought them from the East; A fragment saved when fortune ceased ; I liked them both, Nell and her mate, But Nell had horse-sense more than great 7 Her mate was blacker and more fleet, Yet Nell could stand the longer heat. I always liked to ride on Nell, "While father chose her mate, as well; A happy choice it was, indeed. For I liked bottom, — he liked speed. Slow passed the hours till afternoon, I thought to work up homeward, soon; It made me nervous, for Adell Seemed always standing by the well ; Her eyes on me, full well I knew. They almost seemed to pierce me through.. I bowed to her and waved my hand, Then barefoot, in my saddle stand ; And peer and peek in mock concern As if afraid to move, — ^return; She understood, and waved reply, And signaled me to look up high ; A flock of ducks was over-head, I shot, — one fluttered downward dead. I rode and caught it from the ground. Exultant whirled it round and round, Her gipsy hat she waved once more. Then vanished through the open door. 27 In haste I rode to turn my herd, And then the strangest thing occurred, The sated herd had reached a point Where grew some giant, tall blue-joint. The Texan steers, which took the lead. Mysterious, start a mad stampede ; With eyes distended from their head. They wildly started, madly fled; Such growling, snorting, bellowing roar. Which, had I never heard before, I surely would have thought, at least. Each was some new ferocious beast ; Such clanking horns, fright-bristling hair. Tails erect, like lances, cleft the air. With vaulting, leaping, bounding speed, All join at once the grand stampede; The earth seemed trembling under me. As when a herd of bison flee. I rode to left, I rode to right. I shouted with my boyish might; I tried to steer them, bunch them round. To circle them, to whirl, confound; But vain my efforts, — vain my skill. They dash, divide, o'er plain and hill. I shout till out of breath and hoarse. Yet still they kept their frenzied course ; Again I yell at every step, "Go round them, Shep, go round them, Shep, Round them up, Shep; drive, drive them up I" He faithful, well-trained colley pup. Worth more than three well-mounted men. To turn them homeward once again We worked, I rode, I called and tried. And in my boyish passion cried ; Yet neither words, nor tears, nor speed. Could halt them in their mad stampede. 28 I follow on and as they fly I see some stagger, fall and die. I kept their course, I would not turn. Though pride and passion seethie and burn; My promise to Adell forgot; The lapse of time I noted not, And I should followed them till night, Had not a horseman dashed in sight; He rode like jockey at a race, Nor could I see his down-bent face. Yet by his "style and wind-like speed I knew Belmont the coming steed. My father sure ; and when he came" He spoke no words of fault or blame. But seemed so troubled, grave and sad, I soon forgot that I was mad. The herd, I told its causeless fright, That nothing wrong had met their sight ; He shook his head and mournful said : "Instinct told them what to dread;" A strange, pained frown passed, o'er his brow I think I know what caused it now. He said: "Leave here the herd, to-night, A little time may calm their fright ; Eeturn with me and let us ride Such race as life and death decide,— Take mother, Adell, to the Fort, The boys will think it gladsome sport To help us gather up the herd,— To-night will give them timely word. He, generous, hid fi-om me his fear. And fleetly left me in the rear ; I wondered at his anxious look, The cause of which I then mistook ; I thought him grieved at my neglect. Though nought he said, to that effect, 29 I had no hint of his alarm. Nor had I fears of greater harm ; Our herd stampeded, strayed apart. Might grieve a western poor man's heart. Home-ward, away, away he sped, While Nell pursued where Belmont led. Fleeter, fleeter, and more fast, Till half the distance, rearward cast ; But why such haste? I only guessed. The sun was setting in the west, And we had many miles to ride. Before we_reached Fort Rescue's side; Then mother and Adell must go. And women dressing are so slow; Least, so I argued in my mind. So stupid are the witless,— blind. Onward, impetuous Belmont sped, And kept full forty rods ahead ; Five miles we rode, till near the point Where grew the giant, tall bluejoint; Belmont now breasts the grassy sea, Which almost hid his form from me ; But Nell, she snorts and shying back, As though a. demon blocked her track, — Refusing, stamps her du.nib protest, For instinct taught her far the best; Like lightning's flash and instant gleam, I understood the deadly scheme; I sprung up from my saddle, high, And standing, saw what made her shy ! A painted Indian's feathered head, Whose gun points where my father sped. My Spencer then I instant caught. And quicker far than word or thought,— I shot the Sioux, — one more I shot, When Nell sprang past the fatal spot; 30 Two lifeless Sioux together lie, Unheeded now, I pass them by ; A sight appalling, more I see,— A sight which made "Wild Will" of me Around my mother's bolted door, Eage murderous warriors, full a score; Their whoops and yells borne on the air. Benumb my heart with chill despair. Poor father halts, with upraised hands, As if to ask of God — commands ; Then pointing west where lies the Fort, Rode hence as if to give report. No cry, no words, no bootless tear. No vain lament, no selfish fear ; His only hope to bring them aid. Our house, he knew, was strongly made; While they could handle each a gun, And stand a siege till day was done. Westward, westward fleet we fly, As cowards might, who doom deny; Nell seemed to comprehend the case, And sprang unguided toward the place Where mounted soldiers could be found ; Increasing speed with every bound ; Till dai'kness hides our home and foe. Then curving homeward, stealthy, go. As father turned he pointed back. Said; "I return by northern track; Alone the rescue I must try. And if I fail, there, let me die; You better try and reach the Fort, Nor with me, danger, reckless court." I answer: "Where you go, I go, We two may strike a saving blow;" We turn; we cross the river's bank. To come behind them on the flank ; 31 Our tired horses, each one feels, That forlorn hope lies in their heels, Responding to their riders' mind. They haste to hurl the miles behind ; At length, our homestead hills are nigh ; In haste our tired horses tie ; With feline step and Indian art. From tree to tree we stealthy dart ; Ah, woe is me, a maddening sight ; Around our home a brilliant light ; And as we near the house, we see The front is blazing, fierce and free ! While, battering on the northmost door. The Sioux were thirty, if not more ; So very fast we fired then. They thought we were a dozen men ; The Sioux retreat, they vanished, fled. And took their dying and their dead. Then father waved his hand to me, To stand on guard behind a tree ; My hands had trembled not before, But when I saw him reach the door, O, how they shook, — my eyes grew dim, I heard him call, they answered him; They thought he was some renegade. And this the answer mother made : "Come out? Surrender? Never! No! Go back and tell those demons so ; The pale-faced mother yields to death. The flames may breathe their flery breath ; I rather trust the fatal flame. Than one who bears the curst Sioux name ; Die, we can, if die we must, But wanton Sioux I will not trust." He answered: "Martha, it is I, Unbolt the door, come, let us fly. The horses wait on yonder hill. Come, I am waiting, so is Will; 32 The Sioux are gone ; they may return, — Be lurking near,-'-our numbers learn; Cornel Come! time is life or death, Nor wait another doubting breath ; What e'er befalls, I'll guard Adell; You understand my' meaning -well. Two minutes start can we secure, Escape will then seem almost sure." I heard the bolt move on the door, I heard the fire's increasing roar; They came ; my heart, it then stood still, I shook as in an ague chill ; They came, their heads and shoulders bare The breeze trailed back Adell's sweet hair. We fled, nor spoke, nor vainly cried. Close father kept by Adell's side ; One hand his gun, the other pressed On something deep within his breast. But what it was I could not tell, I learned it soon, alas, too well. We cross the stream, we climb the hill, We listen, all serene and still; And now the horses are so near. That hope has almost banished fear ; The horses strangely paw and snort, — But then the distance was so short I had small time for further thought ; Nell's rein, with frantic leap I caught,— A whoop 1 a shriek, and I was bound, And struck unconscious to the ground. When next I woke to sense and pain, I strove to rise, but tried in vain; My legs and arms were firmly tied With untanned thongs of bison hide. 33 They bound me to a wild plum tree, And mother, lashed to one near me. I hear the Sioux' exultant yell. " My God!" I shriek, "they scalp Adell." I strain my thongs, I raise my head. And then I saw Adell was dead. Deep in her breast was father's knife ; His hand had freed our darling's life. I saw old Scalper jerk her hair; Then whirl it, gloating, through the air ; I gave a maddened, frenzied shriek, Then heard my mother softly speak : "Thank God! Bless God! Adell is dead. Her fate has been my greater dread ; Willie ! Willie, would that we Were half as well off now as she." The last I heard my mother speak ; On her their wanton vengeance wreak. That I should see them — I, her son. And when their fiendish work was done They slashed her with their ruthless knives Enough to end a hundred lives. Another crown of thin gray hair 1 saw old Scalper jerk and wear. It might been hours, it might been days, So strange the freaks dazed memory plays. There is a blank I cannot fill, For- next I sense of human ill. An Indian led me at his side — My feet were free, my hands were tied. I thought he dragged me out to die. Yet neither halt, nor beg, nor cry^ For I expected they would kill. Why they refrained I wonder still, I did not hope, or care to live, Though vengeance did not least forgive. 34 So weak and dazed I scared could stand The Sioux upheld me with his hand, And dragged me on, around, and through The brush and bushes wet with dew, For it was evening, damp and chill — A voice called me, sadly, "Will!" I started wildly, gazed around — My God ! I saw my father bound, Bound naked to a reddened stake. With flre, tormentors, brand and bake. He looked so old, so wan, so sad It drove me desperate, — reckless,— mad. I freed my hands from sharp edged hide, And wildly rushing to his side With weak and torn and bleeding hands Hurl wide and far the flaming brands. A rifle, clubbed against my head Smote me unconscious, as one dead. When sense returned their work was o'er ; I never saw my father more. Yet, on the air, a burning taint, The thought of which still makes me faint. Confused, or blank the days slip by. My only thought— the wish to die. ' Escape, I did not hope, desire. Nor did I fear the torture flre. Somehow, I seemed to feel, or know I was too weak for torture's show. Mayhap, my hold on life too lax To even fear the scalper's ax. I wondered then they did not slay, And still I wonder to this day. Their fate, their destiny, their doom. To let that seed sprout, grow and bloom. Soon other bands came riding near. They come from front, they come from rear 35 With ghastlj' scalp, or stolen herd— Their burdened ponies scarcely stirred. Such weight of goods, such piles of things As every panting pony brings ; Our horses, too, I saw them there.— To freedom, some day, one will bear. In every painted, murdering band I note each bloody knife and hand. I closed my eyes in hellish hate, And sinful curse my living fate ; Vile demons seem to flU my soul, Possess, inspire, command, control. Revenge and vengeance my one hope ; In after years they found full scope. Paid back in full, an hundred fold, — Interest, beyond a usurer's gold. From words and signs this much I learn. Towards mountain fastness all return. They bind my back to Scalper's back Like victim stretched upon the rack. Beneath the horse my feet were tied. Foot linked to foot with thongs of hide. It was well they bound me on my seat. Else, fallen, 'neath the horse's feet. From hunger, loss of blood, so weak. Unable grown to sit, or move, or speak. And as I rode in my distress The wind blew on my face a tress, Adell's dear curls; those ringlets, rare. As plume, old Scalper dares to wear. To paint my rage, a curse too mild, I think those ringlets drove me wild. The breeze beats them against my face. Their twining lengths, my form embrace. They smite my cheeks, they wipe my tears. As Russian knout, each one appears; 36 They drape my form, they blind my eye, Around me coil and twine and tie ; Again they seem like serpent's tread Whose fangs assail my feeble head. At night, they drag me to.some tree Around which they lash each bended knee ; My feeble legs embrace the trunk. So d6ep the cutting thongs have sunk ; My wrists and ankles — putrid, sore, Which made them bind them all the more. I closed my eyes, I held my breath, I tried to die, I courted death. But I was doomed to live until, I scourge the Sioux, and am "Wild Will." Sleep came, kind nature brings us rest. And sleeping, dreamed that I was blest. I thought, Love came and offered aid. She laved my wounds, sedatives ma'de. I felt her kisses on my face, A warm and close and fond embrace. Her hot breath, too, caressed my cheek, I struggle long and strove to speak, I heard a soft and stealthy step. And waking, saw my faithful Shep ! O'erjoyed I speak, and cry aloud Unmindful of that savage crowd : "O Shep, dear Shep, how came you here, Have you been following at our rear? You dear old faithful, faithful friend!" Behold him wag and turn and bend. He duntibly writhes in joy and love. He licked my face, around above. He licked my swollen bleeding hands, And even tried to gnaw my bands ; He turns and wags and wistful whines, Then close beside me fond reclines ; Old Scalper came, with angry step And kicked and brained my faithful Shep. Though -weak as infant at the breast, This roused a rage I ill repressed, I yell, I shriek, I loudly s-wore, — An oath ne'er passed my lips before ; From that curst instant dates my fall, I doubted God, I cursed them all; And in my soul such vengeance swore. As made me outcast evermore. A purpose fell, an object dire. New vigor gave, — a vital Are ; For, from that night, I seemed to gain A giant's might to cheat and feign ; In guile, deceit and double-face, Surpass the Anglo Saxon race ; Some things are better passed than told. Some facts a demon might withhold; Enough, it roused a brutal thirst Which made my after life accursed. One insult more, they cooked Shep's meat. The first they offered me to eat ; Could you believe, — believe I ate? I did, and vowed eternal hate ; With gloating breath, I tell it now, I faithful kept that vengeful vow ; Like sluethhound I have kept their trail. No wigwam stands within their vale ; Of all that murdering scalping band. Not one remains to blight the land ; No brave to hunt the bison, moose. No squaw is left or small papoose. The hungry wolves have learned my trails. That food behind me never fails ; 38 The very buzzards following fly, If they but see me riding by. And now you know each maddening ill, Which made me what I am,— Wild Will ! 39 TAMMAREND. THE PAWNEE LEGEND OF THE BAD LANDS. (By the Learned Pawnee Chief.) To-day we moved our camp and found a field Where fossils lie like cheap embedded stone ; The men have found such heaps, such hoards, revealed As nowhere else our earth has kept or shown ; But when our campfires burn, the men appealed To Pawnee chief to tell some tale — their own, Some Indian Legend, some story of their great, Before the canting white men filled their veins with hate 40 TAMM ABEND. (X