University of Virginia Library

50   Alone, far in the wilds and mountains, I hunt,
Wandering, amazed at my own lightness and glee;
In the late afternoon choosing a safe spot to pass the      night,
Kindling a fire and broiling the fresh kill'd game;
Falling asleep on the gather'd leaves, with my dog and      gun by my side.
51  The Yankee clipper is under her three sky-sails —      she cuts the sparkle and scud;
My eyes settle the land — I bend at her prow, or shout      joyously from the deck.
52  The boatman and clam-diggers arose early and stopt      for me;
I tuck'd my trowser-ends in my boots, and went and      had a good time:
You should have been with us that day round the      chowder-kettle.
53  I saw the marriage of the trapper in the open air in      the far-west — the bride was a red girl;
Her father and his friends sat near, cross-legged and      dumbly smoking — they had moccasins to their      feet, and large thick blankets hanging from their      shoulders;
On a bank lounged the trapper — he was drest mostly      in skins — his luxuriant beard and curls pro-     tected his neck — he held his bride by the hand;
She had long eye-lashes — her head was bare — her      coarse straight locks descended upon her volup-     tuous limbs and reach'd to her feet.
54  The runaway slave came to my house and stopt out-     side;
I heard his motions crackling the twigs of the wood-     pile;
Through the swung half-door of the kitchen I saw him      limpsy and weak,
And went where he sat on a log, and led him in and      assured him,
And brought water, and fill'd a tub for his sweated      body and bruis'd feet,
And gave him a room that enter'd from my own, and      gave him some coarse clean clothes,
And remember perfectly well his revolving eyes and      his awkwardness,
And remember putting plasters on the galls of his      neck and ankles;
He staid with me a week before he was recuperated      and pass'd north;
(I had him sit next me at table — my fire-lock lean'd      in the corner.)