42 THE FORESTERS. 



Cheered with the rural sweets on every side, 

 Slow through this charming vale we gaily glide. 

 Delightful spot ! from stormy winds secured, 

 By mountains sheltered and in wilds immured ; 

 Still as we pass rich level fields appear ; 

 Chemung's huge harns and fertile farms draw near. 

 How changed those scenes from what so late they were 

 Ere Freedom's hanners waved triumphant here; 

 While o'er our coast a powerful foe prevailed, 

 Here from behind the savages assailed ; 

 In bloody bands ransacked our weak frontier, 

 Fire, rapine, murder, marked their fell career. 

 Amid his corn the gasping planter fell, 

 Deep sunk the axe and direful rose the yell ; 

 The midnight cottage, wrapt in sweet repose, 

 In flaming ruins with the morning rose; 

 There slaughtered corses, babes and fathers lay, 

 The naked mothers driven 'mid fiends away. 

 To thee, brave Sullivan ! who scourged this crew, 

 Thy country's gratitude shall still be due ; 

 And future ages on these summits rear 

 Honors to him who planted freedom here. 



We pause to mark amid this valley green 

 How changed the tenants, how improved the scene ! 

 Where wretched wigwams late like kennels stood, 

 Where bark canoes stole skulking o'er the flood, 

 Where mangled prisoners groaned, and hatchets glared, 

 And blood-stained savages the fire prepared. 

 There glittering towns and villages extend, 

 There floating granaries in fleets descend, 



