Gadsden High School - Crucible Yearbook (Gadsden, AL)

Page 24 text:

In the wedding games and contests In the dancing and the shooting. And the fears of Noccaluia All were vanquished by her secret. On the day before the wedding When the braves and chief assembled By the Falls of Noccaluia, In the games and in the shooting Young Ameego proved the victor, Vanquished even great Nobasko, Proved himself a worthy suitor For the hand of Noccaluia. In her eyes he was the noblest, Handsomest of all the warriors. But her father. Chief Kewano, Marveled that she treated coldly Great Nebasko, Chief of Chieftains. “Thus it is,” he said, “with daughters, When they do their heart’s own choosing. When at night the stars like fireflies Gleamed but palely in the moonlight, And the men around the campfire Smoked and told of deeds of valor, Silently did Noccaluia Glide within her bridal chamber Fashioned from the softest deerskin, Filled with skins like sofest velvet, And she donned her snow-white raiment And her moccasins of doe-skin, Trimmed with beads and decked with feathers. Then she waited in her wigwam Till no sound of voice or laughter Broke the stillness of the forest But the laughing of the water. Forth she stepped into the moonlight Gleaming, glittering like the water Pouring o’er the rocks before her In a sheen of silver radiance. Long she gazed upon the forest, On the torrent, on the wigwams. But her soft eyes rested longest On the wigwam of her lover. Softly did she call. “Ameego, But no answer to her whisper Save the rustle of the night wind In the pine trees by the water. Then she sought with careful footsteps One tall rock that rose uprightly From the foaming, boiling basin ’Neath the Falls of Noccaluia. For an instant did she stand there Like a phantom in the moonlight When she sow her startled lover. Wakened by her one soft whisper,

Page 23 text:

Scarce had eighteen flowery summers Laid their crowns of smiling blossoms On the head of Noccalula, When her father, Chief Kewano, Called her to him, spoke in this wise: You have wandered, O my daughter, Through the verdant fields of childhood, Through the meadows bright with sunshine, Gathering only sweetest flowers. Hut the time has come for parting From your father old and weary, From your kinsmen, silent, sorrowing; For the haughty chief, Nebasko, Sought your hand from all the maidens, Offered me both skins and wampum. Offered ponies in abundance.” All in vain did Noccalula Plead her love for young Ameego, Begged, entreated of her father Not to force her to this marriage. Told him that her heart was given Long ago to brave Ameego. But like hardest flint his heart was. Hard as stone that fillet! the mountain. So the wedding was appointed For the summer fast approaching. All day long did Noccalula Mope and grieve within her wigwam; But at night when bright the moon rose Like a great kind face in Heaven Forth she crept and sought her lover. To the cliff beside the torrent Grave and silently she let! him. Then with words that killed his spirit Did she tell him of her marriage. But she told him that her father Ne’er could force her to his bidding; For the Falls of Noccalula Singing, glistening in the moonlight, Told to her its wondrous secrets. Told her that its love could save her From the cruel chief Nebasko; That she would not need to leave him. But could stay forever near him. Near her home and near her people. Thus did she dispel his sorrow. Swiftly did the days of springtime. Filled with happy sound of bird-song. Filled with fragrance from the jasmine. From the laurel and azalea, Speed like deer with noiseless footsteps. Swiftly did the women’s fingers Dress the snow-white downy doe-skin Which would deck the bride of summer And the braves brought from the forest Game and fish to feast the warriors That would come to try their prowess

Page 25 text:

Stealing from his tent in wonder. Then she called out o'er the water, “Fare thee well, O brave Aineego, Thus it is you learn the secret Of the Falls of Noccalula!” Then she vanished o’er the precipice Like the white foam on the torrent. Then within the rushing water Did he see her snow-white spirit Beckoning to him from the white mist Of the Falls of Noccalula. Long the red men had their wigwams Underneath the murmuring pine-trees. Till the grey-haired Chief Kewano Passed into the world of spirits, To the land of souls beyond us. And the warrior, young Ameego, Was the chieftain old and hoary. When the white man journeying westward. Seeking gold and lands of promise. Passed the Falls of Noccalula, Broke the stillness of the forest With his shouts and ringing axes, Then he tought his Indian brothers Of the great white God in Heaven, Of the Father of all mortals. But at last the great white brothers Journeying later toward the westward Drove the red men from their forests, By the Falls of Noccalula, Drove them westward toward the sunset. O’er the plains and cross the rivers. But the brave old chief Ameego. Bearing ever in his bosom His fond love for Noccalula Could not leave her lonely spirit. Bidding farewell to his people, Back he turned his weary footsteps Till his dim eyes gladly rested On the murmuring, sobbing pine trees By the Falls of Noccalula. Now no trace of red men lingers ’Neath the pine trees by the torrent. There no brave and noble warriors Smoke the calumet, the peace-pipe. But the warm sun shines as brightly And the birds sing on as sweetly As the days when Noccalula Wandered in the silent forests. When the sun in fiery splendor Gleams ere setting, on the water. Bright within the foam a rainbow Dances in its painted beauty. Symbol of a love undying Token of two souls united By the Falls of Noccalula.