THE CHIEFTAIN'S DAUGHTER.
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And after days and nights of thought and care,Thus to his child at last the chieftain said: "Beyond the broad, green plains that round us spread,Dark streams, and forests dim, the white man dwells,And I have heard that with the pale-faced raceIs much of knowledge and of wisdom found:If they can tell thee aught to bring thee peace,And thou canst brave the dangers of the way,Then soon we to the white man's land will go." So strange at first to Sunny-Eye it seemedTo leave, e'en for a time, her forest home,But most her mother, she could scarce reply.The voice within her soul that asked for light,O'er thoughts of grief and fear at length prevailed;She said then to her father, "I will go." Then soon throughout the tribe the news was spread,And long that night the converse that was heldBetween the chieftain and the aged men. At last one old man said, "O chieftain brave,These things thou well dost know: the way is long,The pale-face is the red man's enemy;But if thou canst in safety pass the plains,And once dost reach the land that lies beyond,Where dwells the pale-faced race in numbers vast,Thou needst not fear but that thy child and thou,With that same peace ye come, will be received.But one thing thou mayst fear: thou knowest well
