The tiger lilies blooming there
Sing of ancient habitation,
And lilacs' fragrance on the air
Breathes a song of early settlers.
Gone the cabins from the hill-side,
Friendly lights no longer twinkle
Through the skins of fox and beaver.
"On the side of Ragged Mountain,
In some crevice of the ledges,
In some shady, sandy hollow,
Is an old sea captain's treasure."
This a legend loudly whispers,
While the people tell the story—
Story of an old sea captain,
Spanish friend of Chaugham's father,
From the confines of Block Island.
Oft he came to visit Chaugham,
Loaded down with golden treasure,
Often staid a week and longer,
Talked of treasure ships and righting,
Ship to ship upon the billows.
Oft he came to visit Chaugham,
Loaded down with treasure,
But departed empty handed.
Through the years the treasure hunters
Search the side of Ragged Mountain,
Near the site of Chaugham's cabin,
For the old sea captain's money.
All the hill-side and the graveyard
Have been spaded and examined,
Searching for this fabled fortune,
In a pot of gold reported,
Buried on the lonely mountain.
Through the years the treasure hunters
Search the side of Ragged Mountain,
Searching, searching, never finding—
Still they're searching for the treasure,
Buried on the mountain-side.
O'er this wild romantic hill-side
Wildly blow the winds of winter,
Softly sigh the summer zephyrs;
Sad and lonely seems the forest,
Watching o'er the empty cellars.