no
TUB LAST CASSANOF..
VOL. VIII.
course, tliey may say that these exceptions
arc made in favor of the ignorant. But
have not many intelligent people, adhcr
unts of Worcester anil Webster, disputed
for a long time past, over the stnndmd of
pionunciation as sot up by their champi.
ons. Such a system would mar the sym
metry of the language in no small degree.
The roots and derivations would be lost,
and that instinctive glance by which
scholars divine the meaning of a word
would then he a blank. It is well enough
that we let the fossils of scholarship con
tend whether we shall lead it as Cresar
or "Sayzar," as Cicero or "Kikero," but
wide-awake, urogrcssing people ought to
study the liner shades of the meaning of
our words as they are, and not seek to do
form 1.3 tearing them to pieces, and put
ting them together in grotesque shapes
Gentlemen, you have undertaken a big job,
and it will be some time befoic a popular
edition of the reform spelling book goes
to press. C.
THE LAST GASSANGB.
yjCRlEND, canst thv eye follow the
Ao winding course of yonder valley?
Canst thou see by the side of yon rugged
cliff the curling smoke as it rises from the
wigwam beneath ? 'Tis there that Luna
wawa and his shattered baud have halted
for a night's leposc 'Tis there that tho
Sage of the forest will dance in the light
of the autumn moon. This night Lunawa.
wa will speak with the Great Spirit that
the dead may be avenged. Ere now he
has fell the loss of brave men, and still
thinks that the name of his people is
great and terrible. And in his secluded
camp he will dream of the far-famed hun
ting ground beyond.
Alas, but he is ignorant of the fate thai
hovers o'er his last retreat; for Ponkana
one moon ago broke the last tie of a sacred
treaty, and with his former treachery, let
loose his fury upon an innocent and help
less people.
Lunawawa and the icmains of his scat
tercd people have now assembled on the
banks of the famed Tulare ; tliui e to pi otoct
the graves of their forefathers to the end
Brave hearts arc there but they are few
That we may sympathize with thobe op
pressed, say that we remove to yonder
bluff that overlooks their last retreat.
But haik! what can that doleful thump
ingincan? Is it the festal drum? Ah!yes
and they have lit the torch to see the spoils
of victory. But as they turn their face., to
the sparkling vault above, canst sec the
marks ol woe upon the brow? What can
that moaning be? Is it the wind among
the stalwart pines ; or the lonely Lunawawa
overcome with grief at his misfortunes?
It is, it is the Lunawawa.
Hush! that dance so wild has
ceased ; the sound of the kettle-drum has
died away in the distance. They glance
at each other, their bows are in their hands,
their arrows upon the string. Is it we that
have caused the change in this devotion?
Nay, but look across the yawning chasm ;
but listen to the horrid howling as they
rush to the encounter. Ponkana has
found the trail of the fugitives and now
dares them in their piolcction. Lunawa.
wa and his men with a cry of despair
rush to their outposts only to find Ponka
na smiling at their folly.
The moon has shone upon the last
Cassangc. The threatened blast has
fallen and the savage horde have feas'ed
their fangs in the hist chier Lunawawa
Solitude and horror now cover the burial
place of their forefathers. Their daring
and valliant deeds will no longer bo sung
as proof of their former grcalncss. C.