Page:Poems Emma M. Ballard Bell.djvu/43

To purchase furs from hunters of their tribe.The object of their coming soon made known,Deep interest awoke for Sunny-Eye;Instruction gladly unto her was giv'n;From holy lips she heard the word divine,And learned, herself, to read the sacred page.Within her soul she knew a Saviour's love,And life and soul and all to Him were giv'n. But when the calm, sweet days of autumn came,They sought again their own loved forest home;And 'mong the many books by kind friends giv'nWas one to them more precious than all else,—That one which lights the soul to God and heav'n.So safe their coming to the white man's home,But little feared they for a safe return. The chieftain's thoughts were of the joys of home,And of the pride and pleasure he should feelWhen to her mother back he should have broughtTheir Sunny-Eye, from troubled thoughts now freed.The thoughts of Sunny-Eye were too of home,And loving welcome waiting her return.But most she thought of teaching to her friendsThe sacred truths which she herself had learned. A few days passed, and they had reached the plains,And two more days might bring them to their home. Once, near the close of day, strange sounds they heard;