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This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger
Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain
imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed
pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we
have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting,
preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger
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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...
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