Kaw-wau-nita, And Other Poems

1873. -- PREFACE. The incident related in the closing of the Poem, KAIV-WAU-NITA, was told me in the month of May, 1859, by C. J. Goss, Esq., in company with wholll I made a trip from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Boulder City, Colorado, in the season just men- tioned. We had camped one night on the banks of a small stream, on the very ground, as I was informed, where the closing scene of the Poem was enacted, and from which the stream took the name of RAWHIDE CREEK. It was while there that hfr. Goss gave me t5e facts of the case, which facts are known to many of those who crossed the Plains in the early golden days of California. It may be considered an over-drawn picture, but a reality is a reality and, though a fabric of romance may be woven arotnd it, still the romance can never do away with a fact. It may be said, by some, that a proper regard for the feelings of others should have prevented the publication of KAW-WAU-NITA, but my reply is this In offering you this Poem, I silnply offer you a matter of fact, and for facts I have no apologies to make to any one. The story is of that order which appears to the best advantage when presented in as plain a manner as possible, and, taking this view of it, I have avoided the use of Indian terms beyond what are current all over the world but, at the same time, I have not allowed my characters to lose their customs or their leading characteristics. The short poems have been written at different times and under various circumstances. I like most of them for the reason that each has its own little world in the past and for them I ask the kind for- bearance and generous toleration of those who may honor them by perusal. H HE .UTHOR. There carrrcto rrzy zuigrrarrr n weary cIriZrt, Hlrrrpy, arzri fcebZe, nrzd colrt-- 1Yhetz the winter winds told Thcir bitterest tale ifz a fierce, ercc pzlc, To the cZorrds, which in terror were flltirg 7uild. IiTe 6cgert tr e to she fit- Iris sh I-ilzkCiCzgfo-frz Ei-olrl the kcetz arzrtpittess blrrst And the srro7ufEyirzg fizst- Azct for-e nrrd food, to uat-rrz the blood That was clrrilled irz hrs vetrrs by the howlizg storrrl. I sheltered h k, zoarrnert him, nzrrsetihirn with car-c, Arrd with him 1 shared pry bed, Atzcigazfe hirz to eat of 7rzIv bread A tzd he tuelt with rr e Zo rrg, arzdgrew Ir tl e atzd strorrg, Anrthis frrce, artrris for-rrr, arzrilzis wor-1s zcvr fnir. I3e has gr-owzr, till a giant uuw he starrh l l, Yrtc 1 Irazre feeble gr-owrz- i7Iy .rigicn he clcrrizs as his o7cr1z . He has taken 312 hortze, and alone I mrrst romz Iato bat-t-etz azd rlesolatc zrrrkrowrr lclnd.r. KAW-WAU-NITA. The winter winds had ceased to blov, And now no longer white with snow, Ihe ground was fast becoming green And here and there, there might be seen On grassy knoll, a violet blue, Smiling through weight of sparkling dew, As eye of azure might appear hen dimmed by loves, or sorrows tear. The forest trees no longer bare Of foliage, tossed their limbs in air Rut each one seemed to do its best 10 rival each and all the rest, In giving heartsome welcoming To lovely, bashful, blushing Spring, IVho never fails with winning wile To make een stern old IVinter smile And when the fierce old king is gone, Reckons her sister Summer on. I0 RAW-WAU-NTTA. We crossed the river, dark and rough, That flows in sight of Council BIuff And took our way along the flat, Far-reaching valley of the Platte, Whose waters firstbegin their flow From out the everlasting snow, And coursing through the Valley wide, Join with the madly rushing tide Of the Riissouri-and in glee, Flow on and mingle with the sezr...