Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/437

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SIDNEY LAMER
419


SONG OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE 1

Out of the hills of Habersham, Down the valleys of Hall, The hurrying rain, to reach the plain. Has run 6 the rapid and leapt*" the fall, Split at the rock and together again, Accepted his rf bed, or narrow or wide, And fled* from folly on ever) side, With a lover s pain to attain the plain, Far from the hills of Habersham, Far from the vallevs of Hall. All down the hills of Habersham, All through the valleys of Hall, The rushes cried, Abide, abide; The willful water weeds held me thrall. The laurel, slow-laving, turned my tide/ The ferns and the fondling grass said stay, The dewberry dipped for to win* delay, And the little reeds sighed, Abide, abide, Here in the hills of Habersham, Here in the valleys of Hall. 1 First published in Scott s Magazine, from which it is here taken. Laniers later revisions are given in footnotes, and the study of these will show the devel opment of the poet s artistic sense. a. Changed to "I hurry amain." b. Changed to n I run." c. Changed to "leap." d. Changed to "accept my." f. Changed to " flee.?J f. Changed to " The laving laurel turned my tide/ g. Changed to "work."