PS 3515 .183 L4 {1912 Copy 1 (£npt li^ttrg, Itrgtnta =i •::■:•: tM I '^ m of % JUnotniteh bg Anna H. ii|arrg (S. ?Surk? & (Srpgorg. Print. 10U / ) CLAIM 3 2 5 ©njigrigllt. 1912. bg iffl. ». ijinton Ml Stgljta ^KpBpnI^^ 9ubltBl|(5 IBtcetaber. 1912 ■■■ ...i'* :-.-' :--.-:-^ .^:;.•..::•^'^:ii^l«y^V■■■:■■■ ■■■.■■■• ■ •'.'■: r:; •'.■■.■•■■ .■.•;j£iv3ji2l£)^2f4);jy:yjJiJ:--.; ••:v^: A ffi^g^tth 0f ttf^ Bmh iun^a. pAR in the distant past of long ago, No mighty sand dunes sloped to meet the sea. Primeval forest stretched from shore to lea, Like armed legion holding banners low; And neath its glimmering, golden dotted, shade. Roamed nature's forest children free from care. To whom the sea, the still expectant air. And tensely waiting Earth a warming made. All nature, thrilling, breathed a prophecy, When from afar there came a warlike craft, Well manned with seaworn sailors fore and aft. Full freighted to the helm with destiny. As in a dream the Princess watched it near. Wondering at the armed warriors fair, Were they Sun Gods with flowing golden hair? But gods, or men, her race knew naught of fear. Their valiant leader kneeling kissed her hand. From far off seas he came, but not as foe; Then to the Indian Chief she bade him go, And crave of him a welcome to the land. Low, he bowed, "Oh! Chief, full many a day We've battled with the waves, the wind, the rain, Prepared to die, or else this quest to gain, Your welcome for my weary men I pray." ^^ 4^ ^ **7jjJHITE brothers long with us may you remain, And ever find a welcome for your band." The Chieftain, proudly smiling, showed his land. Fair fields of silken maize and Indian cane. Then like a wave upon a sun-kissed shore, Each day ran fast, without a shade of care, A subtle, thrilling essence stirred the air. As if dead Loves awoke to life once more. HE sea, with tender, loving ecstacy. Caressed to dreamy smiles the rippling sands, In whispers low from sleepy Lotus Lands The crooning wavelets brought Love's lullaby. Love lingered in each flow' ring laurel dell, Of romance murmured world old forest trees, Soft sonnets sang the pine sweet perfumed breeze, The Earth conspired with Love to cast his spell. ' OR in the spring the Love God roams the earth, Suggesting oft to nature subtle snares, Beguiling youth that ever unawares Has lightly played with love till passion's birth. And loitering along the moonlit sands, His tempting whisper kissed the Princess' ear, Who, trembling, doubting, thrilled with joy and fear, As round her softly wound Love's witching bands. Then poising like a startled woodland sprite, With whom her grace and glowing beauty vied, Her lovely eyes alight and wonder- wide, To rapture, stirred the heartbeats of the Knight; Who, earnestly, with lips persuasive plead. With tender, ling'ring kisses wooed, caressed. Till, slyly, nestled close unto his breast, Down Life's enchanted lane Love smiling led. What recked the Knight of King or titled court. Of Old World custom, or its wealth of lore. While Nature opened wide her magic door To Wonderland, and Love's enchanted port. But while he dreamed his men were often stirred With thoughts of home, and, growing restless, planned To tell the ancient world of this new land, Adventures stranger far than ever heard. "O T last he sought the Chief and begged her hand, Who made this rigid test with kingly pride, That he return in spring to claim his bride, And granted, then, Vould find his love's demand, But still he lingered on from day to day Until November, when the sails were set, One last embrace of passionate regret — "Sweet Princess, I will come again in May." **7IfHEN the tender, warm south air returns. When mating robins thrill their loving lay, When happy waves hum lov^ of love all day, And brooklets gaily woo the fairy ferns, Then close beside the sea, my Princess, wait." She wandered near the sea, and watched each wave Till spring was past, then sadly still, but brave, The Princess searched the sea from dawn till late. And when the listless leaves began to fall, A weary little Princess slim and pale. Still scanned the surging sea that brought no sail, While dark and heavy clouds hung like a pall. The winter dragged, and when the snows were past, Her eyes grown dim from ceaseless vigils long Grew brighter at the robin's mating song. For baffled hope still lingers to the last. _>«4~^^~- I ROM Life's dawn until its midnight late, Within Earth's tangled labyrinth we grope, With naught to stay our weary souls but hope. Are human hearts but hapless pawns of Fate That blight the spirit ere life can unroll? A page, and then the romance ever lost. And withered youth must pay the drastic cost Of Love that Life demands from all as toll. The stern old Chieftain's heart was wrung each day As she was lifted sadly to the sand; And sombre gloom, foreboding, wrapped the land That, mourning, watched its Princess waste away. Her plaintive voice sobbed wearily and long, "Oh! heardess waves what do you hide from me, Have you my lover buried, cruel sea. Or did he soon forget the robin's song?" She moaned unto each world old restless wave, "Pile high upon my breast the drifting sand. Let no alien eye, no wandering band. Divine my tragedy, or trace my grave. Bury well my royal, ancient name, So deep no whisper ever can remain To breathe to after ages of my pain, Of slighted love — an Indian Princess' shame." j6 ^ jK «^ ^ jft .^ HEY placed her body far beneath the sand, And called in council every Indian brave, Who, sw^earing maledictions, long did rave To slay the first pale face who sought his land. Then as the ceaseless w^inds sighed o'er the ground. Like tender tears, w^hose loving touch caressed, The sands, in sadness, drifted o'er her breast. And slow^ly piled a vast and solemn mound. Till now a range of sand dunes sweeps the shore That buries leagues of ancient pine and oak; But ever will the mammoth hills evoke Memories of her love in days of yore. And many a stormy night, a trembling wave, Hears, mingled with the mourning winds above, Low plaintive sobs, "Oh, sea, where is my Love?" In anguish stealing from the mountain grave. FEB 27 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 015 939 100 ^