Class^ 
 
 Copyrights 
 
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 eopn^iGHT DEPosm 
 
MADAWASKA 
 
MADAWASKA 
 
 THOMAS G. DEVINE 
 
 )\ 
 
 RICHARD G. BADGER 
 
 THE GORHAM PBESS 
 BOSTON 
 
Copyright 1912 by Tkomaa G. Devine 
 All rights reserved 
 
 
 », ^ ^ jL- 
 
 Tke Gorham Prest, Boston, U. S. A. 
 
 ©CU31G262 
 
DEDICATED TO THE 
 MEMORY|OF AN IRISH MOTHER 
 
 In Ireland a Lily one day was seen to fade, 
 Its Purity transferring to a little blue eyed maid. 
 To her the Hills of Connaught in girlhood years 
 
 did give 
 The thought that in their shadows lay for all the 
 
 things that live, 
 While winsome Fairies taught her all" the gracious- 
 
 ness they knew — 
 The greeting of the Shamrock to the Sunbeam 
 
 and the Dew. 
 Thus blest she crossed the seas that stretch to 
 
 Canada and came 
 To grow to be a woman fair, and crowned another's 
 
 name. 
 But they needed her in Heaven and she had to 
 
 go away. 
 So beautiful is Heaven, so grand the great array. 
 So wonderful the music, so glorious the light 
 That souls of timid mortals there unused to such 
 
 a sight. 
 Were ill at ease and restive and fain again would 
 
 roam — 
 And they needed her in Heaven just to make them 
 
 feel at home. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Hills of my homeland! panoramic thought 
 
 Ye hold for him who gazes, be the day 
 
 Wintry, or dark with sullen showers fraught, 
 
 Or bright and beautiful. In fine display 
 
 Revealed, your treasures speak on either hand. 
 
 Crag, peak and precipice and frowning bluff 
 
 And tufted summit make a temple grand 
 
 Whereon romance is chiseled in the rough, 
 
 And solemn visaged tragedy sad eyed, 
 
 And dimpled comedy — a wealth untold 
 
 Of matchless wonders, ever multiplied 
 
 For squire and knight of poesy, young and old, 
 
 When fitful inspiration hides her face. 
 
 And eager fingers may not longer trace. 
 
 Doubtless, ye have forgotten long ago, 
 
 The forest tales ye shaped to while away 
 
 A wan lad's weary hours, when half in snow 
 
 And buffeted by icy winds, ye lay; 
 
 While he, from out a cabin's frozen pane, 
 
 With wistful eye beheld and longed to be * 
 
 Impervious to wind and snow and rain. 
 
 Begotten to the wild life of the free. 
 
 But he remembers and doth cherish still, 
 
 And this his prayer is: in the halls of song. 
 
 May there be someone worthy found to fill 
 
 The books of beauty that to you belong — 
 
 Some fervid singer, fearless, strong and true. 
 
 Blood red of heart and eyed to eagle view. 
 
MADAWASKA 
 
 PART ONE 
 
MADAWASKA 
 
 Blinking high the Owl sat; 
 
 Flew the Nighthawk rising, falling, 
 
 In the moonlit heavens calling; 
 
 Flitted through the wood, the Bat, 
 
 Eerily and drearily; 
 
 When rang Opeongo's cry, 
 
 "Call the Forest, ye that fly." 
 
 Came the lean, lank Gray Wolf howling; 
 Came the Black Bear prowling, growling; 
 Came the Mole and the Racoon, 
 In the long ray of the moon, 
 Tardily and hardily; 
 
 Came the Lynx ferocious, heying 
 From the mountains, crying, eyeing 
 Everything that crossed his path. 
 With his great green eyes of wrath, 
 Fireful and ireful; 
 
 Came the wily Fox and cunning; 
 Came the fleet Deer running, shunning 
 Tangled growth and sodden log; 
 Came the Woodchuck and the Hog, 
 Whistling and bristling; 
 
 9 
 
Came the nimble Weasel creeping; 
 Came the Squirrel leaping, keeping 
 To the treetops; came the 'Munk; 
 Came the Rabbit and the Skunk, 
 Friskingly and whiskingly; 
 
 Came the flat tailed Beaver stealing; 
 Came the sly Mink squealing, wheeling; 
 Came the Otter sleek and fat; 
 Came the Marten and the Rat, 
 Airily and warily; 
 
 Came the Eagle soaring, sailing; 
 Came the wild Goose railing, wailing; 
 Came the Loon, the Duck and 'Hen 
 From the dank grass of the fen, 
 Flappingly and clappingly; 
 
 Came the Partridge whirring, drumming; 
 Came the Pigeon trumming, humming; 
 Came the Crow with measured wing; 
 Came each lesser feathered thing. 
 Chattering and clattering; 
 
 Came at Opeongo's call, 
 
 Knowing not the why nor wherefore; 
 
 Knowing she was mistress, therefore, 
 
 Came they to her, great and small, 
 
 Furious and curious; 
 
 And as, shadowy, they broke 
 
 Her white shore line, thus she spoke: 
 
 "Children of the rocky highland. 
 Children of the lowland foggy, 
 Children of the wooded dryland. 
 Children of the swamp ground boggy; 
 10 
 
"Ye with ears that ever listen, 
 Ye with nostrils ever scenting, 
 Ye with eyes that ever glisten 
 Ye with red fangs unrelenting, 
 
 "Ye with noisy wing and speedy. 
 Ye that kill not for your eating, 
 Ye with belly ever greedy. 
 Children of the forest, greeting." 
 
 Like the murmur of the sky, 
 
 Indistinct at first, and clearer 
 
 As it rolls and rumbles nearer. 
 
 Through the still night rang their cry, 
 
 Hailingly and wailingly; 
 
 And when shore had answered shore, 
 
 Opeongo spoke once more: 
 
 "Children, ye have called me mother. 
 And as such your fathers knew me. 
 And their fathers had no other; 
 Children, I have called you to me 
 
 "This to tell you. In my sleeping, 
 I have smelt and seen a creature. 
 Neither flying, neither creeping; 
 Strange was he of limb and feature. 
 
 "Like the Black Bear angered, standing; 
 Crafty as the Fox and wary; 
 Like the hungry Wolf pack, banding; 
 Neither feathered, neither hairy. 
 
 "Coming from the South, I saw him 
 Dealing death to all about him. 
 And your fiercest could not awe him, 
 And your strongest could not rout him; 
 11 
 
"And ye fled before him, thinking 
 That afar he would not follow; 
 But afar there was no drinking, 
 Save the rainpool of the hollow; 
 
 "And the Sun beat hot and hotter; 
 And the rain cloud came not bursting; 
 Till at length there was no water, 
 And ye died afar off thirsting. 
 
 "Children, ye have heard my story. 
 Who among you scents the Danger? 
 Who among you, sage and hoary, 
 Sees the shadow of the Stranger .f*" 
 
 Half in fear, they crouching lay; 
 
 Half in wonder, at her staring; 
 
 Silent, till with eyeballs glaring. 
 
 Out there strode a dog Wolf gray, 
 
 Gauntily and jauntily. 
 
 0*er the group, his eye he ran, 
 
 Shook himself, and then began: 
 
 "Opeongo, mother, hear me. 
 When the last red Sun was slanting 
 Toward the West, and I drew near thee, 
 Also came Astaga panting. 
 
 "Him the Wolf pack long had known 
 As a leader, sage and fearless; 
 Aye, he was not fully grown 
 Till they held him to be peerless; 
 
 "And each she Wolf eased the bitter, 
 Agonizing pangs of whelping 
 By the thought, that in her litter 
 One like him might soon be yelping; 
 
 n 
 
"And the young dogs aped him playing, 
 Thinking they might yet replace him; 
 And their elders, apt at saying 
 Evil of him, dared not face him. 
 
 "As the puddle of the shower 
 Is to thee, so I, beside him, 
 Held myself, until the hour 
 That we drank, and I espied him 
 
 "In thy bosom with me seeming. 
 There my limbs were stouter, longer. 
 And my teeth the whiter gleaming, 
 And I seemed, indeed, the stronger. 
 
 "So I stood in wonder gazing. 
 To as much as breathe scarce daring; 
 Till his watchful eye upraising 
 Read the meaning of my staring. 
 
 "When, at once, he ceased his lapping. 
 Wheeled, and sprang upon me scowling; 
 Yet he did not catch me napping. 
 For I fled before him howling. 
 
 "But I ran as one half worried, 
 And he quickly overtook me, 
 And I felt his teeth deep buried 
 In my neck; but when he shook me, 
 
 "Back my strength came. From him 
 
 breaking, 
 Up I sprang and madly fought him, 
 Under, over, ever making 
 For his throat. At last I caught him. 
 13 
 
"Hard and fast he struggled, vainly 
 Trying to escape my choking; 
 But I held him until, plainly, 
 Life had left his nostrils smoking. 
 
 "Suddenly there came a feeling. 
 As of slumber, o'er me creeping. 
 And my head grew dizzy. Reeling, 
 Then I fell across him sleeping. 
 
 "When I woke, I smelt the Black Bear, 
 And I missed Astaga hoary; 
 But I saw a bloody track, where 
 Late had passed a carcass gory; 
 
 "And I knew the Bear had stolen 
 Dead Astaga. To his hollow. 
 Though my limbs were sore and swollen. 
 Him I straightway vowed to follow. 
 
 "Now the red Sun had departed, 
 And the early dew was falling, 
 And I rose and would have started. 
 When I heard the night birds calling; 
 
 "And instead, I came unto thee. 
 Thus far have I spoken. Mother, 
 That the Pack and all who knew me. 
 As a plain dog, common brother, 
 
 "Might not wonder at my speaking. 
 When you called the sage and hoary. 
 Now I turn to what you're seeking, 
 Making answer not for glory. 
 14 
 
"You have dreamed. O mother, dream- 
 ing 
 I have heard the fat stag rutting, 
 I have hcked the hot blood steaming. 
 Licked and lapped it unto glutting. 
 
 "Was my hunger not the keener, 
 When I wakened from my dreaming? 
 Was my shadow not the leaner. 
 When the morning sun came beaming?" 
 
 'Round the dog Wolf turned and back 
 Went he to his wolfish brothers, 
 Some applauding, a few others — 
 Would-be leaders of the pack — 
 Mumbling and grumbling. 
 From a limb where he reclined. 
 Loud the Lynx, Nenemo, whined: 
 
 "Opeongo, by the white ray 
 Of the moon last night, no Rabbit; 
 And again, through all the bright day. 
 Fasting is of mine no habit. 
 
 "I would much prefer to wander 
 Through a swamp with Rabbit teeming. 
 Than to sit tonight and ponder 
 On this creature of your dreaming. 
 
 "He, at best, is of tomorrow. 
 And I may not live to sight him. 
 Wherefore should I trouble borrow? 
 Wherefore should I plan to fight him? 
 
 "For the thanks of future ages? 
 Little good, indeed, 'twill do me 
 15 
 
Dead, to rank among the sages. 
 If in life my belly knew me 
 
 "Only as a skilful reader 
 Of the starry signs of wonder. 
 Better to have been a feeder 
 Hearty, and a son of plunder." 
 
 Here an outcry stilled the 'Cat. 
 "Mandor! Mandor!" cried the rear ones; 
 "Mandor !" answered back the near ones, 
 As a great Black Bear and fat. 
 Swaggering and staggering. 
 Gruffly through them poked his way 
 To the water's edge to say: 
 
 "Mother of the Forest, greeting. 
 Brothers, greeting. Hear me, harken. 
 Of the mountain berries eating. 
 Just before the heavens darken, 
 
 "Was I when I heard a groaning 
 As of one in anguish dying; 
 And I found Astaga moaning, 
 And across him Olan lying. 
 
 "We were friends in sunny weather 
 And in cloudy — brothers nearly — 
 Whelp and cub we grew together. 
 And I loved Astaga dearly. 
 
 "Therefore, when I found him dying, 
 I tore Olan from him madly. 
 And I licked my old friend trying 
 To arouse him, calling sadly. 
 16 
 
"Presently he woke and knew me. 
 'Brun,' (he called me thus in laughter) 
 Said he, *That which hither drew thee 
 Whispers now of the hereafter. 
 
 *'Go to Opeongo dreaming 
 And the forest children frightened; 
 I have seen the straight eye gleaming 
 And the bones of many whitened. 
 
 "There will come to be your master 
 And to slay and wound and banish, 
 One unlike you. Fast and faster 
 From your old haunts ye will vanish. 
 
 "From the Mother separated, 
 You must die for want of water; 
 But the Mother shall be mated 
 And shall bear for you a daughter, 
 
 "And the latter, winding, flowing 
 Through the forest will go racing. 
 You to welcome coming, going 
 From the dread forever chasing; 
 
 "But upon your deeds depending, 
 Only will the Mother bear her 
 As your lives, with virtue blending. 
 Make the lives of others fairer.' 
 
 "This Astaga told me dying. 
 And he died and him I buried; 
 And I heard the night birds crying, 
 And to you I straightway hurried." 
 
 17 
 
Mandor spoke — and bowed his head, 
 
 All his bearing giving token 
 
 Of a sorrow great, unspoken — 
 
 Sorrow for Astaga dead, 
 
 Evermore and nevermore. 
 
 Opeongo spoke rejoiced, 
 
 Faith and hope and council voiced: 
 
 "Children, now is fear departed. 
 Now are gone both doubt and sorrow. 
 Now no longer heavy hearted. 
 Shall I greet the coming morrow. 
 
 *'Now a wondrous longing fills me. 
 Now I know a nameless yearning. 
 Now a joy un thought of thrills me. 
 Now with love my heart is burning. 
 
 "Go, my children, go and going 
 With my blessing are ye laden. 
 Go, in goodness ever growing, 
 Go, beget the saving maiden. 
 
 "Go and do the deeds that chasten. 
 Live great lives nor be despairing. 
 Go, my children, go and hasten 
 Opeongo's promised bearing." 
 
 Silently they went their way, 
 
 Opeongo's words imbuing 
 
 Each, and each, in fancy doing 
 
 Deeds (to speed the natal day) 
 
 Dutiful and beautiful. 
 
 Opeongo 'round her drew 
 
 Mist and moon and dreamed anew. 
 
 18 
 
MADAWASKA 
 
 PART TWO 
 
MAD AW ASK A 
 
 Of the creatures of the wood, 
 
 Flying high and lowly crawling, 
 
 Gentle browed and fierce appalling, 
 
 Fate, all in her own time good. 
 
 Smilingly, beguilingly 
 
 Chose the Beaver tribe benign 
 
 To accomplish her design. 
 
 ZiG 
 
 Zig, the Beaver, loved to lie 
 Listening to the swaying pines; 
 Loved to watch the starlit sky. 
 Wonder reading in its lines. 
 
 Loved to wander from the throng. 
 Planning triumphs great and grand 
 For the magic of his song. 
 When the time should come to hand. 
 
 "I will join the winds at play, 
 Till their cadences I catch. 
 I will follow far the bay 
 Of the storm, till I match 
 
 21 
 
"Its deep grandeur; and the wail 
 
 Of a love forever lost, 
 
 I will master in the scale 
 
 Of the hemlock, storm tossed. 
 
 "And the silver stars among 
 I will wander near and far, 
 And the fame of one unsung — 
 More of shadow than of star — 
 
 "I will sing," he cried, "and time 
 Shall not weary of my song, 
 As the melody and rhyme 
 Pass from age to age along." 
 
 Crying which he gave his heart 
 To the piecing of a dream, 
 Toiling day and night apart. 
 Building to a lofty theme. 
 
 Years and years passed and the grey 
 Of a Spring dawn breaking fine, 
 Found him working on the lay. 
 All it needed was a line; 
 
 But though he had toiled and toiled 
 For a year or more with it. 
 All his genius it had foiled — 
 Rhyme and reason would not fit. 
 
 And he went and climbing nigh 
 Unto Opeongo stood. 
 Looking hard upon the sky 
 For a sign or omen good. 
 
 22 
 
But the heavens gave no sign; 
 So when day had followed day, 
 Slowly down the steep incline, 
 In despair, he picked his way. 
 
 "I will eat," he cried, "and sleep — 
 Nature wore a merry eye. 
 When she bade me find my keep 
 In the hill tops of the sky." 
 
 But his mate came up and said: 
 "Zig, I bring thy get to thee; 
 Bad of heart and hard of head, 
 He will give no heed to me." 
 
 And at once outsprang his son 
 Driagging an uprooted tree 
 Yet in verdure. "Willful one, 
 Bravo!" Zig cried joyously, 
 
 "In thee I behold the line 
 That will make my song complete. 
 Even as the leaf, the vine. 
 I am hungry, let us eat." 
 
 And when night dropped down serene, 
 Over Opeongo high 
 Dark a cloudy speck was seen 
 Standing out against the sky. 
 
 II 
 
 With the cloudy speck, began 
 Opeongo 's blest conceiving; 
 Ended all her doubting, grieving, 
 At the coming dread of man, 
 23 
 
Masterful, disasterful; 
 
 i^nd into her smile there crept 
 
 Love maternal, as she slept. 
 
 Reynold 
 
 As in the sun her home before, 
 The Beaver, Latta, moaning lay. 
 She marked the cloud and when she bore 
 A litter large, she blessed the day. 
 
 But pup by pup they died, until 
 
 One son alone was left to her. 
 
 Then said she: "Son, be thine to fill 
 
 The void they make," and stroked his fur; 
 
 And further said: "Yon Cloud I know 
 Beginning is of good to be. 
 Some day thy deeds will make it grow, 
 For never yet was son like thee." 
 
 One dawn, she woke; he was not there, 
 Curled up in slumber at her side. 
 All day she sought him everywhere. 
 At night, he came to her and cried: 
 
 "O Mother mine, at dawn I heard 
 A ringing call among the hills. 
 As when some stranger flightsome bird. 
 Wing-weary, stays its flight and trills, 
 
 *T pricked my ears; alert and keen 
 I listened to the echo die; 
 But never throat of bird unseen 
 Gave utterance to such a cry. 
 
"Again I heard it and again, 
 Clear falling on the morning air, 
 And I forgot thee there and then, 
 And rose to follow anywhere. 
 
 "Out in the open of the wood, 
 I saw my brothers gathered all. 
 The cry, ah then I understood! 
 It was the Beaver battle call. 
 
 "And as I looked, I seemed to see 
 The storied heroes of the past. 
 Arrayed in might and majesty, 
 In other shapes and forms cast; 
 
 "Old tales were told, old songs were sung; 
 And pledges passed to do or die; 
 Till tongue found echo deep in tongue, 
 And eye struck kindred spark in eye. 
 
 "And scarcely knowing what I did, 
 I joined the throng and marched away, 
 Light hearted as a youngster bid 
 A-scampering to merry play. 
 
 "We crossed the hills; the foe, we found 
 Prepared to meet us in the sun. 
 We fought him but he held his ground. 
 Due to the mighty strength of one. 
 
 "They called him 'Reynold;' and he fought 
 As Fuger in the olden tale — 
 'Such havoc everywhere he wrought 
 That bravery itself did quail.' 
 
 25 
 
"Big as a half grown whelp and quick 
 As any Lynx, he held a hill, 
 The ground about him strewn thick 
 With dead and dying, all his kill. 
 
 "Again we charge, again retreat; 
 We circle, separate and fight; 
 But all our plans end in defeat, 
 Each time because of Reynold's might. 
 
 "We hold a council and decide 
 To charge again; and in the fray. 
 That six of us shall slyly hide 
 Among the dead, in Reynold's way. 
 
 "Then, when the chance presents, leap out 
 And with the others bear him down, 
 And put the hated foe to rout, 
 And win a well deserved renown. 
 
 "This did we; and O Mother, I 
 Was first to seize the great brown throat ! 
 Was first to catch the smothered cry! 
 And first to tear the bloodstained coat! 
 
 "Think you, O Mother, that yon sign 
 Has grown through my deed? It seems 
 To larger be." "O son of mine. 
 Fond offspring of my cherished dreams, 
 
 "Well have you done and bravely fought, 
 As well becomes your sire's son; 
 But tell me, tell me, is there nought 
 Of pity in the deeds you've done? 
 26 
 
"For surer is the sign to grow. 
 That hangs o'er Opeongo still, 
 By act of mercy, than by blow 
 That only aims to maim or kill; 
 
 **And if great fighting drew the grace 
 That makes the Cloud to grow and grow. 
 Then Reynold must be given place. 
 Although defeated and laid low." 
 
 "O Mother, in the heat of fray, 
 
 I neither thought to spare nor kill; 
 
 But only to achieve the day, 
 
 As in a game of strength and skill. 
 
 "And yet, in thinking of the fight, 
 I now recall one act, but one. 
 So small I had forgotten quite, 
 One little act of pity done. 
 
 *"Twas when the foe, defeated fled; 
 And chasing on and on we swept; 
 I chanced across a Beaver dead. 
 Snug at her side a Puppy slept. 
 
 'T stopped to kill, but thoughts of thee 
 Withheld me, and away I sped. 
 O Mother, it can hardly be 
 Through this the sign grows overhead!" 
 
 Ill 
 
 Grew the magic Cloud apace, 
 Till it seemed a fragment torn — 
 x\nd in clear skies tossed forlorn — 
 From the heavens angered face, 
 
 27 
 
Lowering and glowering. 
 
 Though she neither saw nor heard, 
 
 Conscious, Opeongo stirred. 
 
 Tamarnock 
 
 Star by star, night hid her treasures; 
 As she laid each gem away. 
 Some wild thing, in treble measures. 
 Woke to usher in the day; 
 
 Till a lone star was left gleaming. 
 As it faded in the sky. 
 From the Beaver village dreaming, 
 'Rose Tamarnock's boastful cry: 
 
 '*Bold art thou, O Star declining. 
 Thus to linger till the light 
 Of my daughter's white soul shining 
 Through her eyes dispels the night, 
 
 "When thy sisters without number 
 And their queen, the moon so chaste. 
 Ere she wakes from out her slumber, 
 To their waning speed in haste! 
 
 * 'Quick, O Star, she wakes! Good morrow 
 Little daughter! Why those tears? 
 Has some phantom thing of sorrow 
 Crossed thy dream of girlhood years? 
 
 "It is nothing. Kiss me. There now. 
 Things are as they ought to be. 
 I must hasten yonder where now 
 Stern duty beckons me." 
 28 
 
And Tamarnock left her, going 
 
 To the mound where daily he 
 
 Sat in judgment, haughty, knowing 
 
 He and his from taint were free. 
 
 But no culprit waited quaking; 
 So he hied him to the shade, 
 Where he dozed for hours, waking 
 Startled at the outcry made 
 
 By a Beaver wild with terror, 
 
 In the woods beyond; and lo, 
 
 One was brought who, of her error. 
 
 Seemed ashamed that they should know; 
 
 For her head was thickly covered 
 With the broad leaves of a tree. 
 Which her pride had deftly hovered 
 To a mask; and sobbing she 
 
 Stood; the while, to her dishonor 
 They bore witness, telling how, 
 Unawares, they came upon her 
 With a lover. "Even now, 
 
 "Cold he lies," cried one. "He fought us 
 While she fled, her face unseen, 
 To the Cloud Priest Lor who brought us. 
 As you see, the wench in green; 
 
 "And he warned us thus to take her. 
 And to pray you, in his name, 
 Not to question her or make her 
 Lift the leaves that hid her shame, 
 29 
 
"Till he come." Tamarnock (knowing 
 If he granted Lor's request, 
 They would say that it was owing 
 To their kinship, making jest) 
 
 Was intent upon unmasking 
 The fair culprit; all the more, 
 As he felt that in the asking 
 Lor would cover his own sore. 
 
 Priest and judge were kinsman; nearer. 
 Since each had a daughter fair 
 Of an age, who friends were, dearer 
 Than two sisters; and the pair 
 
 Were so matched that one was taken 
 For the other, often time: 
 And Tamarnock's trust unshaken 
 And his confidence sublime, 
 
 Rudely shocked were, at the mention 
 Of Lor's name and at the sight 
 Of the maid who claimed attention; 
 For he fancied in the slight, 
 
 Shrinking lass before him weeping, 
 He beheld Lor's daughter sweet; 
 And he thought the Priest, in keeping 
 Her thus hidden, fain would cheat 
 
 Stalking gossip of its quarry. 
 But, he also thought he saw 
 In her plight, so strange and sorry, 
 Chance to glorify the law, 
 30 
 
Which was most to him. He ordered 
 
 Them to strip her; when a cry, 
 
 In the shrubbery that bordered 
 
 On the court ground, drew each eye 
 
 From the maid, and Lor appearing 
 Claimed their notice. "How is this?" 
 Shouted he, once in the clearing, 
 "I but gave to you one miss." 
 
 At his words they turned, beholding 
 That where one had been, were two 
 Hidden by the leaves enfolding 
 Head and features; and they knew 
 
 Lor had tricked them; but by reason 
 Of the fact that Priest was he. 
 They could not denounce his treason 
 Or chastise his perfidy; 
 
 And perplexed, they stood awaiting 
 What Tamarnock had to say. 
 He, in angry voice vibrating, 
 Thjundered: "Tear the leaves away; 
 
 "And the guilty one discover 
 By her eyfes; and let her be 
 Who she may, as with her lover. 
 So with her." At his decree 
 
 Stripped the maids were, Lor protesting. 
 "It will do no good," he said, 
 "For the leaves are weeds investing 
 All they touch with swelling red." 
 31 
 
Which was true; the masks concealing 
 Heads, so swollen as to be 
 Sightless things of red, revealing 
 Nothing of identi^jy. 
 
 And Tamarnock's ire growing. 
 He commanded: *'Make them speak, 
 Using pain if need be, showing 
 What we seem in vain to seek." 
 
 Roughly seizing one they urged her. 
 
 But without avail, to say 
 
 Who she was. They would have scourged 
 
 her 
 With their tails, when Lor cried, "Stay! 
 
 "Wait a while; perhaps the swelling 
 Will go down and you may know." 
 But Tamarnock stopped him, telling 
 Them to beat her. While the blow 
 
 First to fall was yet descending, 
 "Hold!" he cried, "Her guilt is plain. 
 Else the other, bravely bending 
 To your will, would save her pain. 
 
 "Turn to her," he added. Quitting 
 One, they to the other went, 
 Whereupon, her guilt admitting, 
 She they left, by anguish rent 
 
 Cried out : "Spare her ! She is blameless ! 
 She Lor's daughter is; and I 
 Am Tamarnock's, henceforth, nameless. 
 Honor her and let me die." 
 32 
 
"Die!" they cried out, towards her making 
 Willing, eager to attack; 
 While she stood there quailing, quaking; 
 But Tamarnock waved them back. 
 
 "Long before your law appointed 
 Me your Judge," he said, "her cry 
 Stirred the Forest, and anointed 
 Me her father; and shall I 
 
 Fail her now? Your law permits me 
 Her to pardon or condemn; 
 And I pardon, which unfits me 
 To be longer Judge. The stem 
 
 "Of a flower here is breaking; 
 There a pining bud would die; 
 Here a songbird's heart is aching; 
 There a wounded butterfly 
 
 "Flutters vainly. We will cherish 
 Such as these and love them so, 
 Making all things, drooping, flourish. 
 Little daughter, come. We go." 
 
 And they went; and Lor, uplifted 
 At the altar of the Cloud, 
 Later turned to where it drifted 
 Sullenly, and prayed aloud : 
 
 "Gracious Cloud, not unavailing 
 Is my sacrifice to thee — 
 In thy spreading, sign unfailing 
 Of thy pleasure, I can see." 
 33 
 
IV 
 
 Like a monster bird of prey 
 
 Over Opeongo gloating, 
 
 Hung the great Cloud, somber, floating, 
 
 Shutting out the light of day, 
 
 Moodily and broodily. 
 
 Opeongo, wakeful now, 
 
 Watched and waited, hot of brow. 
 
 Narran 
 
 In search of nook or corner of the wood 
 Where others prowled not, neither thought 
 
 to stray, 
 The Beaver Hunos, on a bright day stood; 
 And watched the sunbeams through a 
 
 maple play. 
 
 "A thousand merry dancers to the pipe 
 Of hapj)iness." he mused; and later, when 
 From out a patch of strawberries red ripe, 
 A cidcket sang, he cried, "Sweet grace, 
 Amen!" 
 
 And later still a cedar, in old age 
 
 Low fallen, caused him to exclaim : "No 
 
 sound. 
 Lest yonder dozing giant wake in rage." 
 And when, at last, a likely spot he found — 
 
 A place where flowers patterned the green 
 Until it seemed a carpet, Violet, 
 Hypatica; and Orchid in between. 
 With overhead a canopy, where met 
 34 
 
Cherry and plum, in blossom pink and 
 
 white, 
 "Here will I wait her coming sweet," he 
 
 cried, 
 "Of whom my dreams have been, my heart's 
 
 delight. 
 Fairest in all the wood, the Rainbow eyed. 
 
 Whose profile beautiful revealed I've 
 
 seen, 
 So long in yonder sober cloud severe; 
 And she will come to me, my own, my 
 
 queen. 
 Some day, I know; and I will wait her 
 
 here." 
 
 While yet he spoke, a Beaver rustled out 
 Who made as if to pass, unheard, unseen; 
 But Hunos quickly put her plan to rout; 
 For seeing her, he cried: "I did not mean 
 
 "At all, sweet one, to frighten you away. 
 The spot being pretty caught my passing 
 
 eye; 
 And I will go, that you in peace may stay." 
 To which she, smiling, made him soft 
 
 reply: 
 
 "My home is yonder. I may come at will; 
 Whereas, I judge you strange," and took 
 
 to flight; 
 While, all in wonderment, he watched, 
 
 until 
 She mingled with the woods and passed 
 
 from sight. 
 
 35 
 
"Hunos!" a rich voice fell upon his ear. 
 He turned, and in a clump of fern espied 
 A Beaver, whereupon he cried: "You here, 
 Narran?" "And why not Hunos?" she 
 replied. 
 
 "You scarcely think I followed in your 
 
 path? 
 Narran leads others; never is she led." 
 Wide eyed she looked at him, assuming 
 
 wrath. 
 "My how you frightened me, Narran," he 
 
 said. 
 
 "Hunos," she called to him, "come here a 
 bit. 
 
 What is the matter, dear? Are you unwell? 
 
 Something is wrong with you; IVe not- 
 iced it 
 
 These many days, and I would break the 
 spell. 
 
 "Why did you leave me? Is your great 
 
 love dead? 
 Or is there someone whom you deem more 
 
 fair?" 
 "I was unhappy," answered he, "and fled. 
 Hoping to find a lasting peace elsewhere." 
 
 "Peace, peace," she murmured, "Peace 
 
 becomes the dull. 
 The clever need excitement, else they die." 
 He did not answer her, and in the lull. 
 The nook but just vacated caught her eye. 
 36 
 
"Hunos," she cried, delighted, "Look, 
 
 how sweet! 
 Let us explore it." But he shook his head : 
 *'I've known a snake to lurk in like retreat, 
 A mossy bank of flowers for its bed." 
 
 Whereat she laughed and gliding past 
 
 him stopped, 
 Close to the entrance, picking from the 
 
 ground 
 
 A flower white, which something late had 
 
 dropped. 
 Near dainty tracks, new made. "Ah, ha 
 
 I've found 
 
 "Your Rogueship out!" she cried, "What 
 
 kind of dame 
 Is your new fancy, Hunos? Dark or fair? 
 A fighter for her virtue or a tame 
 Young thmg?" "Narran," he shouted, 
 
 "have a care. 
 
 "At least, be loyal to the sex you own; ^^ 
 And kindly think of one you do not know." 
 "A silly speech," she answered, "And the 
 
 tone 
 Quite ill bred. Rather say : 'Narran, dear, 
 
 go; 
 
 And I will follow later, and the more 
 Appreciate the charm of an art 
 That does not make of comradeship a bore, 
 And alternates between the head and 
 heart.' 
 
 37 
 
"Be gracious, Hunos, do," she rattled on, 
 "And show me through your try sting 
 
 place secure; 
 Else will I enter all alone, and gone, 
 I may return no more, caught in the lure 
 
 "Of Beauty." "Go not in, Narran," he 
 
 cried, 
 "The place is sacred." "Sacred, did you 
 
 say?" 
 She questioned in high anger. "I have 
 
 tried 
 To bear with you; but you grow worse and 
 
 may, 
 
 "For ought I know, your mother next 
 
 parade. 
 My friends have told me, long, I was a 
 
 fool. 
 To think so of you — I who might have made 
 Of anyone and everyone a tool. 
 
 "But now I know; and I will leave you 
 
 here." 
 Which said, she turned and slowly walked 
 
 away. 
 The while he watched her, in his eye, a 
 
 tear,. 
 "Narran," he called out ere she vanished, 
 stay. 
 
 She heeded not. He followed her and 
 said: 
 
 "Narran, a moment ere we end the play. 
 
 You gave me nothing; but you took in- 
 stead, 
 
 Mocking and scofl&ng in your clever way. 
 38 
 
"And, all the while, within my heart I 
 
 held 
 Rebellious hatred of your sayings trite. 
 You saw it often and, as often, quelled 
 The threatened outbreak, waving in your 
 
 might 
 
 "The wand of jealous lust. Far, far be- 
 yond. 
 
 Barred up they keep the witless; but, not 
 all. 
 
 For she is sorely lacking who has pawned 
 
 Her greatest treasure, virtue. You may 
 call 
 
 "This damsel *stupid' and that other 'dull' 
 But if they've wit enough to pure remain, 
 They are not, after all, so thick of skull; 
 Nor yet, so wanting in essential brain." 
 
 "Enough," she cried, "being witless, it 
 
 will take 
 Me half forever to digest your speech. 
 We played for nothing and you win the 
 
 stake. 
 Go take it, Hunos, and no longer preach." 
 
 Again she left him. Little caring where. 
 She wandered on. At length, in agony, 
 She flung her down and sobbing in despair. 
 The Beaver of the Flower found her. She 
 
 In pity asked her: "Have you suffered hurt 
 That you should cry so?" In her grief 
 Narran 
 
 39 
 
Cried shortly ,^"No."fAt'Jwhich|rejoinder 
 
 curt, 
 The other stood abashed; then ventured: 
 
 "Can 
 
 "I not of service be in some small way? 
 I live near by and I will care for you 
 Till you recover." Touched, Narran cried 
 
 ;'Pray, 
 Forgive my rudeness. Nothing can you 
 
 do; 
 
 "Unless it be to hurry up the friend 
 Of broken hearts , Forgetf ulness . " * 'And 
 
 yet". 
 
 The other said, "were she to come, you'd 
 
 send 
 Her back again, a beggar, ere you'd let 
 
 "Some things forever slip the fair domain 
 Of memory sweet." Narran replied, 
 
 "You show 
 Discernment, one is little apt to gain 
 From others, yet are you so young, I know, 
 
 "Experience ne'er took you to her knee." 
 The other answered, "All I know, I caught 
 From haunch back lips that often speak 
 
 to me." 
 "How strange," Narran cried, "and just 
 
 now, 1 sought 
 
 "A little shape misformed, I once saw. 
 Whose mother bore him for her joy alone; 
 With never thought of blemish or of flaw. 
 She planned to have him for her very own; 
 40 
 
"Not even telling him who did beget 
 But thinking, to surprise him some fair 
 
 day. 
 Alas, deformed was the looked for pet; 
 And, all in hate, the mother turned away, 
 
 "And left him helpless. Now, she wants 
 
 him back." 
 And where to look for him, she does not 
 
 know, 
 Unless, perchance, you put me on his track." 
 The other said: "Forever to and fro, 
 
 "My little friend is. Hark, I hear his song; 
 And that's his laugh. He comes, and you 
 
 shall see 
 The whole wood brighten as he limps along. 
 Farewell, I leave you to his drollery." 
 
 Blew the wind a hurricane; 
 Lightning flashed and roared the 
 
 thunder; 
 And the great Cloud, rent asunder, 
 In a torrent belched the rain, 
 Crashingly and flashingly. 
 Day and night, and night and day, 
 Opeongo tossing lay. 
 
 CORRAT 
 
 I 
 
 Within the hearing of a quarrelsome 
 
 pair. 
 The ill-shaped Beaver, Corrat, sang; 
 41 
 
And with his words and merry air, 
 Their ears forever after rang: 
 
 "Male and female born are we; 
 
 War declared between. 
 
 Truce betwixt — ^if truce there be- 
 
 Binds the King and binds the Queen. 
 Male and Female, if you please. 
 Love is not an hour of ease. 
 
 "Husband of one wife, for shame 
 That you can't agree. 
 Sol doth please his every dame, 
 Sixty-five and hundreds three. 
 Coward, what's a little strife 
 In the balance due to life.f^ 
 
 "Wife that can't command one mate 
 
 Yet hath charms to lend. 
 
 Look upon the moon in state; 
 
 Millions, at her beck, attend. 
 
 Folly makes a fool a day; 
 
 Get you gone, she comes your way." 
 
 II 
 
 A bully loosed his thick lipped jaws to curse 
 An awkward Beaver in the sight 
 Of his young son; but Corrat's verse 
 Restrained him, and he closed them tight: 
 
 "Here is a Shrub, that thinks the golden sun 
 Hangs in the scrubby parent tree, o'erhead. 
 Blow softly. Wind; or else, alas undone, 
 Illusion passes with returnless tread, 
 
 4^ 
 
"From out a heart, that fact may enter in, 
 Cold, pitiless and merciless, ne'er to leave; 
 And gloomy sorrow dark, and loathsome sin 
 May shelter seek; and there abide to grieve. 
 
 "Better the lips of Nature sealed remain, 
 Than parting, they should send thee forth to 
 
 do 
 So vile a thing. Sweep mountain high and 
 
 plain; 
 But whisper here, O Wind, I caution you." 
 
 Ill 
 
 A Beaver, shirking motherhood, made 
 
 vow 
 To self forget and mother be. 
 When Corrat paused to gravely bow. 
 Before a perfumed, fruitless tree: 
 
 "O thing apart, nor *he' nor 'she.' 
 Who shall say what thou art. 
 Object of mystery .f^ 
 
 "Creative might, the gift supreme. 
 Alone thou darest slight. 
 Marring the perfect dream 
 
 "He dreamed, who rolled the planets 
 
 round; 
 And who doth now behold. 
 With shaded eye profound, 
 
 "Thee, oddity. O vast regret. 
 Trait, thine peculiarly. 
 Like never can beget!" 
 43 
 
IV 
 
 From all his kind away, despairing, stole 
 A sickly Beaver, but he heard 
 Corrat's bold challenge, from a knoll; 
 And in his heart, the life blood stirred : 
 
 "Come forth and fight! Come forth and fight, 
 
 O tyrant. Nature! Let us see. 
 
 If you esteemed my worth and might. 
 
 When out of sorts you fashioned me. 
 
 "O fool, you only shaped the clay; 
 
 Who animated, made the spark 
 
 To compensate; and so I say, 
 
 *Come forth and fight,' from dawn to dark 
 
 "And all night long; nor, will I cease 
 To hurl my challenge, 'Forth and fight,* 
 Till my good mother, Death, cries 'Peace,' 
 And kisses me and croons, 'Goodnight.' " 
 
 To one, who would between two lovers 
 
 choose. 
 And who yet knew not which to wed. 
 Such council came from Corrat's muse, 
 That choice fell on a third instead; 
 
 "Life is, 'Come' and Death is, 'Go'; 
 Love is, 'Give' and 'Take'; 
 Now a kiss and now a blow. 
 Now a thrill and ache. 
 44 
 
''Mate the heart is what we do; 
 And forget the mind. 
 Which is folly, since it, too. 
 Cleaves unto its kind. 
 
 "Wed the one whose thought, you know 
 You can make your own; 
 Else just simply *Come' and 'Go* 
 Leaving Love alone." 
 
 VI 
 
 In the last watch of the night. 
 Where the pines are ever tossing, 
 Ever interlacing, crossing, 
 By the pale Moon's silver light, 
 Simmering and glimmering, 
 Opeongo bore her daughter, 
 Madawaska, Hidden Water. 
 
 45 
 
MADAWASKA 
 
 PAKT THREE 
 
MADAWASKA 
 
 From blue Opeongo down, 
 
 Flew the Crow, Berango, croaking. 
 
 Bird and beast alike provoking. 
 
 To where Calabogie town, 
 
 Hazily and lazily, 
 
 Stands today; a pit, then deep — 
 
 Home of them that crawl and creep; 
 
 "Out of Opeongo flowing, 
 Sparkling in the sunlight; growing 
 Thoughtful in the shadows; gliding 
 Through the level stretches; hiding 
 In the pine lined passes; foaming 
 O'er the rocky places; roaming 
 Hither, thither, this way, that way, 
 Madawaska makes a pathway. 
 Low, as echoed echo dying. 
 Now her song is. Now, the sighing 
 Of the wind at night refraintive. 
 Than her sobbing, is less plaintive. 
 And again like thunder deadened. 
 Dully hoarse, her anger leadened 
 Smites the ear; and 'fore and after. 
 Rings the ripple of her laughter. 
 Flowers beckon to her praying, 
 "Little Sister, lave us, playing." 
 49 
 
Overhanging saplings, lispers, 
 Sigh to her in lovesick whispers; 
 While the White Pines o'er her tower, 
 Primping, pluming by the hour 
 As they see their lines deflected, 
 In her waters deep reflected; 
 And the song birds do their tuning 
 To her humming and her crooning. 
 *'But she has no heart. I know it; 
 And, mark me, some day she'll show it. 
 She but plays and, weary later, 
 She will kill, the creature hater. 
 Soon her spjash will sound above you. 
 Therefore, come I, I that love you, 
 To beseech you take to shelter, 
 E'er she drives you, helter-skelter." 
 
 Puffed, Berango needs must pause. 
 Wings extended half and flapping; 
 Snake and toad and lizard snapping, 
 Watching him with gaping jaws, 
 Motionless and notionless. 
 Suddenly, a snaky head 
 Found its tongue and swaying said : 
 
 **0 Bierango, why this chatter? 
 To thee, Crow, how can it matter 
 What befalls the sandy Brule? 
 Flesh and feathers art thou truly. 
 I have seen thee spit a lizard, 
 Whet thy beak and slash a gizzard, 
 Go to sleep and waking cackle 
 Prayerfully; but gall to tackle 
 Office of a benefactor, 
 I had thought beyond thee, actor. 
 50 
 
Back and forth in all thy flying, 
 Thou hast seen the great hole lying 
 High above us and, as surely, 
 Dost thou know, walled in securely, 
 Water in its depths must tarry; 
 Yet, thou comest here to harry 
 With thy story of destruction. 
 What, my friends is the deduction?" 
 
 Down the snake in silence sank, 
 
 His harangue being taken coldly; 
 
 While Berango, strutting boldly. 
 
 Like an orator of rank, 
 
 Gratified, sfelf satisfied. 
 
 Cocked his head and twanged his beak. 
 
 And again essayed to speak: 
 
 "Worthy fellow of the gutter, 
 If to fret and fume and sputter. 
 Does thee good, go to it, only 
 Choose some spot deserted, lonely. 
 Where the plaudits, justly due you. 
 Cannot but be rendered to you. 
 I have seen the hole you mention. 
 Guessed its powers of retention; 
 But my knowledge does not end there; 
 For I know a spot, my friend, where 
 Once let Madawaska enter. 
 And there's nothing can prevent her 
 Boring through; and, overpouring, 
 She will tumble madly roaring; 
 Filling, flooding, hole and burrow; 
 Lev'ling trace and track and furrow; 
 Sweeping all before her, making 
 For the lower lands and taking 
 51 
 
You and yours, a living dower. 
 
 To that savage lord of power, 
 
 Ottawa, at Arnprior, waiting. 
 
 Eager for their hour of mating. 
 
 As the spot is now, a layer 
 
 Of a slatey clay will stay her; 
 
 But, let something pierce, it, scraping 
 
 And there can be no escaping, 
 
 Opeongo's siren daughter. 
 
 Bent on injury and slaughter. 
 
 "Now my friends, there is abiding 
 
 Here among you, somewhere hiding, 
 
 A young turtle. Late, I caught her 
 
 By this Ottawa; and brought her 
 
 Here to crack her shell by dropping 
 
 On yon rock. Alas, in flopping. 
 
 She but grazed the rock and creeping 
 
 Underneath it, found safe keeping. 
 
 When Berango's maw would sample 
 
 Turtle flesh, say for example, 
 
 All the dainties in creation 
 
 Make no satisfying ration 
 
 If said turtle flesh be lacking; 
 
 And Berango's peace attacking. 
 
 Loud his maw will clamour, calling 
 
 Ceaselessly, for turtle crawhng. 
 
 Till his dreams are visions fitful. 
 
 Of big turtles, by the pitful. 
 
 Thus it is, and has been lately, 
 
 With Berango. It is greatly, 
 
 In his favor, so I take it, 
 
 That it rests with you to make it 
 
 Possible for him to render, 
 
 To his maw the turtle tender 
 
 5^ 
 
That is here among you hidden. 
 
 Valueless, a guest unbidden; 
 
 And the fact that you are giving 
 
 What is his, by law of living, 
 
 Will not make him the less grateful. 
 
 In the day approaching fateful." 
 
 Once again Berango's pause 
 Was the signal for the swaying 
 Of the snake, again displaying 
 Mistrust of him and his cause. 
 Dramatically, fanatically, 
 Slow he swung from side to side, 
 Hissingly and beady-eyed: 
 
 "Brothers, Brothers, be not blind. 
 
 Cursed is he who sells his kind. 
 
 Let Berango ask the wing 
 
 Of some fluffy feathered thing; 
 
 But, let not the crawling breed 
 
 Barter crawler to his greed. 
 
 Shameful, shameful it would be; 
 
 And besides, what guarantee 
 
 Does he give us, that will say, 
 
 He will go away to stay? 
 
 He would have us live in fear 
 
 Day and week and month and year. 
 
 Dreaming ever of the dread 
 
 He has pictured overhead. 
 
 What is all this talk profound 
 
 Of a spot that he has f oimd 
 
 Through which water may not go? 
 
 How, indeed, pray, can he know 
 
 What the surface will withstand? 
 
 What, the underlying sand? 
 
 Brothers, Brothers, can't you see 
 
 It is all crow trickery?" 
 
 as 
 
Ere the snake could venture more 
 Or Berango answer, croaking, 
 Spoke the turtle, bravely poking 
 Forth her head and bending o'er, 
 Stoicly, heroicly, 
 The high bank, meant to enthrall 
 Madawaska like a wall: 
 
 "Hold, my friends, and straightway falling, 
 
 I will tumble from here, sprawling. 
 
 Mindful of the crow's petition, 
 
 Freely, of my own volition. 
 
 Will I tumble. Meanwhile waiting. 
 
 Hear me, if you will, debating 
 
 Where the truth lies. Be not livid 
 
 At Berango's picture vivid. 
 
 There is no cause for alarm. 
 
 Madawaska will not harm 
 
 Any thing but, like a mother, 
 
 Like a sister or a brother. 
 
 Kind, forgiving, cheerful ever. 
 
 Harsh and cruel never, never. 
 
 She will bring you blessings many, 
 
 Doing evil never any. 
 
 I can hear her now, fast rising 
 
 Back of me, and realizing 
 
 That I keep our crow friend waiting 
 
 Needlessly, I'll close by stating 
 
 That the spot he found was centered 
 
 By my claws and water entered 
 
 Half an hour since and, losing 
 
 Not a moment, now is oozing 
 
 Through the sand. And now for falling 
 
 From here, as I promised, sprawling." 
 
 54 
 
As the turtle spoke she dropped 
 Backwards and Berango, raging, 
 Spread his wings in flight engaging; 
 And the reptiles crawled and hopped 
 Here and there and everywhere; 
 And, fast forming, sang High Falls, 
 Downing forest cries and calls : 
 
 "Up and over and out I go, 
 (Never to come back more) 
 The sky above and the rocks below, 
 And the wide, wide world before. 
 
 "Never to dream like an idle stream 
 With eyes that are shut half tight. 
 But to gild by day the Sun's bright ray 
 And to silver the Moon by night; 
 
 "Never to cry or to sob or sigh 
 But to laugh and to sing and shout; 
 Never to dread what lies hidden ahead 
 But to scoff at the spectre, Doubt; 
 
 "Never to scold or to haggle and hold 
 To a course that is out of the main 
 But to bore to the line, be it never so fine. 
 When the pathway of duty is plain; 
 
 "Never to rant or to mumble in cant, 
 But to speak from a true heart free; 
 Never to ape thought or manner or shape. 
 But to be what was meant to be me, 
 
 "I go, I go. And, as swift I flow 
 Along the Springtown shore. 
 
 55 
 
To them that drink, there at my brink, 
 The best of Nature's store — 
 
 "Straight limbs, strong hands and eyes 
 
 to see 
 The comedy of Hfe, 
 And hearts to feel its tragedy. 
 And souls to welcome strife — 
 
 'T will give, as I live; and then on and on 
 
 To the Ottawa and to the sea 
 
 From the womb to the tomb, through glory 
 
 and gloom, 
 On, on to my destiny." 
 
JUN 22 1912