Beneath her father's roof, alone She seem'd to live; her thoughts her own; Herself her own delight: Pleased with herself, nor sad nor gay, She pass'd her time; and in this way Grew up to woman's height. There came a youth from Georgia's shore A military casque he wore With splendid feathers drest; He brought them from the Cherokees; The feathers nodded in the breeze And made a gallant crest. From Indian blood you deem him sprung: And, when America was free With hues of genius on his cheek, The moon, the glory of the sun, And streams that murmur as they run Had been his dearest joy. He was a lovely youth! I guess The panther in the wilderness Was not so fair as he; And when he chose to sport and play, No dolphin ever was so gay Upon the tropic sea. Among the Indians he had fought; Such tales as, told to any maid By such a youth, in the green shade, He told of girls, a happy rout! Who quit their fold with dance and shout, To gather strawberries all day long; When daylight is gone down. He spake of plants that hourly change Their blossoms, through a boundless range Of intermingling hues ; With budding, fading, faded flowers, They stand the wonder of the bowers He told of the Magnolia, spread - Of flowers that with one scarlet gleam Cover a hundred leagues, and seem To set the hills on fire. The youth of green savannahs spake, Of islands, that together lie And then he said, 'How sweet it were A fisher or a hunter there, In sunshine or in shade To wander with an easy mind, And build a household fire, and find A home in every glade! What days and what bright years! Ah me! Our life were life indeed, with Thee So pass'd in quiet bliss ; And all the while,' said he, 'to know That we were in a world of woe, And then he sometimes interwove Sweet Ruth! and could you go with me My helpmate in the woods to be, Our shed at night to rear; Or run, my own adopted bride, A sylvan huntress at my side, Beloved Ruth!'- No more he said. She thought again—and did agree O sweet Fancy ! let her loose; When the soundless earth is muffled, To banish Even from her sky. - Sit thee there, and send abroad With a mind self-overawed Fancy, high-commission'd:- send her! And thou shalt quaff it ;— thou shalt hear Distant harvest-carols clear; Rustle of the reaped corn; Sweet birds antheming the morn : And in the same moment-hark! Or the rooks, with busy caw, Thou shalt, at one glance, behold Sapphire queen of the mid-May; Cast on sunny bank its skin; Then the hurry and alarm When the bee-hive casts its swarm; Acorns ripe down-pattering While the autumn breezes sing. O sweet Fancy ! let her loose; Everything is spoilt by use: Where's the cheek that doth not fade, Where's the voice, however soft, |