Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DAISY SWAIN, THE FLOWER OF SHENANDOAH; A TALE OF THE REBELLION: 7, by JOHN M. DAGNALL



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DAISY SWAIN, THE FLOWER OF SHENANDOAH; A TALE OF THE REBELLION: 7, by                    
First Line: Soon upon the breeze she heard the tramp
Last Line: Were lost, in the gloom of night enshrouded deeply.
Subject(s): American Civil War; Beauty; Death; Love; Soldiers; United States - History; Women; Dead, The


Soon upon the breeze she heard the tramp
Of horse -- affright'd ran -- reach'd the cot -- turn'd round,
And saw a shadowy form hard by, hovering
Near. Quick the door she shut; but soon a rap
Vibrated on her startled ear. Trembling,
She thro' the window gazed alarmed, and thought
She saw the chieftain returned back to burn
The cot, as twilight shadows veil'd the man,
And made his garb appear like gray.

Now listen
To her mind by prudence temper'd, her caution
Spoke with earnest warmth. "Who in evening's mantle
Sombre wrapt comes here?" "A friend," was the response.
"A friend, forsooth! at such an hour! Perchance
A foe, as none but the intrusive would
Invade a lonely maiden's sanctuary:
None but the designing prowl about in
Gloomy shades of night, dark deeds to do,
In order that their evil work may the
Mortal eye elude, and you seemed fashioned
For no good intent."

"Call not suspicion
To your mind, lone maid; I'm not on mischief
Bound. Heaven is my witness. My mission
Is a holy one, and needs precaution.
To guard against impending ills I must
Shun the cheerful beam of day, and wander
Only when the night shrouds the world in gloom.
The letter which I carry in my vest
Declares the object of my visit, and will,
I'm sure, remove your doubts: it's from Athol."

When she heard the gentle name of Athol,
She felt conscious that the stranger's ends were
Right; and without further parley bade him
Enter. Then he proffer'd her the letter,
Which she gladly took, and turn'd it round and round.
Her bosom heaved convulsed with deep emotion,
The sullen chill of fear quit her blood,
And stay'd the with'ring grief that blanch'd her cheeks
With paly dye, and sooth'd her thorny pains.

Then while Daisy, in the dim twilight, cast
A joyous look upon its superscription,
The stranger saw how beauteous was the maid,
How serenely fair in ev'ry feature.
Then, with the light of new-born hope, she from
The folded letter raised her languid eyes,
And said: "Tho' the lines seem to have been penn'd
By a trembling hand, yet I can trace in
Then the ornate style of dear Athol; and may
Fate charter freedom's blessings to the brave
Who brought them. May ev'ry adversity
Give him renew'd courage, till his name shall
Be upon the rolls of fame enshrined, and
Honors, like his days, brighten full of years."
The stranger bow'd his grateful thanks.

"How was
Dear Athol when you saw him last," she said.
"In health and hope quite buoyant; for, to me,
His confidant, he often speaks of you
As being far above all mortal stars
That shine. My praises, too, with his can now
Be joined." Concluding which, Daisy look'd straight
At the stranger, and caught the quick glance of
His eye, but in it saw he was sincere:
Then, gently curtseyed at the flatt'ring words
Which he had spoken.

"Most loth am I, fair maid,
To bid you now farewell; but the pale star
Of eve shoots down its lustre, and shame might
Tinge your cheeks if here I tarried longer."
"O, sir," she said, "my tongue hath not power
Of words to tell the emotions that now
I feel: But give Athol this token of
My love, and murmur in his ear these vows
Of mine: Tell him that, 'so long as time shall
Last, his image will remain and still be
Cherish'd at my faithful heart, and that, like
The stream near which he's now encamp'd, my love
For him is deep and pure.'"

Delighted with
The kindly task enjoined, the courier
Promised faithfully her commands he would
Obey. Then both their hands in friendship's grasp
Were soon combined.

Hastily forth he sallied,
And nimbly mounted on his roan steed,
Which restlessly on the emerald sward paw'd
The deep green grass. "Adieu," he said. "Good bye"
"And may kind Providence guard you safely
On your way," was her response. Then quickly,
The horseman and his charger, to her sight
Were lost, in the gloom of night enshrouded deeply.





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