1832

THE MURDERED TRAVELLER

by William Cullen Bryant

THE MURDERED TRAVELLER -

When Spring, to woods and wastes around,

Brought bloom and joy again,

The murdered traveller's bones were found,

Far down a narrow glen. -

The fragrant birch, above him, hung

Her tassels in the sky;

And many a vernal blossom sprung,

And nodded careless by. -

The red-bird warbled, as he wrought

His hanging nest o'erhead,

And fearless, near the fatal spot,

Her young the partridge led. -

But there was weeping far away,

And gentle eyes, for him,

With watching many an anxious day,

Were sorrowful and dim. -

They little knew, who loved him so,

The fearful death he met,

When shouting o'er the desert snow,

Unarmed, and hard beset;- -

Nor how, when round the frosty pole

The northern dawn was red,

The mountain-wolf and wild-cat stole

To banquet on the dead;- -

Nor how, when strangers found his bones,

They dressed the hasty bier,

And marked his grave with nameless stones,

Unmoistened by a tear. -

But long they looked, and feared, and wept,

Within his distant home;

And dreamed, and started as they slept,

For joy that he was come. -

Long, long they looked- but never spied

His welcome step again,

Nor knew the fearful death he died

Far down that narrow glen. - -