Sought　for　their　kith　and　their　kin　among　the　few…acred　farmers
  On　the　Acadian　coast；　and　the　prairies　of　fair　Opelousas。
  With　them　Evangeline　went；　and　her　guide；　the　Father　Felician。
  Onward　o'er　sunken　sands；　through　a　wilderness　sombre　with
  forests；
  Day　after　day　they　glided　adown　the　turbulent　river；
  Night　after　night；　by　their　blazing　fires；　encamped　on　its
  borders。
  Now　through　rushing　chutes；　among　green　islands；　where　plumelike
  Cotton…trees　nodded　their　shadowy　crests；　they　swept　with　the
  current；
  Then　emerged　into　broad　lagoons；　where　silvery　sand…bars
  Lay　in　the　stream；　and　along　the　wimpling　waves　of　their　margin；
  Shining　with　snow…white　plumes；　large　flocks　of　pelicans　waded。
  Level　the　landscape　grew；　and　along　the　shores　of　the　river；
  Shaded　by　china…trees；　in　the　midst　of　luxuriant　gardens；
  Stood　the　houses　of　planters；　with　negro…cabins　and　dove…cots。
  They　were　approaching　the　region　where　reigns　perpetual　summer；
  Where　through　the　Golden　Coast；　and　groves　of　orange　and　citron；
  Sweeps　with　majestic　curve　the　river　away　to　the　eastward。
  They；　too；　swerved　from　their　course；　and；　entering　the　Bayou　of
  Plaquemine；
  Soon　were　lost　in　a　maze　of　sluggish　and　devious　waters；
  Which；　like　a　network　of　steel；　extended　in　every　direction。
  Over　their　heads　the　towering　and　tenebrous　boughs　of　the　cypress
  Met　in　a　dusky　arch；　and　trailing　mosses　in　mid…air
  Waved　like　banners　that　hang　on　the　walls　of　ancient　cathedrals。
  Deathlike　the　silence　seemed；　and　unbroken；　save　by　the　herons
  Home　to　their　roasts　in　the　cedar…trees　returning　at　sunset；
  Or　by　the　owl；　as　he　greeted　the　moon　with　demoniac　laughter。
  Lovely　the　moonlight　was　as　it　glanced　and　gleamed　on　the　water；
  Gleamed　on　the　columns　of　cypress　and　cedar　sustaining　the
  arches；
  Down　through　whose　broken　vaults　it　fell　as　through　chinks　in　a
  ruin。
  Dreamlike；　and　indistinct；　and　strange　were　all　things　around
  them；
  And　o'er　their　spirits　there　came　a　feeling　of　wonder　and
  sadness；
  Strange　forebodings　of　ill；　unseen　and　that　cannot　be　compassed。
  As；　at　the　tramp　of　a　horse's　hoof　on　the　turf　of　the　prairies；
  Far　in　advance　are　closed　the　leaves　of　the　shrinking　mimosa；
  So；　at　the　hoof…beats　of　fate；　with　sad　forebodings　of　evil；
  Shrinks　and　closes　the　heart；　ere　the　stroke　of　doom　has　attained
  it。
  But　Evangeline's　heart　was　sustained　by　a　vision；　that　faintly
  Floated　before　her　eyes；　and　beckoned　her　on　through　the
  moonlight。
  It　was　the　thought　of　her　brain　that　assumed　the　shape　of　a
  phantom。
  Through　those　shadowy　aisles　had　Gabriel　wandered　before　her；
  And　every　stroke　of　the　oar　now　brought　him　nearer　and　nearer。
  Then　in　his　place；　at　the　prow　of　the　boat；　rose　one　of　the
  oarsmen；
  And；　as　a　signal　sound；　if　others　like　them　peradventure
  Sailed　on　those　gloomy　and　midnight　streams；　blew　a　blast　on　his
  bugle。
  Wild　through　the　dark　colonnades　and　corridors　leafy　the　blast
  rang；
  Breaking　the　seal　of　silence；　and　giving　tongues　to　the　forest。
  Soundless　above　them　the　banners　of　moss　just　stirred　to　the
  music。
  Multitudinous　echoes　awoke　and　died　in　the　distance；
  Over　the　watery　floor；　and　beneath　the　reverberant　branches；
  But　not　a　voice　replied；　no　answer　came　from　the　darkness；
  And；　when　the　echoes　had　ceased；　like　a　sense　of　pain　was　the
  silence。
  Then　Evangeline　slept；　but　the　boatmen　rowed　through　the
  midnight；
  Silent　at　times；　then　singing　familiar　Canadian　boat…songs；
  Such　as　they　sang　of　old　on　their　own　Acadian　rivers；
  While　through　the　night　were　heard　the　mysterious　sounds　of　the
  desert；
  Far　off；indistinct；as　of　wave　or　wind　in　the　forest；
  Mixed　with　the　whoop　of　the　crane　and　the　roar　of　the　grim
  alligator。
  Thus　ere　another　noon　they　emerged　from　the　shades；　and　before
  them
  Lay；　in　the　golden　sun；　the　lakes　of　the　Atchafalaya。
  Water…lilies　in　myriads　rocked　on　the　slight　undulations
  Made　by　the　passing　oars；　and；　resplendent　in　beauty；　the　lotus
  Lifted　her　golden　crown　above　the　heads　of　the　boatmen。
  Faint　was　the　air　with　the　odorous　breath　of　magnolia　blossoms；
  And　with　the　heat　of　noon；　and　numberless　sylvan　islands；
  Fragrant　and　thickly　embowered　with　blossoming　hedges　of　roses；
  Near　to　whose　shores　they　glided　along；　invited　to　slumber。
  Soon　by　the　fairest　of　these　their　weary　oars　were　suspended。
  Under　the　boughs　of　Wachita　willows；　that　grew　by　the　margin；
  Safely　their　boat　was　moored；　and　scattered　about　on　the
  greensward；
  Tired　with　their　midnight　toil；　the　weary　travellers　slumbered。
  Over　them　vast　and　high　extended　the　cope　of　a　cedar。
  Swinging　from　its　great　arms；　the　trumpet…flower　and　the
  grapevine
  Hung　their　ladder　of　ropes　aloft　like　the　ladder　of　Jacob；
  On　whose　pendulous　stairs　the　angels　ascending；　descending；
  Were　the　swift　humming…birds；　that　flitted　from　blossom　to
  blossom。
  Such　was　the　vision　Evangeline　saw　as　she　slumbered　beneath　it。
  Filled　was　her　heart　with　love；　and　the　dawn　of　an　opening　heaven
  Lighted　her　soul　in　sleep　with　the　glory　of　regions　celestial。
  Nearer；　ever　nearer；　among　the　numberless　islands；
  Darted　a　light；　swift　boat；　that　sped　away　o'er　the　water；
  Urged　on　its　course　by　the　sinewy　arms　of　hunters　and　trappers。
  Northward　its　prow　was　turned；　to　the　land　of　the　bison　and
  beaver。
  At　the　helm　sat　a　youth；　with　countenance　thoughtful　and
  careworn。
  Dark　and　neglected　locks　overshadowed　his　brow；　and　a　sadness
  Somewhat　beyond　his　years　on　his　face　was　legibly　written。
  Gabriel　was　it；　who；　weary　with　waiting；　unhappy　and　restless；
  Sought　in　the　Western　wilds　oblivion　of　self　and　of　sorrow。
  Swiftly　they　glided　along；　close　under　the　lee　of　the　island；
  But　by　the　opposite　bank；　and　behind　a　screen　of　palmettos；
  So　that　they　saw　not　the　boat；　where　it　lay　concealed　in　the
  willows；
  All　undisturbed　by　the　dash　of　their　oars；　and　unseen；　were　the
  sleepers；
  Angel　of　God　was　there　none　to　awaken　the　slumbering　maiden。
  Swiftly　they　glided　away；　like　the　shade　of　a　cloud　on　the
  prairie。
  After　the　sound　of　their　oars　on　the　tholes　had　died　in　the
  distance；
  As　from　a　magic　trance　the　sleepers　awoke；　and　the　maiden
  Said　with　a　sigh　to　the　friendly　priest；　〃O　Father　Felician！
  Something　says　in　my　heart　that　near　me　Gabriel　wanders。
  Is　it　a　foolish　dream；　an　idle　and　vague　superstition？
  Or　has　an　angel　passed；　and　revealed　the　truth　to　my　spirit？〃
  Then；　with　a　blush；　she　added；　〃Alas　for　my　credulous　fancy！
  Unto　ears　like　thine　such　words　as　these　have　no　meaning。〃
  But　made　answer　the　reverend　man；　and　he　smiled　as　he　answered；
  〃Daughter；　thy　words　are　not　idle；　nor　are　they　to　me　without
  meaning。
  Feeling　is　deep　and　still；　and　the　word　that　floats　on　the
  surface
  Is　as　the　tossing　buoy；　that　betrays　where　the　anchor　is　hidden。
  Therefore　trust　to　thy　heart；　and　to　what　the　world　calls
  illusions。
  Gabriel　truly　is　near　thee；　for　not　far　away　to　the　southward；
  On　the　banks　of　the　Teche；　are　the　towns　of　St。　Maur　and　St。
  Martin。
  There　the　long…wandering　bride　shall　be　given　again　to　her
  bridegroom；
  There　the　long…absent　pastor　regain　his　flock　and　his　sheepfold。
  Beautiful　is　the　land；　with　its　prairies　and　forests　of
  fruit…trees；
  Under　the　feet　a　garden　of　flowers；　and　the　bluest　of　heavens
  Bending　above；　and　resting　its　dome　on　the　walls　of　the　forest。
  They　who　dwell　there　have　named　it　the　Eden　of　Louisiana。〃
  With　these　words　of　cheer　they　arose　and　continued　their
  journey。
  Softly　the　evening　came。　　The　sun　from　the　western　horizon
  Like　a　magician　extended　his　golden　wand　o'er　the　landscape；
  Twinkling　vapors　arose；　and　sky　and　water　and　forest
  Seemed　all　on　fire　at　the　touch；　and　melted　and　mingled　together。
  Hanging　between　two　skies；　a　cloud　with　edges　of　silver；
  Floated　the　boat；　with　its　dripping　oars；　on　the　motionless
  water。
  Filled　was　Evangeline's　heart　with　inexpressible　sweetness。
  Touched　by　the　magic　spell；　the　sacred　fountains　of　feeling
  Glowed　with　the　light　of　love；　as　the　skies　and　waters　around
  her。
  Then　from　a　neighboring　thicket　the　mocking…bird；　wildest　of
  singers；
  Swinging　aloft　on　a　willow　spray　that　hung　o'er　the　water；
  Shook　from　his　little　throat　such　floods　of　delirious　music；
  That　the　whole　air　and　the　woods　and　the　waves　seemed　silent　to
  listen。
  Plaintive　at　first　were　the　tones　and　sad；　then　soaring　to
  madness
  Seemed　they　to　follow　or　guide　the　revel　of　frenzied　Bacchantes。
  Single　notes　were　then　heard；　in　sorrowful；　low　lamentation；
  Till；　having　gathered　them　all；　he　flung　them　abroad　in　derision；
  As　when；　after　a　storm；　a　gust　of　wind　through　the　tree…tops
  Shakes　down　the　rattling　rain　in　a　crystal　shower　on　the
  branches。
  With　such　a　prelude　as　this；　and　hearts　that　throbbed　with
  emotion；
  Slowly　they　entered　the　Teche；　where　it　flows　through　the　green
  Opelousas；
  And；　through　the　amber　air；　above　the　crest　of　the　woodland；
  Saw　the　column　of　smoke　that　arose　from　a　neighboring