m SO g c-> r*> ^ r-n e: z < <,..,, 317 PRINCIPAL PERSONS. PRONOUNCED MAXAUO-ZHO. ( ' Man-a 16-zho) MAXITO. (Man ' -i -to) IXIGORIO. ( In-i-g6-ri o) O \VAY-XEO. ( 0-ivay-ne-o ) OSSEO. (Os-sJ-o) ChVEXEE. (0-we-nee) The great Mythological Hero of the Iroquois. The founder of the League. Smile of the Great Spir- it B ride ofHayo- went ha. The great Mythological Hero ^ the A1 g Onquins . Guardian Spirit. The Good Mind. The Great Spirit. A famous Magician. Bride of Osseo. SCEKE. Onondaga and the Lake Region of Central New York. THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Seen from afar the rude barbaric years Are dark with blood and rapine, wrong and crime, Wherein alone the Savage Man apjiears ; Yet near beheld, from the remotest time A human soul dwelt in each stalwart- form, And Beauty's smile a grace to Woman lent ; Throbbed human hearts with human passions warm, Though sheltered by the u-igwam's barky tent. PROEM. No more alas ! why still recall What to the Past must still belong ? No more what other word can fall To make a fuller sorrow - song ? No more return the days gone by; The troubled winds, with ceaseless moan, In sough and sob, in wail and sigh, Still blend their anguish with my own. In vain the aching breast enfolds Each scene it may no longer see, Save that some drops of comfort holds The hallowed urn of memory. Though vain we mourn a glory fled The fairest forms no longer fair, A cheerful song for loved ones dead May win us from more fell despair. 2 ft 4 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQVOIS. \ I thread the forest lone. I wait Where once your sheltering wigwams stood, Bewailing your untimely fate, My People of the wild and wood. No more as in the olden days Shall here your hunter -bow be bent, Where, learned in nature's simple ways, You dwelt in lowly life content. fallen Braves ! forevermore Yon crystal floods that leap and toss, Shall wail along their saddened shore, Deploring so love's olden loss. While rolling suns shall burn and glow, The seasons crown the waiting years, The fairest Summer's cheek shall show Some grief -betoken ing trace of tears. No pilgrim wind that homeless sings But murmurs of departed braves ; No zephyr o'er the wild that wings But lingers by forgotten graves. Soft through the twilight's silver sheen, Methinks the glimmering stars above Far shining in the blue serene, Bend low with pitying eyes of love. PROEM. And often to my tearful eye, When yonder orbs grow dim and pale, Tall, painted, sable forms go by, And on the night -winds shriek and wail. Oh ! dusky shades do verily haunt The failing ground on which I tread ; Or out of love's imweaning want Is born a semblance of the dead. And once familiar voices call, Sad as the night - bird's mournful cries, From out the hush at twilight -fall Where prone each tented roof- tree lies ; Or where the latest watch-fire shone, Or plume -crowned warrior lingered last ; Where darkly rests each fading, lone Memento of a glory passed. Mementos ? ah ! where shall I turn For relics of the things that were ? No fragment of life's broken urn Rests by each empty sepulcher ; Of noblest breasts beneath the sands Is left no monumental trace ; No grave-posts set by loving hands, No to -terns mark their dwelling place. THE LEAGUE OF THE ISOQDOIS. Ye lingering few who weakly stand Where strong of old your fathers stood l The rulers in a mighty land Unmeasured leagues of wave and wood ! Ye proudly keep, howso bereft, Still of the bold heroic will, Though of that realm to you are left But narrow belts of vale and hill. Where once you bore the warrior -bow Or fleetly led the hunter -chase, Now, fate - constrained, you reap and sow Now toil as doth the Toiler -race. If others plant on fairer wold, And harvest more of golden ears, I this recall, that they do hold The vantage of a thousand years. Though silent, yours a soul intense ; Still is the dusky breast imbued With slumbering fire, whose eloquence Once thrilled the forest solitude. And when the thoughts that hold and thrall In other speech take form again, You, standing in the council -hall, Shall stir anew the hearts of men. PROEM 7 Though war to-day could but degrade, Has lost for you its use and place, It was your warrior -bow that made You first among the Dusky Race. And though our shrinking souls abhor The cruel deed, the wild excess, The valor that is born of war Is kin to every nobleness. It was the foe, fierce, brave and strong, Who for your homes contending stood, That brought the need which wrought erelong Your mighty League of Brotherhood. And though it only lives in name, Or on the bold historic page, keep its bright, proud hero -fame Unsullied still from age to age ! And were it better so, did they The fore - time virtues still remain ? The virtues of one race and day May be another's vice and bane. Though nevermore to warrior bold Shall time renew each glorious deed, Still to the Bond in spirit hold, The precepts of its founder heed. THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQVOIS. On him to whom your lofty fame You owe, still let your reverence wait : Give honor due the noble name Of Hayo-went-ha, good and great. Among you as in days of old May love-inspiring chieftains stand ; Who wise the ancient lore unfold Hid in the sacred Wampum-band. - And what the Future hath in store I would not, if I might, divine ; Enough for you, that evermore The Past all glorious shall shine. Wherein till Time's corroding hand Has made all valor's records dim, The Iroquois shall proudly stand For daring deeds the synonym. THE FORE-WORLD. Vast fields unfenced sare by the purple round Of the high-arching hearens; the grand on-sweep Of rivers that far stretch from zone to zone ; Lakes wide out-reaching the horizon'* bound ; Hoar mountains wonder-wrapped, sublime and lone ; Woods that in wild unbroken beauty sleep Age unto age: a fairer world apart ! Such, Nature building on her larger plan, With temples, altars, shrines surpassing Art, Was once the home of the Primeral Man. II THE FORE-WORLD HE that has stood with kindling eye Owasco's peerless blue beside, Looked oil Cayuga murmuring nigh, On Canandaigua's tranquil tide, No more may wonder why to-day By their bright floods Tradition dwells ; By the clear springs of Seneca And Onondaga's limpid wells. To honor with just meed of praise All noble deeds, the ages wait ; Still from the Past some token stays, Some record lives of heroes great. Nor shall ye be of fame bereft, First on the bold Heroic Page, While to these lakes and streams are left Their names your gift and heritage. 3 12 THE LEAGUE OF THE IliOQUOIS. Yet who shall bring the vanished lore Of other days the story tell ? Of days while yet their farther shore Where now the Pale -face strangers dwell. Was trod alone by dusky braves ; While yet the light canoe was seen Alone upon their smiling waves, And wigwams by their marges green. Though be my loss another's gain, What comfort to this anguished heart In boundless fields of golden grain, In smiling homes and thronging mart ? And turn I oft with longing eyes From scenes the nearer vision sees, To those that far and dimly rise, And deeply cherished more than these. When all the plain was lapped in calm To where the horizon deepens down ; Serene embloomed in summer balm Or robed in autumn's gold and brown ; When stretched a broad unbroken wild Far as the Morning's eye could trace, In nature's beauty undefiled, The Empire of the Hunter -race. THE FORE-WORLD. 13 peerless realm ! of liill and vale, Of mountain, moorland, wood and glado. Traced only by the narrow trail That dusky moccasined feet had made ; '"' Where many a smiling meadow shone, Fenced by the ether's purple ledge, With waving grasses overgrown, High greening to the billows 1 edge. vanished days ! no more to be, Days when beside these limpid springs Wide roamed the Elk as fleet and free As though his very feet had wings. The Moose his mighty antlers bore O'er pastures green with kingly rule ; The red Deer flocked each grassy shore Stood mirrored in the crystal pool. What time the patient Beaver wrought A type of noblest brotherhood ! As though his meaner soul had caught The vision of earth's highest good ; When through an instinct brute and dim, -The dream that haunts the wisest sage To-day, was realized in him : liude prophet of a riper age ! 14 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. When oft, as winter winds wore chill And woke the Raven's croak and caw, Borne on the blast came yelpings shrill Broke from the Wolf's nnsated maw ; As, trailing far some hapless Roe He circled on the panting beast, Wild calling through the drifting snow His fellows to a common feast. What time the Fox, or late or soon, Far o'er the glimmering fields away, Led forth her young beneath the moon To wily hunt the wary prey; Or following wide, to snuff the wind, Of keener scent, in cunning deft, Her larger unloved kin, to find If latest surfeit something left. Or, when sweet Shaw -on -da -see drew Each pinion fleet from seas remote, Outwelled from sightless deeps of blue, The Brand -goose clanged his harsher note; The while each oft returning spring The purple sea was softly pressed By gentle White Swan's snowy wing, Or daring Osprey's downy breast. THF FORE-WORLD. 15 When cloven by Eagle's wing would break The far horizon's golden edge ; And noisy tell - tale Teal and Drake Quacked querulous through the reedy sedge : Or woke a swift -winged clash and clang As nigh the fierce -beaked Falcon flew : While to the moon the Sea -owl sang His doleful note of " woo -too -woo." When not alone at morning blush The Shore -lark woke his piping shrill, But cleaved afar the sober hush Of falling twilight, piping still. Or slow along the river's brink The wide -winged Fisher darkened by; Or, where the blue waves rise and sink. Came up the Sea -crow's lonely cry. Or, dark from umbrage -shadowed spring At set of sun, the Bittern drew His sable -plumed nocturnal wing, Or woke his hollow "dun-ka-doo." Or, piercing far the dusky pall Of storm - bethreatening night, was heard The Loon's sad, ill -foreboding call A lonesome, melancholy bird. 16 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Slow -wading, bent on leech and frog, The Snipe clacked o'er the reedy moor ; The Pewit from the drift-wood log- Sang "pe-wit" to the drowsy shore. While harsh and hideous unaware, The foolish Moor -hen screeched and screamed Till all the fowls of sea and air, From ugly contrast fairer seemed. Deep in the greening willows hid, Chief of the insect -minstrel throng, The solemn -trilling Katy-did Lulled the lone twilight hours with song. And all the night long twinkled bright The fitful Fire -fly's flickering lamp ; Or danced afar the fleeting light Of meteor from the marshy damp. While over all, night's mournful bird In plaintive numbers, wild and shrill. At eve or rising dawn was heard The sad -complaining Whippoorwill. No sound amid the sounds I hear At morning's flush or vesper's sigh Falls soothing on this listening ear As fell that long -lost lullaby. 77/7? I<~ORE-WOPTJ>. 17 Yet not for Nature's loss alone I share in Nature's grief and tears ; Each wild beast fled or free bird flown Love's deeper loss the more endears. Each tenant of the woods and streams, Linked to a fairer glory fled, Unto the anguished spirit seems A portion of the loved and dead. ***** Ere deep athwart night's sable gloom With flashing like a falling star First broke the cannon's awful boom, Or venturous voyager's song afar, The while his white sail fluttered free, Or gay with moonlight silver furled, Came o'er the softly -flowing sea Like whispers from the under -world ; Here by the flood the dusky brave Looked from his wigwam's lowly door To hear the sweetly vocal wave Low -lapsing on a quiet shore ; To see the days go tranquil by, The starry nights in peaceful rest ; As blest in Nature's lap to lie As infant on its mother's breast. 18 THE LEAGUE OF THE IKOQUOIS. In simple thought content, to him, Far -gazing from the grassy mound, The fading ether's silver rim But seemed the wide world's outer bound. While in the high o'erarching dome A fairer land his fancy drew ; The noble warrior's Spirit Home Lay just beyond its wall of blue. Serene the radiant seasons wore, Unstartled, save by rustling reed Touched by the zephyr's wing that bore Fair Seg-wun o'er the springing mead ; As forth she came from sunset skies, Robed in a halo so complete It only showed to eager eyes The glory of her shining feet. Or if, perchance, a wilder moan Came o'er the water's shadowy gloom, As with an ill -foreboding tone The bull -rush waved its airy plume ; Or angry billows boisterous grew With chafing on the pebbly beach ; Or stormy winds went wailing through The cedars by the sandy reach ; THE FORE-WORLD. 19 Or strange, unwonted sounds were heard Like spirits through the frightened air ; The cry of beast or scream of bird That sorrow's dim monitions bear ; 4 Or through the midnight wan and pale Sped angry meteors, glaring red ; Or down the gloom -emmantled vale Stole moccasined warriors' stealthy tread ; Or fiery War's dread rumor came, And on the sky fell portents stood To kindle wide the battle - flame, Uplift the war -ax, stained with blood ; Here oft, with warrior -bow unstrung, He long on bear-skin couch reclined ; Nor heard in lays the wild winds sung The discord of the march of Mind. Or, as the long day slowly wore, With eager eye and wary tread, And feathered quiver's flinty store, Far followed where the wild deer fled. Or when, in hunter pleasures loose, The chase to frenzied passion grew, He fleetly tracked the flying Moose To hills beyond the farthest blue. 4 20 THE LEAGUE OF THE IEOQUOIS. The while the matron's busy hand To beauty charmed the lonely day ; Glad toiling for her dusky band, And him, the hunter, far away. No needful labor held in scorn Content to dig the fruitful plain, To plant, or pluck the ripened corn Or patient pound the golden grain. While tawny maids, from moon to moon, Sat in the rude tent's matted shade To work the fawn -skin beaded shoon, Or weave the precious wampum -braid. Or glad, the frailer bark to run, Would ply their brown arms, bare and stout ; Or hang the bear -meat in the sun, Or angle for the fickle trout. Or, as the sea a glory caught, Lit by the Leaf -moon shining late, Untouched of fear that sadly brought The dear Winona's darker fate, Enclasped by young brave's manly arm, B} r love enhaloed, long would rest In blissful dreams as wildly warm As dreams that haimt the fairest breast. THE FORE-\V01iLT). 21 And who shall say a meaner dower Had she, the dusky forest - child ? That on her lowly nuptial hour Xo sylvan Hymen sweetly smiled ? To lend for every pain and strife Love s all-enduring recompense ; Robe with content her ruder life And garland it with innocence. If all unlearned, not vainly learned : From primal household ways un weaned, The woman but the woman yearned, The maiden to the matron leaned ; To know the rarest joys that be For hearts that simple loves suffice ; In marvelous mother -gift to see The heaven that is in baby eyes. With tiny feet along the sand When summer's balmy breezes blew, Would childhood roam its fairy land, With cheeks like autumn's ruddiest hue , That in the sunlight ripened free To maiden charm or manly grace ; Xor marvel that I fail to see The fairer in the paler face. 22 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. Unfettered grew eacli tender thought, To it no task -time came to vex ; Nor Art her robe unseemly wrought To mar and outward symbol sex. Yet beauty shines through all disguise Unconscious of its loveliness ; And Nature's child is simply wise Tn Virtue all untaught of dress. Not in the garment's fold or braid, Nor in the outward form or face, The heart by tender passions swayed Has rarer gift of charm and grace. In voice that woke in gentler tone, In petted wolf- cub sweet caressed, In nameless winsome ways out shone The woman in the maiden breast. Or on each face with sunshine dyed, When wandering on the dreary fell, The growing flush of manly pride Would manhood's eager life foretell ; As in the instinct of his race And native health's exuberant glow, He mimicked wide the hunter- chase, Or twanged the mimic warrior -bow. THE FORE-WORLD. 23 Or, as to riper years he grew, His hand from meaner toils aloof, He builded fit his bark canoe, Or wove the wigwam's reedy roof. Or when the solemn midnight hour Shone red, with blazing camp-fires lit, He led the dance where strength and power Are firm in limb and muscle knit. Or, more his greatening heart to show, Would eager hunt the prowling bear ; Or chase afar the frightened roe, Or panther to his lonely lair. Or boldly on to strife and din Of war's wild turmoil, unafraid ; If only so to woo and win The beauteous, dark -eyed Indian maid. Still growing childhood meets my eye With faces like the drifting snow ; The tread of tiny feet go by, But not the tiny feet I know. And happy voices,, glad and gay, Soft murmur like a rippled sea ; But only wake the memory Of silent voices dear to me. 24 THE LEAGUE OF THE JROQUOIS. Though still I see fond yearning eyes Full-brimming Avith love's tender bliss, No other orbs so fair may rise As hers that lit the Avilderness. And mid the throng, that onward bears With hurrying like the hurrying waves, No manly form such greatness wears As slumbers in the olden graves. ***** By wooded hills and greening vales That more the mournful Past endears, I con the half-forgotten tales, Time-worn and blotted all with tears, Of chieftains brave, of warriors bold : While to my deeply-visioned ken All forms the best beloved of old That fairer Fore-World throng again. Of maidens smiling as the sun By home-bright tents that glimmering show; Of painted braves that leap and run Or fearless draw the warrior-bow. Of youths with fiery hearts and great Who win the hunter's proudest fame, Returning from the chase elate, Full-laden with the hunter's game. THE FORE-WORLD. 25 Rejoicing in their happy lot, They tell of all adventures bold ; Or, every pain and care forgot, To hearken to the legends old, They round the winter-fireside sit ; To list, perchance, the aged sire The story tell of him that lit The Onondaga Council-fire. And if my Harp I wake for him Whose fading memory still delays ; And darkly spell the record dim The record of departed days ; Wherein is shown, with little art, The greatness of his fame and deeds ; Nor record less of human heart With human cares and human needs ; No vain renown I seek to win For one of more than mortal birth ; But only do I strive therein To more exalt the noble worth Of him the Red Man loved the most ; Of him I loved still love no less Mid Owayneo's Shining Host ; And so would prove love's worthiness. 26 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQVOIS. Whom most we love, the strong or great, Or wise or good or beautiful, For whom we strive, for whom we wait To make life's crowning glory full, We all exalted souls would move To love nor make love's virtue less ; That so, through love these too may prove Their own all heights of nobleness. Love ! however much is left In thee, love cannot cancel pain, Sad solace of a heart bereft Nor build the vanished years again, Nor swiftly-lapsing life renew ; Yet will I turn the fading Page Once more ; once more, and then adieu, A last adieu thou Primal Age. THE COMING OF HAYOWENT-HA. Of every good the soul mat/ know Its aspiration is the seed; TJiefloirers of bliss that sweetest bloiv Spring from a yearning human need ; What destiny love longing tea its, The all-requiting Fates prepare ; The key to all the hearenly gates Is in the heart's iiintttered prayer. Ill THE COMING OF HA YO- WENT-HA. WHILE yet the rising days were few, And deeds of wonder had not grown Too strange and marvelous to be true, So all infrequent and unknown ; While yet in wood and waterfall, In wild waves 1 toss, in winds that blow, In cry of beast, in free bird's call Was heard the voice of Manito ; While yet in river, lake and sea, Oft heard in summer's twilight calm, Rude-floundering, dwelt great Unk-ta-he, The Nee-ba-naw-baigs laved and swam ; And everywhere by vale and hill, In rock and tree and floweret fair, Some spirit dwelt of good or ill Some spirit of the earth or air ; 5 30 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQVOIS. While yet departed shades that roam Or in more subtle forms abide, Shades that alike in shadow-gloam Or noontide sunshine darkly hide, All shapes that are, were seen to be ; Shapes robed in light whose forms of air Our duller eyes no longer see, Though thickly thronging everywhere ; While yet to many a kindling eye Fair in the sunset's painted show Low bent the Spirit's Home, so nigh, It glimmering seemed to faint and glow ; So nigh that you might hear the call Of long-departed braves, or stand High on some mountain tree-top tall And climb into the Better Land ; Or far, with wondering sight, behold, Lit by the ether's fiery bound, Where dwell the mighty warriors old, The fairer woods and Hunting Ground ; Or see beyond the cloudy rack, Through many a purple rift and rent, Just by the day's departing track, Great Inigorio's shining tent ; 6 THE COMING OF HAYO-WENT-HA. 31 In that far time how long ago ? What matters if I may not tell How many suns ? enough to know That of a truth it so befell ; Of greatest deeds the world hath known, Of hero-fame the most sublime, The unremembered years alone Have record ; in that far-off time, From Isles beyond the bound of day Where dwells the mighty Wa-zha-wand, A magic Chee-maun, far away, Wide-parting from the Shining Land, A magic Chee-maun, winged with flame And light and fleet as morning sun, Swift o'er the flashing billows came, Nor paddle had nor need of one. And Him alone it lightly bore, Bright speeding on the foaming flood, Him from that far-off fairer shore Him, Hayo-went-ha, great and good ; Low-journeying from Love's radiant place The people of the wild to bless ; His brethren of the Dusky Race The dwellers in the wilderness. 32 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQVOIS. And who may say, as on lie drew, He saw afar a glory shrined ; Nor that his heart turned, yearning, to A greater glory left behind ? Howe'er it be, still on he held ; While on the tide a splendor shed That frail canoe, as self-impelled And like the dawn it onward sped. And on, and on, and still away, And still away and on, and on ; He passed the doorways of the day. The gateways of the setting sun ; And still away it eager pressed, More light and fleeter than the swan : As if the sea with loving breast Would bear the precious burden on. Near by enchanted shores he drew, Saw where the dread Magicians dwell ; But felt no fear, for well he knew Nor wicked art, nor wizard spell Had power to harm ; his clearer eyes Saw medicine for every pain, Saw that on faithful souls and wise They wrought their evil charms in vain. THE COMING OF UAYO-WENT-HA. 33 Or night or day, still on the same Where'er he willed ; nor turned aside When, barring all the way with flame, He far the Fiery Serpents spied ; But loud he cried, as drawing near, " Behind you look ! !" with frightful cry They darted back their heads in fear ; Swift as the wind he passed them by. Exulting o'er the Reptile race, With strength he strung his warrior-bow, Approaching nigh the horrid place, Though fierce they hiss and writhe and glow; From out his quiver's full supply He forth the magic arrows drew; Them one by one he straight let fly And ;tll the flaming serpents slew. Touched with his bark the shadowy lands That bound the terror-gloomed abyss, Where Chebia-bos faithful stands Between that fairer world and this, The passing soul to lead and guide Far journeying unto regions blest Beyond the realm of darkness wide, The Better Land of peace and rest. 34 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Swift over crystal seas he sped, Where thick is strewn the rocky floor With bones of all the countless dead That, passing, sank to rise no more ; Though threatening far the billows toss, His Chee-maun smoothes each angry wave ; The good alone can safely cross The floods that mortals all must brave. 7 Still on till many a land he saw With seas and mountains looming large ; While many a swarthy brave in awe Gazed wondering on that fleeting barge ; And still away it tireless bore On stormy waves or peaceful deeps, Till light it pressed the pebbly shore Where Onondaga tranquil sleeps. Mild shone the kindling summer sun, Fell soft the vernal breezes bland, The tide in silver ripples run Low murmured, lapsing on the sand ; More radiant afar unrolled The widening sea with billowy crest, As shimmering in the sunset gold, Like rubies flashed each dimpled crest. THE COMING O/-' HAYO-WENT-1I A. 35 Glad verdured smiled the wooded hills With many a grassy intervale ; Bright interlaced with sparkling rills And crossed by moccasined hunter's trail ; The home of many a swarthy band Afar the greening valley showed ; And seeing such a goodly land, He, Hayo-went-ha, there abode. His Chee-maun, blest of Manito, That paddle-bearing hand had none, But swiftly on the billows drew With him who lightly willed it on, That bore him from the Shining Land From far beyond the halls of day, Thence drew he on the pebbly sand And hid from curious eyes away. And braves whose sight for joy was dim Looked on him with a glad surprise ; With friendly speech they welcomed him The noble stranger, good and wise. In him they saw, foretold of old In fable, oracle and song, The chieftain great, the warrior bold, The leader they had waited long. 6 36 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. He that, with more than mortal arm, With more than mortal strength to do, Would shield them hence from every harm, And all their dreaded foes subdue. Who calling forth each scattered band, Would them unite, them lead and teach, Until unto remotest land The greatness of their fame should reach. Inwoven with its destiny There comes a great Ideal Man To every race ; whose prophecy Afar the waiting years fore-ran. Such to the wandering tribes was he ; The long-expected Fatherhood They found in him ; the friend to be The bringer, he, of every good. If in the cloudless realms of light In heights, transcendent heights above, Is One whose love is infinite, His wisdom boundless as his love ; Shall he not all his children heed, Still mindful of their lightest quest ? And of Himself, as is their need, Reveal unto the lowliest ? THE WONDROUS DEEDS He that would lead a savage Race Must be himself a savage ; nay ! Be on the war-path, in the chase, In all things mightier than they. What knowledge, virtue else hath he. In worthy work deeds nobly done He best may teach men quick to see The meaning of a battle ivon. IV THE WONDROUS DEEDS. WITH cheerful, labor-bearing hand And with an art unknown before, Or only in that Better Land Away beyond the morning shore, Where rose Yo-non-to near and large With Onoiidaga murmuring nigh, He built his wigwam on the marge, A royal wigwam, wide and high. Far in the fenland, toiling long, He felled the larches where they grew ; Thence with a willing arm and strong He forth the waiting timbers drew ; And them upstanding, straight and tall, Together firm inweaving, he Wide stretched and battened over all The bark of many a birchen tree. 40 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. And patient wrought he many a day With sinew-string and barky thong ; With loop and seam and stitch and stay, Intent to make it firm and strong ; Until at length, his labors o'er, As in the wigwams whence he came, Bright by the Onondaga shore He lit the Home-fire's sacred flame. * Of heart of ash-tree, stout and true He skillful shaped the hunter-bow ; He wove the trusty cord that drew, From sinew of the fallen roe ; With far-resounding blow and dint He agate from the quarry broke, And cunning shaped the stubborn flint With steady hand and patient stroke. Of rude unshapeii stones he brought From out the deeply-cloven ledge, He many a rocky missile wrought With glistening point and keenest edge ; He fashioned straight the sharpened sh:ut. With point of jasper ; to the string Made fit the arrow's shining haft And plumed it from the eagle's wing. THE WONDROUS DEEDS. 41 Then from his Meda-sack he drew All things that bear a secret charm ; Of all their potency he knew Their power to harm, to shield from harm ; Adorned with beak and claw and shell His weapons all ; with wizard skill Wrought into each the magic spell That fateful is for good or ill. 9 Or resting from his ruder toil, He carved and shaped the pot and bowl, His soup to warm, his meat to boil And make the wigwam comforts whole ; Or forth he went with shaft and bow, And many a hairy skin he bore Of Yek-wai and of 0-kwa-ho, And softly matted all the floor. To charm and guard his home arid place Its barky sides he pictured fair With to-tems of his name and race ; 10 Where fierce the Tortoise, Wolf, and Bear High on its matted cover shone ; Each type and symbol, such as thence The greatly wise may draw alone The mystery of the hidden sense. 42 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Then to tlie wild lie stalwart bore His mighty bow : his shaft released, Swift-speeding, lo ! all red with gore, Down-bellowing fell each ugly beast. Uno-wul in his horny shell, Low on the sand and bleeding lay ; Great Yek-wai, mortal-wounded, fell, The lofty-antlered Me-sha-way. When Kwan-0-shaish-ta, prowling near, And hissing like a roaring blast, Of all the land the scourge and fear, With scaly feet went writhing past, With flaming eye-balls glaring red, With fiery tongue that forked drew, A hideous serpent, huge and dread ; His shaft the frightful monster slew. u Still far his pointed missiles sped : The Be-zhu hushed his awful roar, The 0-kwa-ho the Ka-ka fed His hungry howl was heard no more ; Kwan-Run-ge-a-gosh on the tide, Great Ke-ka-daw-nong on the sand, Him yielded all their life and died, The monsters of the sea and land. THE WONDROUS DEEDS. 43 Still loud liis flinty arrows clank, Still woke the shriek of dying pain, Till farthest hill and valley drank The blood of many a dragon slain ; Each ugly beast, with cry and roar, That crawled or ran or swam or flew, Fell reeking red with dying gore Fell darkly pierced, through and through. He slew the frightful Flying Head, 1J The foe that most did them appall ; And them that on the People fed, The Stonish Giants, fierce and tall ; " Save one that from such warrior brave Swift o'er the land did flee away Far to the south ; there in a cave Deep in the earth is hid to-day. Wide borne as on the winds amain Went tidings of his name and fame ; Till from the wood and from the plain Afar his tawny people came With hearts elate, intent to know The growing wonder, learn with awe The mystery of the hunter-bow, And how to hold, and how to draw. 7 44 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. And stronger waxed the hand that drew : And all the new-born eagerness For knowledge unto knowledge grew : They more desire who more possess. They saw in arrow speeding straight. In flinty war-ax winged in air. A prophecy of nobler fate, And burned all noble deeds to dare. From Inigorio the Good, Gifts brought he from that fairer shore Unto the People of the Wood : Some token of the love he bore His children of the forest-wild ; That they who dwell in shadows dim, Him knowing more who on them smiled. Would more delight in love of him. And Hayo-went-ha, toiling long Beside the Onondaga strand, With patient hand, for labor strong, Clove wide the forest, cleared the land ; And pondering wise the mystery, The wondrous secrets unrevealed Of life that is of life to be He mellowed all the waiting field. THE WONDROUS DEEDS. 45 Then forth the sacred parcel drew ; And in the ground he careful laid The seeds of harvests strange and new; And when had sprung each shining blade, He round it pressed the mellow loam ; Not doubting when the days were full The Moon of Falling Leaves had come. To see the ripened miracle. And tending all with ready arm, He saw the summer wax and wane ; To pull the weedy spears that harm, Or water oft the parched plain, He came and went with tireless feet ; Hope-girded all the field he trod, Till glad he plucked the kernels sweet From Scho-ta-sarmin's wondrous pod. And ruddy-ripe o'er all the land, Fair in the autumn's windy days, He saw great 0-nust lusty stand ; He rudely stripped the mighty Maize And home the priceless treasures bore To serve the stormy winter's need ; Or fairest ears did careful store The future harvest's precious seed. 4:6 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. With 0-kwa-ho from farthest wood, The Me-sha-way with antlers wide, The Yek-wai fierce, so fat and good, The snowy Wau-bos, tender-eyed ; With many a hird that ran or flew, The Ta-wis and the Oghk-we-se, The So-ha-ut, of sable hue, The Ka-ka and the Kwa-ra-re ; With many a fowl that clanged the spring The quacking So-ra from the brake, The Wau-be-zee with downy wing, The honking Wa-wa from the lake ; Great Do-di-ah-to from the deeps, The Sa-wa from the shallow waves, Kwan-Run-ge-a-gosh he that leaps And flounders in the watery caves. With flesh of fish and bird and beast That round the fire hung reeking red, Of savor sweet, a royal feast, With many a pot full-steaming, spread He, Hayo-went-ha, good and wise, For theirs, his loving people's sake ; While wonder widened in their eyes To taste great 0-nust's smoking cake. THE WONDROUS DEEDS. 47 What time was spread the banquet there He loosed for them his lofty speech ; He wide outspread his weapons fair, Told of the make and use of each ; And of the Maize, its growth and worth ; The treasures of the fruitful soil ; How all the bounties of the earth But waited on the hand of toil. Then to the feast. But ere he drew Or parted bone from bone, or broke The luscious loaf, or tasted stew, He, rising, to his people spoke : " Brothers ! the Great Spirit, He These presents brings to those who wait To do his will ;" then reverently Gave thanks to Oway-neo Great. 14 Then unto warrior, chief or brave, Of meat or bread or fowl or fish He, as their rank, in order gave, Refilling oft each empty dish ; Or from the embers, glowing hot, He cake of 0-nust smoking bore ; Until was emptied every pot, Or eating, they could eat no more. 48 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. The banquet done, on grassy plain To chant and song the dance began ; Each artless maid, untaught to feign To wait the proffered hand of man, Unskilled to hide what Nature gave , The heart that lit her virgin breast, Herself to him, the favored brave, She proffered with her modest quest. 15 In beaded costume fine arrayed, At beat of drum and rattle-clang, Stood forth each waiting forest maid, Quick forth each youthful warrior sprang. Now up, now down, now fast, now slow, With measured time and agile pace, Their lithe forms swaying to and fro A wonder showed of supple grace. And so he taught them not in vain Of every good of labor born, Till shone afar each hill and plain With teeming fields of growing corn. ll1 And often to my ear there come Glad murmurs of the after years Of happy maidens bearing home The burden of the ripened ears. HAYO-WENT-H A'S JOURNEYING. Who journeys far in knowledge grows, If ivise, to wisdom more attains; The more the outer world he knows He more the rarer vision gains The knowledge of the world within; He clearer sees with deeper ken That human souls are all akin, Though diverse are the lives of men. HAYO-WENT-HA'S JOURNEYING. His Chee-maun, blest of Manito, That paddle-bearing hand had none, Yet swiftly on the billows drew With him who lightly willed it on ; That bore him from the halls of day Across the shining seas unknown, He hid from curious eyes away- Kept for its nobler use alone. Yet oft, when in the rising dawn He saw Yo-non-to looming large, That bark, from secret place withdrawn, He brought unto the waiting marge ; And parting from the kindling shore As with his quickening spirit rife, It Hayo-went-ha proudly bore, Went speeding like a thing of life. 52 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. On Onondaga's dimpled breast, The limpid wells of Seneca, Cayuga's floods it lightly pressed ; Where Skaneateles' ripples play, Where Canandaigua's billows toss, On bright Owasco, blushing blue, Oneida fleeting far across, Still on that magic Chee-maun drew. To where the Mohawk's rushing tides By vaster woods and mountains flee ; Or where the wider Hudson glides, Goes hastening to the briny sea ; Still seeking far, or strange or new, A fairer land, a brighter bourne, Fled wonder-winged that light canoe Like arrow from the bow of Morn. And swifter than that barky barge Went tidings of his name and fame ; And to the Council flaming large, From far his tawny people came With hearts elate, intent to know The growing wonder ; learn with awe The mystery of the hunter-bow, And how to hold, and how to draw. HAYO-WENT-HA'S JOURNEYING. 53 Still unto wider seas away: Ontario's swelling tide he tracked , Heard great Ki-ha-de's " E-wa-yea,"- Looked down the thundering cataract ; And mute with reverence, bowed in awe Before that wonder strange and new, He veiled his face, as there he saw The form of Mighty Manito. Confessing so the human need Of love that is to worship grown, Untaught in ritual and creed Him to behold, the Great Unknown No less the lowliest adore ; Who most on Oway-neo call Do bear the likeness more and more Of Him, the Mighty over all. Still on away : more noisy break The ripples on the flowing marge ; Till gleamed his glory-bearing wake On stormy Erie, foaming large ; On past each headland, island, bay; Wherever rose a goodly land With dusky warriors painted gay, He drew his Chee-maun on the strand. 54 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. He shared with them the banquet spread Around the camp-fire blazing high ; He far for them his arrows sped, He slew the monsters prowling nigh ; On him such mighty deeds he wrought- They wondering gazed in fear and awe ; While of the hunter-bow he taught Them how to hold and how to draw. And thence again went speeding on, Till Gitche Gumee's silver smiles Shone beauteous in the setting sun, With widening shores and shining isles. There, where the angry billows roll, With Art that time's corroding mocks, He pictured many a curious scroll His to-tems on the beetling rocks. Vast rumors all the forest stirred Of Him, and still the wonder ran ; He far the welcome greeting heard "Ta-ren-ya-wargo ! Mighty Man ! !" " And though a race untamed and rude, His manly speech, with wisdom fraught, Allayed the Avhile their fiercer mood ; Himself, in teaching, something taught. HAYO-WENT-HA' s JOURNEYING. 55 Still on : like rising morning ray That Chee-mauu lit the parting tide ; Still toward the sunset land away On Es-con-aw-baw rolling wide ; Still on to many a stranger sea : 18 Wherever most might knowledge loose Her sacred seal, or glory be To widen life in Love and Use. Thence, on the billows rolling large, By reaches wide of wave and wood, Returning where by pebbly marge His chosen People waiting stood, He, coming to his home and place, Trod proud the Onondaga shore ; While rarer shone his Prophet-face By wisdom's sunlight brightened more. Again with mighty speech he drew The dusky tribes, to teach and bless, Till great the Onondaga grew Renowned for every nobleness ; And many a wandering band had heard, And many a warrior-chieftain came To hearken to his wiser word ; Still bearing wide his name and fame. 56 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. They glad a willing ear to lend, He taught them of all things that are ; Of life, its duties, aim and end, And of the Spirit Land afar ; The land beyond the starry dome Or where the sunset-glory smiles ; Of Oway-neo's Shining Home, Of Inigorio's Happy Isles. And not unmindful of his famo That brightened like the morning-rise, Him Hayo-went-ha they did name The wisest he, among the wise. 19 He, growing, not alone did grow In wisdom ; but more nobly great, He grew in love, such love as know Immortals that on mortals wait. Nor less revered the primal law, Nor less the human want confessed ; But felt the tender yearnings draw That sway and bless the lowliest ; And in his wigwam, day by day, Sighed o'er the Yong-we's vacant place ; Or from his deeper thought would stray To rarest radiant maiden face. HAYO-WENT-HA'S JOURNEYING. 57 nobler Soul ! that glory fires, High summering on the hills of fame, Within a deeper breast aspires And glows love's rapt, undying flame ; How frequent to thy vision starts The dearer light of loving eyes ; Thou hidest in thy heart of hearts The burning wish that never dies. For dearer than all precious store, Or pride of station, name or race, Or warrior-fame, or wisdom's lore, Were wifely smile and matron grace ; The pretty darling's winsome ways, The pattering of the tiny feet, To while and charm the lonely days And make the wigwam's joy complete. Though greatly wise to teach and bless, And first in Council-place to move, Knew he the yearning need no less Of gentle Yong-we's heart of love. More sweet the home-delighting tone Thau far-resounding glory-call ; Woman ! thou art great alone Dost reign supremely over all. 58 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. The mighty yield alone to thee, Their proudest gifts on beauty wait ; And Oway-neo's Prophet he He, Hayo-went-ha good and great, Would woo and wed a mortal bride ; 20 Low in a world with sorrow rife Would all the after years abide ; Would dwell content in lowly life. Human Heart ! the heart Divine Too hath its anguish to confess ; Yon radiant sun must burn to shine ; And in the heavenly realms no less Some loss the price of every gain ; Clothed with this frailer being, so To medicine our mortal pain, Immortals taste of mortal woe. SONG - OF HAYO-WENT-HA What time the Wa-wa's honking dang Betokened glad the quickened year, The mating birds their carols sang, Far through the forest ringing clear; Oft he that bore a prophet -heart , When lore had touched its deeper spring, Some tender lay, with simple art, Unto his homely pipe would sing. And I unforgotten days ! Will bring to charm my deeper pain Some fragment of the olden lays: Will wake that woodland lute again. VI SONG OF HAYO-WENT-HA, HE is greatest who is wisest. Love replies : Not enough for Hayo-went-ha To be wise ; What by precept, my People ! I can give, Have I taught you ; by example Would I teach you how to live. He that wisest is is greatest : Yet on all, Howsoever high or lowly, Sorrows fall ; To be great is to be lonely ; Where is she, Lovely Kax-a, beauteous maiden Hayo-went-ha's bride to be ? 62 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. I have heard him Mud-je-kee-wis When lie came From the mighty Es-con-aw-baw Of the plain, Telling of the brave Dacotah's Daughters fair ; And methought does she, the beauteous, Hayo-went-ha's, wander there ? Nor less famed is the Ojib-w;iy Maiden, she Dwelling by the Gitche Gumee's Farthest sea. But 1 mind me, all things distant Fairer show ; Lofty Yo-nond's glittering summit Nearer seen, is only snow. Though the far-off beauty beckons Like a star, Oft we miss the good that might be, Following far ; Oft the flower sweet opening for us Loving eyes, All unseen, though close beside us, Fragrance-laden blooms and dies. SONG OF HAYO-WENT-HA. 63 Nor what time unto the sunset Land I strayed, Saw I ever by the wigwam's Mat and shade, Maid, that bearing meek and fitting Maiden's part, Would the bride of Hayo-went-ha Gladden more his home and heart. What is to the meadow Seg-wun's Warmth and light, Fair Wo-ne-da softly shining, To the night, Would the cheerful smiles of Yong-we Be mine own ! To the heart of Hayo-went-ha To his wigwam waiting lone. What unto the bow that draws it Is the string, String and bow unto the arrow Everything ; What is each unto the other, Such are ye, Shaped and wrought, Man and Woman ! To one use and destiny. 64 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Oway-neo, Thou the Mighty High above, Hayo-went-ha's hope is only In thy love ; Thou alone canst yield the dear one To his sight ; Let thy wiser spirit lead him Lead his wandering steps aright. Now I mind me of a maiden, So they say, Where Tio-to softly murmurs All the day To the sighing, sad Ogh-ne-ta Greening there, Dwells the beauteous Kax-aa, she Nyah-tah-wanta, good and fair. Oh how oft some chiefest blessing We go by, Never even of it dreaming, Though so nigh; Till some happy hour reveals it, When we say Not "Thou Oway-neo blessed !" Only this "A happy day." SONG OF HAYO-WENT-HA. 65 In the foregone time of fasting, " Whence I drew Smile and blessing of the mighty Manito, With the wisdom of the Medas Did I see Far the vision of the future Vision of the days to he. See in mystic light that brightened All the land, Every people, tribe and nation, Clan and band, That far Council-fires should beacon, Not in vain ; Painted warriors, armed and girded, Mighty chieftains, battle-slain. And above the cloud and darkness, Clang of War, Saw I one serenely smiling Like a star ; And the more that dream I ponder, More, meseems, She, Ti-o-to's lowly maiden, Like that maiden of my dreams. THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Once again, as in the vision Her I see Bearing all love's toil and labor Cheerfully ; Break the sticks and patient bear them From the wood ; Build the fire, make bright the wigwam, As the forest-maiden should. 22 Or when Seg-wun from the South-land Far had come, Tending glad the corn upspringing, Stir the loam ; Or in days the Falling-leaf Moon More endears, Pluck the mighty Maize at harvest Bearing home the ripened ears. And the maid, Nyah-tah-wanta, Dwelling nigh Where Ti-o-to's billows, chafing, Moan and sigh, She the bride of Hayo-went-ha ? Who may tell ? She is of my noble People ONGUE HONWE that is well. 23 SONG OF HAYO-WENT-HA. 67 And I mind me I remember It was she Wove the royal robe and mantle, All for me ; And with sign, device and symbol Wove it fair, With the to-tems of my Nation With the Tortoise, Wolf and Bear. And I think me of the costly Wampum -band ; Of the snowy leggins, beaded By her hand ; Of the moccasins in whose stitch is Many a gem ; Strange so often times to see them, Only now the glittering hem. * And a marvel more I ponder So I deem ; As if still her gentle fingers Pressed the seam. Many a wonder ! can it be so ? I have thought Something from the hand still lingers In the work the hand has wrought. 10 68 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. As we feel the coming sorrow Deepen down, Mark with tears the boding shadow Fateful frown, Haply so a joy may brighten Far away, Like the faint auroral shining Of the yet unrisen day. And is this exultant, throbbing, Glad unrest, All this tumult new of passion In my breast, The faint motions of a rapture Yet unborn ? But the dawn with eagle-pinion That so swift outruns the morn ? He, Kee-way-din, softly whispers, Wandering free, "Sweet the maid Nyah-tah-wanta' 1 Unto me ; And the charming maid to morrow Will I see. Well, if she be Hayo-went-ha's ; If she be not let it be. NYAH-TAH-WANTA. Daughter of the paler-face, With beauty garmented ! Not less The damsel of the Dusky Race Is clothed upon iviih loveliness. Nor unadorned of simple Art, That heightens more each virgin charm; Nor less her breast, until Woman's heart Yearns, throbbing ivith love's pulses warm. VII NYAH-TAH-WANTA. NYAH-TAH-WANTA fair and good Was she, the warrior-chieftain's child ; And never maiden of the wood Did brighten more the forest wild ; None bear the charms more modestly Of sweetly-budding womanhood, Nor worthier of love than she, Child of the bold, heroic blood. As one bereft when years were few, And taught a widowed knee to climb, She thoughtful-wise and pensive grew, As shadow pf a sorrow-time From out the unremembered years, Or wraith of love's forgotten kiss, Still burdened with unfallen tears Those lids of liquid tenderness. 72 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Her voice was like the wooing Spring, Her cheek like Autumn's bronzed light ; Her tresses like the Raven's wing, Her eyes were like the brooding night With 0-jis-hon-da shining through, Some brightness that you might not guess ; For when you saw you only knew You saw a brimming tenderness. light in shade ! land of dreams ! Deep in those darkened depths impearled, As when Wo-ne-da's silver beams Soft-mantle the nocturnal world. No garden lilies undefiled, No sweets their fragrance may possess, Surpass the roses of the wild, The beauty of the wilderness. 24 Nor in all outward charms alone She grew, as grows the woodland flower ; Though nurtured in the forest lone, And with the forest-maiden's dower * Of ruder toil and sorest need, So schooled was she to do and bear, That her to know, you knew indeed That one so good must needs be fair. NYAH-TAH-WANTA. 73 In snowy kirtle tasseled gay, And furry mantle quilled and dyed, Her hand had wrought so cunningly From many a Jit-sho's furry hide ; In scarlet leggins fringed with blue, In painted moccasins beaded grand, You would have thought her as was true- The comeliest maid in all the land. Though well she knew to plait and braid, And skilled to make or cloak or gown, The richest robe that her arrayed, The beauty that is beauty's crown, That does the fairest best adorn, Was hers in wigwam-tented wood : The common virtues lowly born, Of simple, modest maidenhood. When on the greening wild away Her lightsome footsteps flitted free, She seemed a joyous forest-fay A dusky woodhmd-fairy she ; And more the while the happy maid, When gladness woke her simple art, Went singing through the windy glade The songs that fluttered at her heart. 74: THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. What time her virgin footsteps pressed The border-land of Womanhood, When wakes a longing in the breast, When stirs a spring-tide in the blood, When grace beyond all manly grace Unto the maid the lover shows, While unto him the maiden-face With splendor passing beauty glows ; She that the Meda's secrets knew Of mystic dance and chant and song, Could presage read in bird that fleAV, Knew all the use of fasting long, Invoking so, or strong or weak, Powers that the will of man await, As youth and maiden may, did seek Some token of her happier fate. 25 And of th'at dream ? it is not new, The charm all maiden hearts do own ; The presence on her vision grew Of one, nor haply all unknown ; A warrior-chieftain ; on his breast He proud a royal mantle wore ; Well pleased she saw the shining vest, But nobleness enrobed him' more. NYAH-TAH-WANTA. 75 Bright in the sunset's fading flame Stood pictured on the farthest sky, With to-tems of his race and name, A shining wigwam, wide and high ; And on its glowing sides were shown All birds and beasts all symbols whence The greatly wise may draw alone The mystery of the hidden sense. She felt the tender yearnings draw That know nor color, clime nor race ; And from the parted door she saw Love beckon from her waiting-place ; 26 Oh ! sweetly shone the couch and mat, For such a manly form was there ; And in the fire-light, smiling, sat A little maid, and all was fair. And still the years new beauty lent : In cheerful toil that glad beguiled Her maiden cares, she came and went, Far-brightening all the lonely wild ; Her sire, as she more lovely grew, Oft musing with a father's pride, Said "He must noble be and true Who seeks my darling for his bride." 11 76 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. And many a youthful warrior, gay In paint and plumes, her hand had sought, From lodge and wigwam far away ; As braves that come to woo, they brought Of furry skins and wampum-braid, The costly gifts of forest-art ; Such as might win the forest-maid Might charm and win the maiden heart. But not for him from stranger land Did she the wedding feast prepare ; Oh ! not for him the maiden hand Her raven tresses braided fair ; The while she crooned this little stave, Crooned to her waiting heart, meseemed : " Oh, he is bold ! Oh, he is brave ! But not the Mighty that I dreamed. 1 ' And oft Tio-to's breast would show Her barky barge that lightly pressed ; While from the glassy pool below She drew 0-nox-a's scaly breast ; Or patient fixed the tempting bait, Or watched the Sah-wa softly draw, Or cast the deeper line to wait Great Do-di-ah-to's hungry jaw. NYAH-TAH-WANTA. 77 And oft when Seg-wun bright again From far with shining feet had come, She took great 0-nust's precious grain And hid it in the fruitful loam ; Made mellow round the rising spears, Or watered oft each springing blade, Or joyful plucked the luscious ears, As meet and fit for Indian inaid. 27 Or when the Falling-leaf Moon hung Far-silvering o'er the rustling reeds, What time the Blackbird blithely sung, Elate of all the ripened seeds , Where bending many a snowy head Afar the wild rice waving stood, She in her Chee-maun lightly sped, Gathered its kernels ripe and good. 28 And oft from ruder labor freed, With glowing cheek and eager tread She wandered o'er the grassy mead To pick the berries ripe and red ; Or through the brightening woods would roam, When woke the autumn's windy lays ; From thence the brown nuts bearing home She hoarded for the wintry days. 78 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQU01S. Or patient wrought with pride and skill Her moccasins of rare design ; With bead of shell and hedge-hog quill Her fawn-skin kirtle broidered fine ; That at the dance or Council-place She too might stand all fair arrayed, With heightened beauty's charm and grace ; As best befits the Indian maid. Or when from far with shaft and bow, From wood and wild, the hunters came With Me-sha-way and 0-kwa-ho, A-meek and Yek-wai noblest game, With ready hand and maiden pride She deftly stripped each ugly beast Of furry skin or hairy hide, Cooked fit the meat, and spread the feast. What time, on many a darkened day, The braves and warriors, glory-crowned, Came bleeding from the battle-fray, Her gentle fingers dressed the wound ; With tender care and cheerful smile She charmed each aching bruise, nor vain Out-watched the paling stars, the while She smoothed and soothed the couch of pain. NYAH-TAH-WANTA. 79 If by her side, with fear and pain She saw at whiles pale Famine stand, When failed the harvest-promised grain, Her field laid waste by hostile band, She careful eked the failing store In ways but woman can devise ; With patient trust her hunger bore And all heroic sacrifice. M Above the spring-time floods that rise, The Musk-rat builds his winter tent ; So to the forest-maiden's eyes And mind another sense is lent ; To see beyond each fleeting form, Of all the changeful seasons send, In wind and rain, in cloud and storm, What these may omen and portend. Though all unlearned in lettered lore, She all the forest secrets knew ; Of every beast the cry and roar, The call of every bird that flew ; She heard anon, without affright, The Be-zhu's mimic scream of woe ; The Jit-sho yelping through the night, The fiercely-howling 0-kwa-ho. 80 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQU01S. The Wa-wa honking on the lake, Far on the wave the lonely Mahng, The So-ra quacking in the brake, The stormy Key-oshk's noisy clang ; The Wa-won-ais-se's plaint and cry, The great War-Ke-neiTs screech and squall, 0-me-me's plaintive moan and sigh, The Ko-ko-ko-ho's lonely call. Knew every bush and shrub and tree, The flowers that blossomed in the wood ; All herbs, and what their potency, And which was ill and which was good ; A part of all she saw so near, In Nature's heart so immanent, Unto her finer sense and ear All things their deeper meaning lent. Does He, whose mighty power bestows The life of all, great Wa-zha-wand, Crown with his larger bounty, those-, From these withhold with stinted hand, The tribes and races of mankind ? Bear one a blessing, one a curse ? Or only do we fail to find The measure meet for gifts diverse ? 30 NYAH-TAH-WANTA. 81 The greater dole might him upbraid For largess that brings duller sense ; For every gain a price is paid, For every loss some recompense ; He that with visioned eye may see The shadow of a darker fate, Fore-kens the brighter days to be No less, and is content to wait. And many a suitor bold and free Had with the summers come and gone ; She only said "It is not He ;" Still patient waited for HER OWN ; Nor somber sat as one forlorn, Nor gave to pining sorrow loose ; For what have they of cause to mourn Whose days are girt with love and use ? Her hands were quick to gentle deeds, She tended kind her failing sire ; She minded all his little needs, She brought the sticks, she built the fire, She cooked his meat, she made him warm, On her his tottering footsteps leant ; 31 For him she braved the raging storm And sweetened all with meek content. 82 THE LEAGUE OF THE IEOQUOIS. gentle Heart ! though unconfessed, By purest maiden passion stirred, How had it charmed that yearning breast - The little song that late I heard ! That eye had lit more softly warm, That cheek had owned a deeper glow, That beauteous, lithesome maiden form Had trembled like the frightened roe. Nor is there maid, methinks, so cold, If she should know at dawning light, That ere Wo-ne-da's silver fold Shall press Yo-non-to's breast to-night, Some wooer great would come to woo, That she, perchance, would be his bride, But would her bosom nutter too Her glowing cheek blush, crimson dyed. THE WOOING 12 Oh! who with tongue so eloquent To paint the rapture lore distills, That Jills the spirit's grosser tent With breath from the Immortal Hills ? Passion ! that is all replete With deepest bliss, with direst woe, Thy thrall, thy thrill, thy madness sweet, The heart must, throbbing, feel to know. VIII THE WOOING. MOKE beauteous in the dawning light Shone Hayo-went-ha's prophet-face, As smile of Oway-neo bright Had lit anew each manly grace : His brow of worthier purpose showed, His eye of feeling's kindling ray ; His very step, as forth he strode, Was lighter than of yesterday. His every care, his every thought, As in the greatening morn he stood, Was with Nyah-tah-wanta fraught, The flower of forest-maidenhood. How much may yearning wish impart Of hopes that after-harvests glean ; And much I trow his manly heart Did to that gentle damsel lean. 86 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. In royal mantle rich arrayed, 32 That heightened more his manly air, That showed, in many a to-tem braid Inwove, the Tortoise, Wolf and Bear ; In moccasins with the marvelous hem, In snowy leggins beaded grand, En wrought with many a curious gem, He trod the Onondaga strand. And forth that wonder-built canoe From out its secret place he brought, Unto the pebbly marge he drew The bark by mystic fingers wrought ; That, as of old, did gaily ride, The rippled wells, nor overworn, Though it had crossed the swelling tide From Isles beyond the Gates of Morn. As though it felt love's eager haste, Its barky .sides more lightly pressed, The flashing waves more fleetly traced, To bear him on his loving quest ; To far Ti-o-to bear him hence Swift as the Wa-wa 1 s wing and light, Before the westering sun should glance His arrows from the rocky height ; THE WOOING. 87 To where beside the emerald flood, And radiant as the rising morn, Stood beauteous in her maidenhood, Stood mid the summer's springing corn The loveliest of forest maids ; To careful pluck the weedy spears, Make mellow round the rising blades ; Glad counting on the ripened ears. As frequent to each tender breast, Or whence or wherefore all unknown, Will come a trouble and unrest, A tearful sorrow, not its own, So oft above or thought or will May soar the spirit glad and ga} r , Its pulses feel the joyous thrill Of other heart-beat far away. And to the maiden where she stood, The flitting zephyr's soft caress, The dewy, newly-burgeoned wood Seemed burdened with a secret bliss ; The tiny throats that warbling sang, More thrilling melody expressed ; Nor knew she, while their matins rang, The deeper chord was in her breast. 88 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. To grow great 0-nust's luscious grain, The care and labor all her own, With but the love to soothe her pain, Of him her sire, so feeble grown ; If lonely oft with aching breast Her lowly couch she weary sought, The tired limbs more sweetly rest In slumber whence new strength is wrought. Her might no evil omen dread Nor joy-betokening prophecy Lure from the path where duty led Her willing footstep's day by day ; Still round the hills upspringing green She softly drew the mellow loam ; While brightened more the morning sheen, The morning sun still higher clomb. And still her patient hand she plied ; Nor left her maiden-toil to make Her face more seemly when she spied That stranger Chee-maun on the lake ; Nor yet incurious, bending low, Nor quite suppressed a chastened eye ; The while her cheek a warmer glow Emmantled fair, she knew not why. THE WOOING. 89 And Hayo-went-ha, ere lie drew That magic Ghee-maun on the strand, When rose the wigwam full to view And all the love-enchanted land, To see the maiden bending there Her greening corn to tend and keep, To mark the damsel's frugal care, His heart did in his bosom leap. And when her lowly door beside She looked on him who waiting stood With noble look of manly pride, Him, Hayo-went-ha, great and good, She felt again the yearnings draw ; And in the sunset's failing gleam She knew the chieftain-form she saw Was he, the mighty of her dream. And seeing near the mantle rare, The mantle she had wrought for him, The beauty she had woven there, The moccasins with the beaded hem, The woman in her bosom stirred More than the simple maiden guessed ; And of her joy in song of bird Her heart the secret half confessed. 90 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. If warmer lit with feeling's grace His manly cheek, when to his gaze From far the beauteous maiden face Looked on him from the growing maize What wonder he, though calm and wise, Should feel the old world dance and swim When on him bent those loveful eyes That, more than greeting, welcomed him. 33 The while her sire the freedom gave Of waiting wigwam's mat and shade, As warrior brave to warrior brave, Apart and silent sat the maid ; Or lightly tripped unto the lake To bring him drink with willing feet, Or glad, when he his fast would break, She modest brought and gave him meat. He from the bowl his thirst allayed, Nor with vain thanks did her address ; But sitting mute his hunger stayed, And rested of his weariness ; Till far and faint alone was heard The home-wind sighing through the land, The voice of night-awakened bird, And waves low-lapsing on the sand. THE WOOING. 91 Then forth the aged chief he drew In unforgotten tales, to tell Of warrior deeds when days were few, Of braves that in the battle fell ; And still, as one with gifted speech The fit occasion waits, forbore Untimely thence to bring, in breach Of courtesy, his fairer lore. Yet beauty speaks through charm and grace In tongue that silence cannot bind ; So brightly shone his prophet-face With thoughts that lit his wiser mind ; And when the shadows fell that make The cheerful home-fire brighten more, His lips he loosed ; and as he spake Night, listening rapt, contented wore. He told in lofty speech and wise Of other wigwams far away ; Of fairer shores that loom and rise Beyond the utmost bound of day ; Of hunter-homes, of tribe and band Where more than sunset glory smile^ ; Of Oway-neo's Shining Land, Of Inigorio's Happy Isles. 13 92 THE LEAGUE OF THE 1KOQUOIS. Of all the gifts that thence he brought, Of all the labors of his hand ; How he the hunter-bow had wrought, Had slain the monsters of the land ; How every beast with cry and roar, That crawled or ran or swam or flew, Fell reeking red with dying gore Fell pierced and wounded through and through. And of that magic-built canoe, Nor paddle had, nor need of one ; Of wider waves that charmed and drew That mystic Chee-maun on, and on. Of great Ki-ha-de's E-wa-yea, Of farther tides that leap and run ; Of Gitche Grumee far away, ~ And seas beyond the setting sun. And all the sacred legends old, The wonders of remotest age : How Mana-bo-zho strong and bold, With Manitos did battle wage ; And when the floods came on the land, . Whelmed in the sea the mountains tall, The world destroyed ; whose mighty hand Rebuilt again repeopled all. THE WOOING. 93 Told of the serpent huge and dread That from a tiny reptile grew ; Of her whose hand the arrow sped, Whose shaft the frightful monster slew ; Of dear Winona's darker fate : The maiden who, with heart so brave Than him unknown, unloved, to wed Chose death beneath the darkened wave. Told, so to show, in wedded life, How needful to be mated well, - Of him that took a Bear to wife, And of the ills that thence befell. And glad they hearkened : while he spake The listening hours unheeded wore. Oh ! for the storied gift to wake The spell of that diviner lore ! Whatever heights the tongue can reach Of all-commanding eloquence, But half is in the gift of speech, For half is in the listening sense ; Unto such ears he, speaking late, Did all the seals of Knowledge loose, Knowledge that doth on Wisdom wait To widen life in Love and Use. 94- THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Though to her sire alone he spake, Scarce minding where the maiden sat So maiden- wise, nor deigned to break His lofty mood ; low from her mat, Nor bold, nor over modestly, Ever a finer ear she lent ; Listened as only woman may Upon his deeper thought intent. 34 But all things pass and go ; the blaze Unfed, burned dim ; into the Past The vision of the vanished days Fading, again withdrew ; at last With some low, half-unuttered word The tale was ended ; there did fall A silence, or alone was heard Afar the Ko-ko-ko-ho's call. And deep on manly limbs erelong Was soft the balm of slumber laid ; But joy that beats with pulse too strong Is kin to sorrow ; so the maid, In vain her midnight couch she pressed ; No sleep could bind the tender eyes, For all the tumult of her breast For thoughts of him so good and wise. THE WOOING. 95 maiden Heart ! so warm and true, That hath, like her, such vigil kept, Or ere the morn, of bliss so new, The pain a little stayed, hath slept, Dreaming sweet dreams that will not pass Aye ! from the darkened years ; to thee Why should I sing ? to wake, alas ! Too oft a haunting memory. And who with tongue so eloquent To paint the rapture love distills, That fills the spirit's grosser tent With breath from the Immortal Hills ? Passion ! that is all replete With deepest bliss with direst woe, Thy thrall, thy thrill, thy madness sweet The heart must, throbbing, feel to know. Or what is said, or all unsaid, But little recks, when fleet and strong, " O'er cheek and breast the currents red Run singing glad a marriage song ; When other heart beats in our own, Disclosing to each keener sense The wealth and being, else unknown, Of beauty's lavish heritance. THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. Enough : when Hay o-went-ha came Home from Ti-o-to far away, Enhaloed as with robe of flame, The splendor of love's risen day, His every heightened manly grace Bespoke how well the wooing sped ; Foretold the glory of his face Nyah-tah-wanta he would wed. And many an after day it grew That larger brightness brightened more, When at the dawn he came and drew His Chee-niaun to the pebbly shore ; As if with heart of love elate Its barky sides more lightly pressed The springing tide, as loth to wait To bear him on his loving quest. SONG -OF NYAH-TAII-WANTAe Her little lays with joy replete Or sad with maiden care, she sang; Like to 0-me-me, softly sweet, Or mournful as the lonely Mahng At midnight on the summer seas. The lips can set to fairest tunes The loves that lowliest hearts enthrall; ivoodland Odes ! forest Runes I I would I more might these recall; The Heart's umvritten Melodies. IX SONG OP NYAH-TAH-WANTA. SOAN-GE-TAHA ! Soan-ge-taha brave and strong ! my sweetheart ! Beloved ! waited long ; Thee, the Mighty, in my vision did I see ; When I look on my beloved it is when I look on Thee.* And the twinkling 0-jis-hon-da, brightly twinkling, Seem to tell : "Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." Hayo-went-ha, Hayo-went-ha, great is he ; Come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta can it be ? And he calls her lovely Kax-aa is it so ? But a lowly, simple maid Nyah-tah-wanta That I know. He, the Home-wind, sweet Kee- way-din, soothly singing, Seems to tell : " Hayo-weut-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." 14 *See the " Ojibwa Song" in Oneota. By H. K. SCHOOLCBAFT. 100 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. Where the murmuring Yo-yo-hon-to through the glade, Softly singing, smiling lingers in the shade, Have I seen a lovely maiden look at me ; If she is Nyah-tah-wanta, she is pretty, I can see. And the streamlet's tinkling murmur, rippling, rippling, Seems to tell ; u Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." He the Chief of all our warriors ? so they say; All the OXGUE HONWE People own his sway; Seems to me, he surely can't be or, for pride He would seek some noble &ax-aa, queenly maiden, For his bride. Mud-je-ke-wis, in the cedars, sighing, sighing, Seems to tell : " Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." Simple maid Nyah-tah-wanta, but no less Does she bear the heart of Yong-we, and would press, All her own, the mother's darlings to her breast ; On her dearest Nee-nee-moosh-a's brave and manly Heart would rest. SONG OF NYAH-TAH-WANTA. 101 Wa-won-ais-se in the Leaf Moon sweetly plainting Seems to tell : " Hayo-weiit-ha come to woo Ny ah-tah-wanta, That is well." What the flower is to the meadow, blooming fair, Brightening all the lonely places everywhere, If the bride of Hayo-went-ha, would I be To the heart of Hayo-went-ha, to the home He builds for me. Dear 0-me-me, in the fir-tree, cooing, cooing, Seems to tell : " Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." I would weave a royal mantle ; it should bear All the to-tems of his Nation, passing fair ; Fairer than the one I wove him when I knew Only Hayo-went-ha, mighty, not the loving Heart and true. On the lake the babbling So-ra, quacking, quacking, Seems to tell : " Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." 102 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. And when Seg-wun from the South-land comes again, I would plant the luscious 0-nust on the plain ; Careful tend the hlades upspringing, stir the loam ; Pluck the ripened ears at harvest ; bear the precious Burden home. A-ro-se-a in the tree-top chattering, chattering, Seems to tell : " Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." When the wigwams in the Snow-moon silver shine, I would pound the dainty kernel, pound it fine ; With the fat of Yek-wai mix it, sweetest cake, Make and bake it all so nicely, all for Hayo-went-ha's sake. Far the Ka-ka on Yo-non-to cawing, cawing, Seems to tell : " Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." When Kah-sah-git in his snow-shoes o'er the hill Scatters wide the shining 0-kah, falling chill, Far would noble Hayo-went-ha with his bow Hunt the Mo-sa and the Yek-wai and the fiercer 0-kwa-ho. SONG OF NYAH-TAH-WANTA. 103 On the wave the noisy Wa-wa, honking, honking, Seems to tell : "Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." When the Council-fire would brighten far away, Calling tribe and band that proudly own his sway, Thither in his magic Chee-maun would he go ; He his larger mind and wiser in his gifted Speech would show. Screaming bold, the great War-Ke-neu, squalling Squalling, seems to tell : " Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." By the wigwam, long and lonely though I wait, I would charm the hours with labor ; I would mate With my larger love his wisdom's fairer store ; And the after-joy of meeting would long parting Heighten more. From the wood the Ko-ko-ko-ho, hooting, hooting, Seems to tell : " Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, That is well." 104 THE LEAGUE OF THE IEOQUOIS. And, joy ! if I should bear him, so requite Mighty love with gifts so worthy, sons of might ; Happy they in such a father ; as they grew I would teach them to be ever noble warriors, Brave and true. Great Da-hin-da, in the fenlaiid, croaking, croaking, Seems to tell : " Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-ta-wanta, That is well." And enough for me the easing of his care ; He would call me always kindly, think me fair ; And for all the love I bear him, I would find Something of his wiser being shining in my Darker mind . Far Tio-to's billows lapsing, softly lapsing, Seem to say : " Hayo-went-ha come to woo Nyah-tah-wanta, E-wa-yea." joy all other joy above ! No other joy surpasseth this, The fairest gift to mortal Love. Oh, foretaste of Immortal bliss By lowly maiden heart possessed ! Nor hers alone : The great and wise Do own within a deeper breast That Heaven is in loving eyes. X THE BRIDAL WHAT time the Falling-leaf Moon hung Her faintest crescent on the sky, When to the woods the Home-wind sung A sweetly soothing lullaby ; He, Hayo-went-ha, rich arrayed In royal mantle, woven fair, Where bright in many a to-teni braid Shone fierce the Tortoise, Wolf and Bear ; In snowy leggins beaded grand, The moccasins with the marvelous hem, Upon his breast the wampum-band Inwrought with many a curious gem ; As musing on that dearer friend, Or chance a deeper thought he bore Of life, its duties, aim and end, Trod proud the Onondaga shore. 15 108 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. And like the rising morning grew The larger brightness of his face, When at the dawn he came and drew His Chee-maun from its hiding-place ; That, as with yearning heart elate, The springing tide more lightly pressed - Danced on the wave, as loth to wait To bear him on his loving quest. It erst had many a storm withstood ; Had borne him in the days before To slay the monsters of the flood Great Ke-ka-dah-nong on the shore ; And far on many a stranger sea : Wherever most might knowledge loose Her sacred seal, or glory be ; But now should prove its nobler use. It parts the shore : Lo ! sapphire-lit, Swift on the rippling wave it drew ; As o'er the mere the shadows flit Of clouds that sail the summer blue ; The parted waves like rubies showed, More softly lapsed the sighing marge ; The kindling dawn more golden glowed, - A warmer wish impelled the barge. THE BRIDAL. 109 The White Swan singing on the lake Unto his ear more joyous sang ; More sweetly sad from out the brake The moaning of the lonely Mahng ; The soaring Ke-neu's screech and squall, The Wa-be-wawa honking near, The soaring Key-oshk's harsher call Seemed mellowed to his charmed ear. A music shook the quiet air Like tinkling bells of silver sound ; The glimmering blue o'er-bending there Seemed with love's holiest circlet bound. All Nature is but outward Man ; He hears alone the melodies Within his breast ; nor other than The beauty in his soul he sees. While she that by Ti-o-to stood Fair in the autumn's windy days, To pluck great 0-nust ripe and good, To pluck and strip the mighty Maize, As blithe and glad she came and went, Upon the lake and hushed her song Anon a yearning look she bent ; For brief delay to love is long. 110 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Again she broods her little care And voices so her bosom-pain, Such pain as maiden bosoms bear : u Oh ! will that Chee-maun come again, That Chee-maun from the fairer shore ? Or ever must I lonely wait ? Will Hayo-went-ha come no more Or is he good as he is great ? " " Blest Oway-neo high above, Bless her, the lowly maiden, pray ; Nor her alone keep in thy love, Keep him, the loved one far away." 35 And ever as the morning wore, While to her willing task she bent, To Hayo-went-ha more and more Her heart in tender yearnings went. But when beyond the pebbly marge Again, with love delighted eyes, She saw afar that mystic barge, Saw Hayo-went-ha great and wise , Forgetting all love's care and smart, What rare delights her bosom swayed ! What rapture thrilled that gentle heart - Fell like a mantle on the maid ! THE BRIDAL. Ill And if beside the waiting sea Her pulse a deeper joy confessed To mark that Chee-maun speeding free, Oh ! how divine a peace and rest The maiden bosom owned, when near She saw him by the wigwam stand ; With him the mat again to share, And clasp again that dearer hand. With something of the olden fire Of ONGUE HONWE'S lofty mood, Uprose the maiden's aged sire To friendly greet him where he stood ; To make for Hayo-went-ha free The wigwam's fairest couch and rest ; With pipe and meat and courtesy Give welcome to his noble guest. 36 And charming all the twilight shade, Of deeds of other days they tell ; Of hunter chase o'er hill and glade, Of braves that in the battle fell ; And all the home-delighting tales, Till by some saddened memory crossed, Unfinished, late the story fails, Still musing on the loved and lost. 112 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. While she, the maiden, sat apart Content to see the hour prolong, Sat softly crooning to her heart Some stave of love-awakened song. And so the darkness more and more To silence fell, till all was still, Save waves low-lapsing on the shore And Wa-won-ais-se's plainting shrill. But when the night was overpassed. When rested of his weariness, And he again had broke his fast, As he would all his heart confess, From out his Chee-maun forth he bore And wide the costly treasures spread, Such as might friendship heighten inor. And Hayo-went-ha, speaking, said : "As is our people's custom, so I bring you gifts ; such gifts as be Not all unworthy ; yet I know What in return I ask of thee The richest boon can never buy ; In more than friendly bond allied, I seek in these love's dearer tie I seek, this maiden for my bride." THE BRIDAL. 113 Incurious of each costly braid, The aged Chieftain from his mat Put by his pipe, looked on the maid And lonely musing, silent sat ; 37 As he her heart would question so, Or through the rising niist of tears Far-looking into eyes that glow And brighten from the vanished years. u Take her, Hayo-went-ha ! she Is all thine own," bespoke her sire ; " I scorn not gifts like thine to me, But love is more than vain desire. take her ! she with thee will go ; And wifely-wise her heart shall bear The name and fame thou dost bestow, And worthy thou of bride so fair." What bliss her lowly toiling lent Through all the beauteous autumn days ; For not alone the maiden went To joyous pluck the ruddy Maize. How quick and strong the hands to dare, When love their labor more endears ; For Hayo-went-ha, he would bear The burden of the ripened ears. 38 114 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. Love ! thou lendst a heightened charm Not to the maiden's brow alone ; No less upon his manly form Thy all-ennobling presence shone, With a celestial luster glowed, His every feature lightened through ; His very step, as forth he strode, Seemed quickened with that rapture new. As glad the orient's kindling glow The hastening day betokens wide, So beauty's rarer splendors show The maiden ripening to the bride ; Her bosom throbs more tenderly, More rarely shines each maiden grace ; More lovely than the maid, we see The woman in the maiden face. Love only love, a beauty wears ; If touching but her shining hem The plainest way-side damsel bears More than a jewelled diadem. And oh, what art can heighten more The peerless charms that her adorn, When she that was so fair before, Transfigured, waits the nuptial morn ! THE BRIDAL. 115 On her, the forest's lowly maid, Robed on with every virgin grace, Whose proudest wish had never strayed Beyond the Yong-we's home and place, How passing fair love's mantle shone ; Love bears the true enchanter's wand, And beauty wrought of love alone Is beauty of the Morning Land. Calm lit thy bridal, dawning bright ; Thy heart no baser feeling moved ; And Nature smiled her dear delight, And Oway-neo glad approved The chastened nuptial tie and band Of hearts by simple love allied, When thou, nor unadorned, didst stand The noble Hayo-went-ha's bride. More tender woke the woman's tone, While like the morning's ruby rise A radiant splendor round thee shone Looked beauteous from thy starry eyes, O'er cheek and breast emmaiitled warm ; When thou, in all thy maiden charms, Didst yield thy lovely maiden form To Hayo-went-ha's manly arms. 16 116 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. Near in the rapture-burdened blue, And dancing with love's fairy feet, The twinkling 0-jis-hon-da drew, Peeped conscious of love's secret sweet ; Wo-ne-da, winging o'er the wold, Clasped in the yearning arms of Night, Put back her bosom's cloudy fold, Made crimson with the new delight. The wood through all its leafiness Stood thrilled with maiden tenderness; The yearning sea returned the kiss, And blushed, of Morning's fond caress. The bridal waves ecstatic swam, Lapsed fainting on the loving shore ; The Zephyr, bearing nectar-balm, Fell, drunken with the bliss it bore, As forth they wandered hand in hand. Approved by Nature's mother-heart, Love well had wrought -the nuptial band,- What more might solemn rite impart ? If love the wedding feast prepare, Love at the marriage banquet wait, More than the priestly hand is there ; The very air is consecrate. THE AFTER-DAYS, Flower of Love ! though wildling born, Your lowly buds that blossom free Do fair the tree of life adorn, That else had been a barren tree. Though frag ranee sweet beyond compute Js thine, and beauty passing praise, More precious far the ripened fruit We garner in the After Days. XI THE AFTER-DAYS. WHERE singing like a joyous thing Went Yo-yo-hon-to on its way, Where on the night-wind's lightest wing Came up Ti-o-to's " E-wa-yea," There, beauteous on the grassy strand And near beside the sheltering wood, And wrought by Hayo-went-ha's hand, The new-built wigwam brightly stood. And patient toiled he many a day With sinew-string and barky thong, With loop and seam and stitch and stay, Intent to make it firm and strong. Then forth he went with shaft and bow And many a hairy skin he bore, Of Yek-wai and of 0-kwa-ho, And softly matted all the floor. 120 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS, To charm and guard his home and place Its barky sides he pictured fair With to-tems of his name and race, Where fierce the Tortoise, Wolf and Bear High on its barky cover shone ; Each type and symbol, such as thence The greatly wise may draw alone The mystery of the hidden sense. And there he brought the aged sire, And there Nyah-tah-wanta came ; She broke the sticks, she built the fire, While sweeter than the crackling flame The song that murmured in her heart, So overfull of love's unrest. Oh ! love can wake the songful art That slumbers in the rudest breast. Glad wore the days, with joy allied, Of Hayo-went-ha's hunter-life ; And she that was a beauteous bride More beauteous ripened to the wife ; And if at whiles o'erwearied pressed The feet the household burdens bore, It sweetened more the after-rest ; Love-lit, the Home-fire brightened more. THE AFTER-DAYS. 121 But fairest life will sorrows dim : Erelong, with mighty arm and cold, Dread 0-wah-ai-gut came for him Her sire more feeble grown and old, And bore him to the Better Land; Land that the dim horizon bounds, Where roams each dusky tribe and band- The nobler Spirits 1 Hunting Grounds. And him they dressed with loving care : They wrapped him in his blanket new, His moccasins that were beaded fair, His snowy leggins softly drew ; 39 His brow they bound with warrior-band And crowned it with the eagle-plume ; They laid his war-club in his hand, Then bore him to the waiting tomb. And Hayo-went-ha, through his tears, Said, speaking to the chieftain gone : "0 thou whom parting more endears, Beloved ! who hast journeyed on, Albeit a weary way and long, To land where noble Hunters dwell, The Mighty Warriors, brave and strong, ! Knee-ha, Father ! fare thee well.' 140 122 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Nyah-tah-wanta's deeper pain Her trembling lips but ill expressed ; Her tears were like the summer rain, And like the rain, they soothed and blest ; Her cheek the sod in anguish pressed, . But not for long ; she leaned her head On Hayo-went-ha's manly breast And wept and then was comforted. Again the days in beauty wore : Erelong Nyah-tah-wanta pressed The dream her maiden bosom bore Her darling to her mother's breast. As to Nyah-tah-wanta he In all the years had dearer grown, So, in her motherhood, was she More truly Hayo-went-ha's own. v Though hers the woman's destiny Though pain the mother's love unsealed, No tearful sorrow-burdened cry The mother's anguished pain revealed ; For she the lofty faith possessed, That, coward weakness held in scorn, Endurance in the mother-breast Wrought courage in the newly-born. 41 THE AFTER-DAYS. 123 How wondrous strange a beauty hath The glimmering life, so newly lit ; How sweet along the home-led path The pattering of the tiny feet. Can rarer joy for mortal be, A purer bliss may mortal know, Than on love's bounteous breast to see A dearer life in beauty grow ? The bridal days come back again, Love brightens to each fond caress ; Aye ! even the mother's deeper pain Do soft endearments turn to bliss ; What good may heart of Woman own, What joy her simple joy above, Far dwelling in the forest lone ? What is there more than home and love ? 42 When from the land had fled amain The winter glooms, in cheerful toil She took great 0-nust's luscious grain And hid it in the fruitful soil. She anxious watched the tiny spears, Made mellow round each springing blade, Or joyous plucked the ripened ears, As meet for Indian wife or maid. 17 124: THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Or, with the housewife's frugal care, Far through the forest's windy ways She roamed, the fallen nuts to bear And garner for the wintry days ; Or in the woods the sticks would break And bear them to her lowly door, To cook the Mosa-meat, and make The cheerful Home-fire brighten more. While Hayo-went-ha wore the day In following with his shaft and bow The lofty-antlered Me-sha-way, Or fiercely-howling 0-kwa-ho ; The snowy Wau-bos, tender-eyed, The Jit-sho with the wary tread, The Ne-jig with the sleeky hide, The shagged Yek-wai, prowling dread. She watched the midnight-brooding star Chased by the dawn, and unafraid Save but for him, whose feet afar Still in the hunter-chase delayed ; Or in his Chee-maun fleet and free, That willing went and willing came, Borne lightly o'er the foaming sea Where, waiting, lit the Council-flame. THE AFTER-DAYS. 125 When from the Council Fire returned, He rested on his couch and mat, The cheerful blaze more brightly burned ; When by its kindling flame he sat, Or shone the robe so newly wrought On Hayo-wont-ha's manly breast, Like that the bridal morning brought The joy the wifely heart confessed. And more the mother's breast would own The mother's joy, nor less delight The little maid, when gaily shone Her fawn-skin kirtle, snowy-white ; And day by day, in rarer grace The lithesome form did heighten more ; Nor less the soul that lit the face Grew, curious of all forest-lore. To charm the twilight, waiting lone, She from the wigwam's fables old Told of the deeds in days unknown, Or childhood's fairy stories told : Of Mana-bo-zho he that set His legs to roast the Kee-wau-nee ; Whence came the willows red, that yet Are gory-red as you can see. 126 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Of Shin-ge-bis so brave and bold, Or duck or man, as he might please ; Him that, with all his storm and cold, Kabi-bon-ok-ka could not freeze. All stories of the vanished years, The wondrous fireside Folk-songs old Told to the maiden's willing ears ; As but by Indian mothers told. The while the reedy mats she made Or lit the embers, falling dim, Or wove the precious wampum-braid And charmed the hour with thoughts of him ; Or, Hayo-went-ha more to bless, The little maiden by her side, With patient hand of weariness She dressed Skan-o-do's hairy hide. And growing, more the maiden grew The mother's joy, the father's pride ; She all the wigwam fables knew, Nor less her hand to labor plied ; But when her little task was done, So learned in all the stories old, Her pretty tongue would prattle on He-tell the tales the mother told. THE AFTER-DAYS. 127 You would a willing ear have lent ; Like this her simple legendry : "As through the woods the Be-zhu went Sore pressed with hunger, did he see High on a bank beyond his reach The snowy Wau-bos, tender-eyed ; And in his very sweetest speech 'Come here, my pretty one,' he cried. " The gentle beast, replying, spake : 'I thank you, but it cannot be ; My mother said, I must not make, Most noble sir, with strangers free. 1 '0 loveliest.! 1 he answered fair, Obedient child, you need not fear ; How worthy of such parent's care ! I am a relative, my dear, "'Of yours, and only wish to send A word to those we love ; stay ! ' He said, 'I am your dearest friend, Indeed ! come down to me, I pray. 1 She, at his flattering address, Forgot her mother's good advice ; And drawing near, that Hare, alas ! Was torn and eaten in a trice. 11 128 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. She told of love the tender tales ; Of him that journeyed far and high, Son of the Evening Star that trails A glory down the western sky : " Osseo wrinkled was and old All for an Evil Manito ; But he was good and wise and bold His was a tender heart and true. u And Oweenee, the lovely maid, She all her lovers turned away, Though decked with beads and wampum-braid And young and brave and painted gay. "They laughed when she Osseo wed Laughed at his feeble step and slow ; But ' I am happy, 1 still she said, And who is foolish you shall know.' " Osseo wrinkled was and old ; He hid him in a hollow tree ; When forth he came a j^outh, behold ! No other youth so fair as be. THE AFTER-DAYS. 129 " Oh, noiie indeed did ever know Such straight and tall and handsome man, With all the fleetness of the Roe With all his strength come back again ! " Alas ! the magic witchery That unto him such beauty lent, Made her, his dearest Oweenee, Decrepid, wrinkled, old and bent. u Yet spake Osseo words of cheer ; He called her still each tender name, He called her Nee-nee-moosh-a dear- He called her sweetheart all the same. u Though they, the Evil Powers, did mar Her every feature, he could see Within and shining like a star, All lovely still, his Oweenee. " And with a cry he broke the spell : Lo ! all the wrinkled ugliness Fell from her like a garment fell, Left only beauty's charm and grace. 130 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. " But all the lovers, sisters, they That flouted, jeered and spake her ill, Were changed to birds and flew away, And in the woods are singing still. " While like the morn that night illumes, Was Oweenee, so lovely grown ; Or like the Swan with glistening plumes, So new her snowy kirtle shone. " Her bowls no longer were of wood. Her kettles all like silver showed ; The barky lodge that glimmering stood, Like flaming wings, it swayed and glowed. " Then heard they far-off voices call, That through the twilight tender fell : 1 The magic spells are broken all, Gome, in the Stars immortal dwell. 1 "And lo ! the wigwam rising free, Went speeding through the ether far ; Till with Osseo, Oweenee, It rested on the Evening Star. THE AFTER-DAYS. 131 "No more to wrinkled grow and die, No more in weary toil to pine ; To dance and sing not weep and cry- To like the starlight glow and shine." All home-delighting tales she told : Of him, the wrestler never thrown, The greatest trickster, jester bold, The greatest mischief-maker known ; Him, Pau-puk-kee-wis, wizard sprite, That in a hundred forms was slain, Yet ever with new strength and might In bird and beast did live again. Of him, far seeking fairer boon Than is the noblest gift of men, losco, to the sun and moon That journeyed, and returned again ; Of all the wonders that he saw, The strange adventures that befel, Of every mighty Manito That helped or hindered, she could tell, 18 132 THE LEAGUE OF THE 1HOQUOIS. Of the Magician's Daughter ; she, The Red Swan, whose gay plumage lent A glory to the land and sea ; Who, when his magic arrows spent, Still on and on the hunter drew And all his manly courage tried ; Until, so brave was he and true, He won the maiden for his bride. And of the shining Stone Canoe, Wherein the hapless lover passed Into the Land of Souls, and saw The maiden he had mourned, the rest That waits on all the good and brave, Land where no parting is or pain ; Returning thence across the wave He trod this darkened Earth again. Of Kwa-sind, Mana-bo-zho's friend, So strong that mighty rocks he threw ; Who freed the rivers, cleared the land, And A-meek, King of Beavers, slew. Who for his pride of strength and might, For all his pride and boasting vain, Was slain, alas ! in hate and spite By little mean Puck-Wudj-ies slain. THE AFTER-DAYS. 133 Of him that, fasting all too long, Changed to 0-pee-chee, gaily sings Till all the grove is loud with song, So happy in the gift of wings. Of the Foam Woman, Pee-ta-Kway, The Moccasins that enchanted draw ; Of her the Fairies stole away, The lovely maiden Lee-li-nau.* And more, as grows the kindling dawn, In beauty grew the little maid ; That free and lithesome as the fawn Went dancing through the windy glade ; And oft when summer breezes fanned Her glowing cheek, afar was heard Her little song, that o'er the land She caroled like a singing bird. And as in stature, more she grew In forest-lore, till passing well She all the marvelous stories knew, More than lago's self could tell. Nor less a maiden heart and kind Her bosom bore, while in her face Shone all the father's wiser mind Lit with the mother's tender grace. * lliawatha Legends, by H. R. SCHOOLCRAFT. 134 THE LEAGUE OF THE 1BOQUOIS. Serene the days had onward flown, The years that only came to bless, And Hayo-went-ha great had grown In majesty and nobleness ; More wide had spread his prophet-fame The Dusky Tribes to lead and teach ; And many a warrior c'hieftain came To hearken to his wiser speech. His name on every wind had flown Wherever dusky warriors roam ; Yet dearer to his heart had grown The long-familiar paths of home ; Its soothing tones that gently woke, Still more had power to charm and bless ; And in his voice, the while he spoke, There dwelt a deeper tenderness. And teaching, more himself had taught Of all this being's end and aim ; That mighty deeds, with glory fraught, If fame, is not the noble ?t fame ; Not triumph in the bloody strife Nor yet to give to pleasure loose, But that the measure meet of life Is Virtue, Wisdom, Love and Use. THE COUNCIL. Blest Oway-neo high above, Thou only mighty, all in all, Thou that art Immortal Lore, Must bear us or we faint and fall! 0! give us more of trust to feel In Thee; Thee more to understand ; To see in all, or woe or weal, Thy presence and tliy loving hand. XII THE COUNCIL. As if too much might bliss endear This all too-quickly passing life, Erelong to Hayo-went-ha's ear Came rumors of War's ruthless strife ; The fell Algonquin warriors fierce With war-ax red and angry bow Had come ; their savage yells did pierce The very home of Manito. And lo ! afar the lurid streaks From flaming wigwams lighted past ; While Kax-aa's cries and Yong-we's shrieks Dread mingled with the awful blast. A sorrow wail that, east or west, Or north or south, still onward swept, And kindled in each dusky breast The fiery soul that long had slept. 138 THE LEAGUE OF THE 1BOQVOIS. ~And forth at Hayo-went-ha's call The widely-scattered chieftains came, Where fearful shone night's gloomy pall, Lit with the mighty Council-flame 4S Far kindled on Yo-non-to, high Above the Onondaga flood ; Bright flaring on the midnight sky, Illuming hill and wave and wood. Three days that beacon-light had shone On plumes a thousand warriors wore ; Still Hayo-went-ha waited lone Beside Ti-o-to's farther shore, Nor to the Council came ; and fleet Went hunters, swiftest in the chase, Went messengers with flying feet, To bring him to the Council-place. And him they found ; nor bold and proud He stood, as one of noble state ; But sat he mute, in sorrow bowed The presage of a darker fate. His breast an evil omen bore, Foretelling he no more should come Back from the Council-place, nor more Be gladdened by the smiles of home. THE COUNCIL. 139 In fitting words, nor overbold, To him they spake ; how, burning dim, The Council still delayed ; they told What mighty chieftains waited him ; What braves the fiercer foe had slain ; How women wept and children mourned ; Till pitying so his People's pain, Or he his lighter sorrow scorned, Or bowing to the will of Fate, Uprose ; and not as one bereft, But with a firmer step elate ; And on that manly face was left Of anguished thought, nor trace nor stain ; But with the olden fire imbued The scorn of fear, the scorn of pain Of ONGUE HONWE'S lofty mood. Bright in the morning's dawning light Shone Hayo-went-ha's Prophet-face, As it some passion's stormy might Had lit and left a fiery trace ; His brow of mighty purpose showed, His eye of valor's kindling ken ; His very step, as forth he strode, Was haughty, as of kingly men. 19 14:0 THE LEAGUE OF THE IPOQUOIS. And forth again the wondrous barge From out its secret place he brought ; Bore softly to the pebbly marge The bark by mystic fingers wrought The Chee-maun blest of Manito, That paddle-bearing hand had none, Yet fleetly on, and onward drew When Hayo-went-ha willed it on ; That bore him in the days before, In radiant summers long agone, To fair Ti-o-to's pebbly shore, When, lit with love's awakening dawn, It glowed as Oway-neo there Had built his wigwam on the strand. Oh, love can make the common rare Make every land a summer-land ! It erst had many a storm withstood ; Him with his mighty bow it bore To slay the monsters of the flood, Great Ke-ka-dah-nong on the shore ; And far on many a stranger sea, Wherever most might knowledge loose Her sacred seal, or glory be ; But now should prove its nobler use. THE COUNCIL. 141 As if with warrior-pride elate, Or felt again love's fond desire, It lightly skipped, as loth to wait To bear him to the Council Fire ; On Onondaga's breast to dance Far on the sea to dance and leap, Before the westering sun should glance His arrows from the rocky steep. In royal mantle woven fair, Nyah-tah-wanta's hand had made, Where shone the Tortoise, Wolf, and Bear, Shone fierce in many a to-tem braid ; In moccasins with the marvelous hem, In snowy leggins, beaded grand, Inwrought with many a curious gem, He trod the Onondaga strand. And her he called the little maid From out the leafy summer wood, Glad singing through the windy glade The simple songs of maidenhood ; And when anear she lightly run, Said to the maiden tenderly, "Go, put your beaded kirtle on, Your mantle new, and go with me." 142 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. And as the maid with quicker tread And gayer song went lightly by, The mother, though she nothing said,- The mother, though she knew not why, Was loth to let the damsel go ; Perchance within a deeper breast, Of danger that she did not know, She felt the trouble and unrest. Swift sped afar the mystic bark, Bright on the tide the morning broke ; But Hayo-went-ha, brooding dark, Looked on the tide, and nothing spoke ; As if he spied in outward sight, Or saw with clearer inner eye, Or inly felt the spell and might Of awful sorrow, boding nigh. Though with that omened dread imbued, Some tender thought his bosom bore Unto the mother where she stood, Sad lingered on the pebbly shore. Nyah-tah-wanta watching vain That magic Chee-maun speeding fast, Still looked and wept, and felt the pain As if that parting were the last. THE COUNCIL. 143 When lost unto her anxious sight, She homeward turned with weary tread To mourn the wigwam's lost delight ; While unto him, as on he sped, Ti-o-to's banks, receding, grew More dim and faint ; still on, away To where the hurrying currents drew Of swiftly-running Seneca. And many an ill-foreboding bird Along the reedy borders woke ; A grief-betokening tono he heard In great Da-hin-da's hoarser croak ; The war Ke-neu, with screech and squall, Bore to his ear a sorrow-cry ; In noisy Wa-wa's honking call He heard an evil prophecy. The pretty maid, with heart elate, Her paddle in the limpid sea, Sat, only so to keep it straight, The Ghee-maun lightly speeding free ; Or more to charm her maiden care Or so the lingering hour to chide, She pulled the lilies blooming fair, Or watched the silver ripples glide. 144 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Her little songs she softly sang Or watched the tiny minnows throng, Or listened to the lonely Mahng, Nor heard in his a troubled song ; She saw the Sa-wa darting free, Skan-o-do browsing in the wood ; Nor thought of coming ill had she, The little maiden, fair and good. And still away it lightly run, Like wing of bird that light canoe; Still Hayo-went-ha willed it on, And still the willing current drew ; Till swiftly up the So-ha-hi That airy bark he lightly pressed ; Now Onondaga glimmers nigh Lo ! now he skims its flashing breast. High on Yo-iion-to far away A thousand dusky warriors wait ; The morn is passed, and still they say, 11 He comes not Hayo-went-ha great." But lo ! along the reedy marge A lonely Chee-maun speeding free ; And "Knee-ha! Knee-ha!" greets the barge: "My father ! father ! it is he ! !" THE COUNCIL. 145 Near and more near ; he gains the shore ; From out the bark with loving hand The maiden dear he lightly bore ; While voices , waking all the land, The Chieftain greet, now more their hope. A thousand warriors on him wait To bear him up the grassy slope, Where, empty, waits the lodge of state. But lo ! what sound from far is heard ? What fierce-descending form is there With pinions of a mighty bird, That rived and blackened all the air ? How thrilled the bravest hearts with fear ! With wings that brought the gloom of night, That terror-bearing creature near Swooped frightful on their startled sight. Still down and down ; still circling nigh, While deepened more the shrouding gloom ; Still down and down ; till all the sky Shone awful with impending doom ! How fled the frightened multitude Fled wild and shrieking everywhere ! While calm great Hayo-went-ha stood He and the little maiden fair. 146 THE LEAGUE OF THE IKOQUOIS. And why should Hayo-went-ha flee ? Or why should fear his heart appall ? Was not great Oway-neo, He The Mighty Ruler over all, Around him in the fearful ways, As in the path that peaceful smiles ? To yield him more these frailer days, Or bear him to the Happy Isles. Swift sped the shafts from thousand strings Swift sped, and true, hut all in vain ; For though the monster's frightful wings Lay shivered on the crimson plain, A cry, that startled all the vale, That shook the listening sea with dread, Went up ; a wail an awful wail For her, the Chieftain's darling dead. And wonder more their sorrow stirred : For lo ! where stood the little maid, Killed dreadful ! by that frightful bird, Itself crushed dead along the glade, Nor lifeless form nor human trace Was there, nor parted vesture found ; Though strewn with plumes was all the place, And blood-besprinkled all the ground, THE COUNCIL. 147 And over Hayo-went-ha's soul The mighty tides of anguish swept ; He bowed him to their fierce control, And sorely sorrow-stricken wept ; And grief from bravest hearts outpoured Rang piercing through the frightened air ; Till waking Echo, weeping, heard The wail and lamentation there. Three days he wept beside the sea, He wept till he could weep no more ; Three days of tearful agony Prostrate he lay along the shore ; Nor tasted food day after day, Bemoaning wild her sadder fate ; He nothing spake as dead he lay, Heart-broken and disconsolate. And Nature, grieving, mourned with him : As brooding her untimely doom, The saddened watch-fire flickered dim, The midnight wore a deeper gloom ; The Moon her cloudy mantle drew In sorrow for the stricken Chief; The darkened woods, the long night through, Stood silent in the hush of grief. 20 148 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQVOIS. Along the sea more lonesome woke The moaning of the lonely Mahng ; The great Da-hin-da's hoarser croak From out the brake more doleful rang ; The Ko-ko-ko-ho's mournful hoot Blent with the Wa-won-ais-se's moan ; The troubled waves, with swash and bruit, Lapsed with a wailing undertone. The while the Council still delayed, Delayed his wiser speech to hear, When he his deeper grief had stayed. At length to him with words of cheer Came the kind-hearted Hosee Noke ; His head upraising from the ground, He unto Hayo-went-ha spoke, Who thence a little comfort found. Where he had lain upon the sands He sat ; his trembling knees he pressed ; His gray locks, in tear-tangled strands, Fell down upon that aching breast. But broken was that spell ; allayed His grief ; him meat they brought and bread ; He, sitting mute, his hunger stayed, And eating, more was comforted. THE COUNCIL. 149 Erelong amid that faithful band He stood as one for honor meet, Majestic, fitted to command ; Once more with quickened pulses beat His heart within a tranquil breast ; More brightly glowed his prophet-face, As he the joy and peace possessed Of Oway-neo's Shining Place. Prophet Soul ! to thee allowed, As ever to the good and wise, To see beyond the storm and cloud The glimmer of the morning-rise ; And loss like thine, that deeply grieves The heart that most may love confess, Upon the chastened spirit leaves The seal of every nobleness. And if his thought still wandered prone To her, the darling little maid, Or her, the mother far and lone, No truant tear his grief betrayed. The warrior brave alone was seen ; His very step so free and bold Or where he sat, his lofty mien, Alone of valorous purpose told. 150 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Once more in Wolf-skin robe arrayed, In snowy plume and eagle crest, With mighty heart, its grief allayed With all the greatness of the past Again returned, calm as before Stood OXGUE HOKWE'S noblest Chief, The Council called ; remembering more His stricken People's greater grief. His royal mantle, wove and wrought With to-tems of his race and name, That from his face a glory caught, Shone like the Council-kindled flame ; Where fierce the Tortoise, Wolf, and Bear Did frown and glower, as in a cage The living beasts were prisoned there, And scarce restrained their fiery rage. Again he strode with kingly tread, Or, mid the braves that round him wait, Nor token showed of grief or dread, Sat greatest of the chieftains great. With grave intent he listened long ; Heard many a fiery speaker tell Of all his People's woe and wrong, Till twilight's deepening shadows fell. THE COUNCIL. 151 Then rising, brief he spoke ; he said : " Whom the Great Spirit hath bereft, Again nor all uncornforted Before you stands. Of blessings left Than of the lost, he that is wise Takes more account ; the ills of Fate Blest are to him whose heart relies On love of Oway-ueo great. 1 ' And " What ye spake, braves, I have heard. Haste is not meet ; whoso is wise Weighs all, and finds the fitting word ; Nor yet too late. To just appraise What in our need may profit, seek Ye counsel of to-morrow's sun ; Again will Hayo-went-ha speak. He that has said it, he is done." The slow-departing day has fled, The shadows deepen on the land Where, all un vexed of coward dread, Hope-girded waits that noble band Of warrior braves ; their faces lit Fierce, like the flames that pale and glow, As watching late, they wary sit Around the camp-fire, blazing low. 152 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQVOIS. And silence with the brooding night Falls like a mantle over all, Save where along the rocky height Is heard the Ko-ko-ko-ho's call ; The soaring Wa-wa's honking clang, Or mournful on the farther sea The crying of the lonely Mahng, Or waves' low-lapsing minstrelsy. SPEECH OF HAYOWENT-HA, Made potent with the might of Speech Thought holds the keys of Destiny ; And borne on fieri/ lips may reach And mold the Ages yet to be. Whoso can speak the fitting word When darkly threatening perils wait, His tongue is mightier than the sword To shape a Nation's future fate. XIII SPEECH OF HAYO-WENT-HA. Ho ! MY PEOPLE ! all ye bands ! ONGUE HONWE'S greatness prove. He that now before you stands Loves you with a father's love ; Love that wrongs still more endear, Wrongs this grieving heart has heard. All ye wandering tribes give ear ! Hearken Hayo-went-ha's word. Fierce is your Algonquin foe ; Far the wail of sorrow wakes ; Noblest braves are bowed in woe, Every heart with anguish aches ; Dark the wigwams, smouldering, reek, Lurid glares the ghastly light ; Kax-aa's cry and Yong-we's shriek Make more hideous the night. 21 THE LEAGUE OF THE IliOQUOIS. Brothers ! that before me stand, Though of many a lodge and name, Though of many a tribe and band, One in hope and one in aim, And may one in greatness grow, Let not fear your hearts appall ; But remembering this our foe Is the common foe of all, Hearken ! Ye that far have come, Ye that nearer dwell ! The same Unto all alike is home ; Dear the warrior's name and fame ; And, as will your valor prove, On the war-path unafraid, Dear is Yong-we's heart of love, Dear the wigwam's mat and shade. And in warning sign to-day, That ye see not, do I see In the coming battle-fray Must ye more than brothers be. By the friendly hand ye reach Each to each, ye stand or fall ; Only so the good of each Finding in the good of all. SPEECH OF HAYO-W ENT-HA. 157 Lo ! this mantle that I bear, Mark the hem that glitters so ; In each fold, bright woven there, See our warrior to-tems show r ! Part the thongs that interlace, All this beauty, wondrous wrought, Parted from its use and place Many a piece the thing were naught. Now, alas ! my people all Like the separate pieces show ; Severed still, they can but fall, Strength nor use nor beauty know. But by loving bond and thong Wove, as is this wondrous vest, Then a People great and strong, And by Oway-neo blest. Round this Council Fire to-day We may shape the future fate Of the tribes, that severed stray, To a Nation wise and great. Singly we can never cope With these fierce Algonquin bands ; Union is our only hope Union of our hearts and hands. 158 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Ours a common cause must be ! But one hope all hearts inspire ; But one name, one destiny, But one pipe, one Council Fire, But one war-club must we know, Wielded by one common hand ; One war-cry, one warrior-bow, But one home, one common land ! Brothers ! hearken what I say ! Hayo-went-ha's words are good ; Union is our hope to-day All our hope in brotherhood ! If you wise my counsel heed, Of the foe that now we fear Soon shall all the land be freed. Ho ! each separate Tribe give ear ! Mohawks, Ye, whose footstep lightly treads Where the Great Tree branches wide Far its greening shelter spreads, Ye who in its shade abide, Ye whose hearts are bold and free, Ye whose arms are mighty all Shall among the ITations be First to wake the Council-call. SPEECH OF HAYO-WENT-HA. 159 Onondagas, Ye, whose habitations nigh By the Great -Hills peaceful keep ; Near by Yo-nond, beetling high, Shadowed by its cragged steep ; For in that in you I see In you all the gifted speech, Yours the second place shall be ; Great to lead and great to teach. Senecas, Ye, whose dwelling-place is where Wakes Ku-ha-go's sough and moan, Ye whose homes are builded fair Tn the forest dark and lone ; For in that you greatly show Cunning in the hunter chase, For your mighty hunter-bow, Third shall be your Council-place. Oneidas, Ye who in the Council shine On the war-path mighty grown ; Ye who strong and great recline By the Everlasting Stone ; That you counsel always wise, Neither weak nor over-bold, Shall you great in Council rise, Fourth your place in Council hold. 160 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQVOIS. Cayugas, Ye whose homes are builded nigh Where the open country lies ; Ye whose wigwams, wide and high, Show a skillful hand and wise ; For in this, that in your fields Much of corn and beans I see, That your patient labor yields, Fifth shall in the Council be. 44 Brothers ! that before me stand, Though of many a lodge and name, Though of many a tribe and band. One in hope and one in fame ! In this bond united be : None shall make your hearts afraid ; You a Nation great and free, Never foe will dare invade. And to you with feeble hands That a fishing people are ; And to you the scattered bands Widely wandering everywhere, Strength shall this alliance lend ; So the weaker may not fall, But the weakest find a friend In the friendliness of all. SPEECH OF HAYO-WENT-UA. 161 May He, Oway-neo great, Smile upon your Council-flame, And his blessing on you wait Heighten more your noble fame ; May you clvrell, your sorrows passed, Happy in the hunter-chase ; And your foot-steps tread at last Inigorio's Shining Place. But dissevered, evermore On you shall the fiery frown Of the angry Spirit pour ; War and famine darken down Over all your goodly land, Now the land of noble braves ; And your wigwams ruined stand, Ruined by dishonored graves ! Often, in war's wild array, Shall your dread Algonquin foe Come as he has come to-day Filling all the land with woe. Or, again, more fierce and bold, Come the Adirondack fell, You as from your homes of old From this fairer land expel. 45 162 THE LEAGUE OF THE 1ROQUOIS. And no brave that coward bleeds Shall the after-days recall ; All your mighty fame and deeds In the war-storm perished all ! Till on every land and shore Where your children joyous throng, Shall your names be heard no more In the dance and in the song. Brothers ! hearken what I say ! Hayo-went-ha's words are good ; Union is our hope to-day All our hope in Brotherhood ! If by this my counsel led, Choose ye by to-morrow's sun ; Hayo-went-ha, he has said Hayo-went-ha, he is done. HAYOWENT-HA'S MOURNING. 22 Who tells of Life the story through Must of its gloom and shadoiv shoir ; Who sings of Love in numbers true Must wake at whiles a song of ivoe. No heart in any human breast In any land, in any age, The noblest born, the lowliest, But bears a tear-dimmed sorrow-page, HAYO-WENT-HA'S MOURNING. To THE MIDNIGHT'S brooding star Brightly Onondaga shows ; On Yo-non-to's summit far Faintly dim the watch-fire glows ; Lone the Ko-ko-ko-ho's call Echoes from the rocky steep ; Hoarse the Wa-wa's honkings fall Sad along the lonely deep. Lo ! upon the shining sands Hayo-went-ha lingers late ; Lone the mighty Chieftain stands Brooding dark his sorrow great ; On his royal mantle fair Sparkles many a costly gem ; 0-jis-hon-da brightly there Twinkle in each beaded hem. 166 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. Like a dirge, the sorrow-moan That the night-birds, waking, sing To his anguished breast alone. Clear the dew-drops pearly cling, Glistening on each shrub and tree ; Tears are they by Nature shed, Tears of loving sympathy For the dear, untimely dead. Through the moonlight falling faint Where the deeper shadows gloam, In the Wa-won-ais-se's plaint Hears he still the voice of home ; Hears he a lament and sigh In the zephyr, winging on ; Like his darling's dying cry Seems the sighing of the Swan. On he wends in deeper care, Pensive on the lonely trail ; Lo ! he startles, what is there ? And his cheek is wan and pale ; Now is seen 'and now is gone, Yanished like the little maid. It is but the frightened fawn Springing in the dusky shade. HAYO-WENT-HA'S MOURNING. 167 Slowly, as in anxious quest, With a measured step he strides ; Greatly heaves his mighty breast, As a mighty grief it hides. Now he stalks with mournful gaze Far along the pebbly strand ; Now his troubled feet he stays On the blood-besprinkled sand. There still lies the awful bird, Wide its broken wings are spread : Now his deeper soul is stirred, Grieving for the loved one dead ; To his yearning fatherhood Now he bows his lofty pride ; Now is loosed the anguished flood. Where the beauteous maiden died. Low he bends upon the sands Red with many a crimson stain ; Now he wrings his brawny hands In his deepening grief and pain ; Tears that at their fountain stayed Water all the grassy plain Pouring for the little maid He shall never see again. 168 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Now lie in his sorrow cries Till the woods with sorrow wake, On the night-wind wails and sighs As his loving heart would break ; Till the lowly listening sea Answers from its farther shore : "Woe is me ! Oh, woe is me ! Woe is me forevermore ! ! " Other thoughts more poignant stir In his heart that wanders prone, Pierced and bleeding, unto her, Her, the mother, waiting lone In the Yong-we's home and place ; Now with tearful eyes and red, Soon, alas ! to wail and cry For her precious darling dead. Up and down the purple shore Wanders dark the stricken chief; In his sorrow sorrowing more For her trouble, pain and grief : In the wigwam left behind, Mourning for her parted child, She will never comfort find For her anguish fierce and wild. HAYO-WENT-HA'S MOURNING. 169 Hark ! in many a sigh and moan, Oh, alas ! that he must go In his Chee-maun all alone Where Ti-o-to's billows flow ! Evermore to weep and yearn, To the wigwam's mat and shade How can he again return Taking not the little maid ? 46 How the bitter tidings bear ? Oh, what ill might her betide, Seeing Hayo-went-ha there, But no maiden by his side ! How that dearer heart would ache ! Can he meet that tearful gaze ? Oh, the tender heart may break- On., the darkened after-days ! If to go is sorest grief, Not to go it deepens more ; Who can give her pain relief, Waiting on that troubled shore ? Watching through the lonely day Through the lonely night in vain, For the loved ones far away, She will never see again. 170 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Nobler soul ! Though uncontrolled Is the woe thy bosom knows ; In its anguish unconsoled, In each loving tear that flows, For the loved ones pouring free ; In thy pierced and bleeding breast, In its pulse of agony Is thy greatness more confessed. Oh, methinks the mighty heart Bravest in the battle-strife, Sorrowed, feels a keener smart ! He that girds a noble life, He that deeds heroic dares, Deeds that most do greatness prove, Deeper pain his bosom bears, Throbbing with its larger love. Yet shall he, so sorely pressed By the evil hand of fate, Owning in a deeper breast Love of Oway-neo great, Soonest in the darkened years Yield the pain of ills that throng To the medicine of tears, In the Faith Immortal strong. THE LEAGUE / peerless dream of Brotherhood ! Thou art Man's noblest heritage ; The perfect State, the final good That still delays from age to age. Thy fairest fruit still ripens late, ! Tree of Life ! thy blossoms new Give rarer promise ; still u-e ivait The years to make their promise true. XV THE LEAGUE. Itf ALL his greatness unsubdued, Nor trace betrayed of sorest grief, He wore again his lofty mood He, ONGUE HOJOVE'S noblest Chief; In royal mantle rich arrayed, The royal mantle woven fair, That showed in many a to-teni braid Inwove, the Tortoise, Wolf and Bear. Though in the kindling Council-flame They frowned and glowered as in a cage, The mighty beasts, and all untamed, Could scarce restrain their fiery rage ; They on that tranquil bosom great Now low with peaceful look reclined ; As if they took the hue and state Of Hayo-went-ha's mood and mind. 174 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. Again, the Council called, he broke The silence with his manly word. . Though Hayo-went-ha little spoke, The waiting braves, that eager heard, Rapt hung upon his every tone With reverence not unmixed with awe ; As if in him, so proud to own Their chieftain, they their savior saw. "Brothers ! wherefore should I speak ? More can Hayo-went-ha say ? You the after-thought is weak Heard his word of yesterday ; Heard what Hayo-went-ha spake, Word of Hayo-went-ha true ; Shall to-day the Council break, But to-day is left to do. " Fair the smiles that on us fall From Great Oway-neo won ; Lo ! his cloudy garments all Has he taken from the sun ; 47 He that sees with clearer sight, Knowing all our heart's desire, Mildly, with approving light, Brightens on our Council Fire. THE LEAGUE. 175 " In His love alone we rest ; He be praised for every good ; So may be oiir Council blest, And our every foe subdued ; Only He can shield from harm When our fiercer foes assail ; Only in His mighty arm May our weaker hand prevail. " Brothers ! that must ever be One in hope and one in fame, In your eyes a light I see Brighter than the Council-flame When its midnight brightness fell ; And I augur from its ray You have pondered wisely well On my word of yesterday. " Brothers ! that before me stand, Though of many a lodge and name, Though of many a tribe and baud ; One in hope, and one in aim ; Shall we stand or shall we fall ? Are my words of counsel good ? Are your hands for Union all ? Are your hearts for Brotherhood ? " 176 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS. There fell a hush on all the land A hush portentous as a cry ; Then with one tongue, one purpose grand, In peal on peal that thundered by, Broke from the answering multitude : "Yea! Knee-hah ! Knee-hah ! E-ghe-aP Reechoed from the farthest wood "Yea! Father, Father, yea !" and "yea!" # # # # * * Ere sank the scream of wakened bird To silence on the widening plain ; Ere Echo there, that startled heard, Had ceased to answer back . 233 Who bowed in years, in spirit brave, u I am an aged hemlock," said ; u Winds of a hundred winters have Fierce whistled through my branches dead. 11 And pilgrims still their footsteps stay Bend o'er his dust with tearful eyes ; " He was the White Man's friend, 11 they say, Or " Here the good Sken-an-do lies. 11 Rise other forms more comely dight : More fair than in the olden days They that I see oh, dear delight ! In beauty that is passing praise, In wifely charm or maiden grace, In snowy kirtle rich arrayed, They light the Yong-we's home and place, Make glad the wigwam's mat and shade. And oft along the glimmering marge Of wider shores, that faint and glow, I see again that mystic barge That mystic Chee-maun come and go ; More beauteous on the flowing tide, More fleet is seen to glide and run, Dance on the billows foaming wide, No paddle has no need of one. 234 THE LEAGUE OF THE 1BOQUOIS. It Hayo-went-ha lightly bears, While brightens more his Prophet-face, As it the glow effulgent wears Of Oway-neo's Shining Place. In beauty made more beautiful I see, by sorrow sanctified, In wifely charms surpassing all Nyah-tah-wanta by his side. And there is she, the little maid, The darling he had mourned as dead, In rarer maiden grace arrayed ; More glad her song, more light her tread ; In mind, as stature, heightened more, With love the mother's love requites ; More deeply learned in forest-lore, She more the father's heart delights. And there they dwell joy complete ! Land where no earthly shadows gloam ; There taste again the rapture sweet Know all the sacred joys of Home. Oh ! Home is where or near or far Our darlings 1 footsteps light the sod ; Wherever they, the loved ones, are In the wide Universe of God. THE BETTER LAND. 235 \Vith woods where endless Summer smiles, That, robed in leafy fragrance stand Year unto year ; unmeasured miles Of verdured plains, of billowy strand, Of meadows wide in mantle green ; Hills that on hills serenely shine, With flowery vales far-stretched between. That snowy tents make more divine, Still looms and fades the Shining Land : The mighty chiefs of noble fame There, as of old, in Council stand ; There, kindling with the kindling flame, They wake again the lofty speech ; But not to fire for mortal strife The warrior's heart ; they, wiser, teach Of Him who Master is of Life. And they that hearken do I see : With faces like the morning lit, Of braves a goodly company, Along the sward they stand or sit ; And there, more lovely, wife or maid, In kirtle new, they sit or stand, In mantle wove of wampum-braid, And moccasins quilled and beaded grand. 31 236 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS. Bright on the wigwams, painted fair I see each to-tem form again, Of Beaver, Tortoise, Wolf, and Bear, Of Falcon, Plover, Deer and Crane ; With picture-writing wondrous shown : All birds and beasts all symbols whence The greatly wise may draw alone The mystery of the hidden sense. Still on the endless Seasons roll : All manly sports their joys enhance ; Elate they play at Bat and Ball. Or shake the Bowl, in game of chance , Or with the hunter's shaft and bow Still, as of old, in passion new, They track afar the flying Roe To hills beyond the farthest blue. There through the forest's leafy sheen Still gleams each royal antlered head, And all the plain's unbroken green Far trembles to each tameless tread ; There every bird beloved of old, That clove the air or swam the sea, With gayer plume, with wing more bold, Still climbs an ampler ether free. THE BETTER LAND. 237 The land and home of worthy braves, By smiling meads and crystal lakes Whose shores no angry billow laves, Where War's wild turmoil never wakes ; By tranquil streams that lightly sing, The green Savannas murmuring through ; Where on the scarcely ruffled spring Still noiseless speeds the light canoe. Though grief still sways with tyrant might. Still binds the waiting years with pain, Some solace for each lost delight To see the loved ones smile again ; To know they dwell immortal there, Where bright the sunset glory smiles ; Their wigwams built eternal are In Inigorio's Happy Isles. And musing on the glory past, The glory that the Ages wait, This heart, despite its sorrow vast, Again is reconciled with Fate ; Nor other thought such comfort brings As Ye that left us are not lost ; But freely quaff life's deeper springs Mid Oway-neo's Shining Host. 238 THE LEAGUE OF THE 1EOQUOIS. Love ! that stays, though suns do go, Abides though all things flee amain, To more and more dost wax and grow, Thou canst the Fore -World build again ; Though sorrow-dim, tear-wet anew, Hope-brightened shines the fading page That here I close. Once more adieu A last adieu, thou Primal Age. MISCELLANEOUS. All Truth through martyrdom is born, That doth the after-ages bless. The Virtue that shall life adorn, The Soul exalt in nobleness, Is to the passing thought and time A sin, when by their standard tried; If but for protest to the crime By hoary Custom sanctified. WINONA. AFAR, where Pepin's waters flow By many a beetling turret steep, With glimmering turrets far below Reflected in the glimmering deep, The rocky heights sad memories stir Of one with faithful heart and true, The maiden, dear Winona, her The stranger Chieftain came to woo. A warrior bold, of presence proud, The Chief of all the Northern Wood ; To him the braves in reverence bowed Or reverent in his presence stood ; His breast of many a battle showed, War waged with many a swarthy band ; And presents rare he free bestowed In barter for the maiden hand. 242 WINONA. The dusky warriors, brave and strong, Around the camp-fire, blazing bright, With feast and pipe and dance and song Made revel with a wild delight ; While he, the stranger Chieftain bold, Profuse his costly gifts displayed ; Of many a deed of valor told So he perchance might win the maid. What fairer boon of Manito Might crown the maiden's heart of pride, Than from her wigwam home to go A mighty chieftain's queen and bride ? In reedy mantle, torn and mean, No more in lowly want to pine, But of a royal lodge the queen, In bear-skin kirtle, beaded fine. But not for him of fame and might She braided fair each raven tress ; Oh, not for him those eyes of night Revealed their starry tenderness ! Oh, not for him the maiden heart Timed the warm pulse of maidenhood Within a breast unsoiled of art, Far-nurtured in the wild and wood. WINONA. 243 In troubled thought she might not tell, Low on her simple couch outspread, Winona, where the shadows fell, Sat burdened with a nameless dread. In fear that darker purpose takes When hope is dead, she turned on him Such tearful glance as only wakes In eyes that sorrows overbrim. Scarce conscious of the passing scene She took in all nor lot nor part ; Till, with familiar voice and mien, That pierced with woe the maiden heart, Bespoke her sire : u Ho, daughter mine ! Make haste to be, like maiden good, The bride of him of noble line, And worthy of our warrior blood ! " Quick rising thence the stricken maid Low bent the haughty chief beside ; Her heaving breast its strife betrayed With maiden grief and maiden pride : "No, father, no ! pray do not let ! My heart is not for him you say ; Too few my maiden summers yet, I cannot be a bride to-day ! 32 244: WINONA. " Though bravest of the braves is he, And I of all the maidens least, His bride and wife I can not be, So do not bid the marriage feast. I low will rest beside the dead, Or lonely wander, old and gray ; But never will Winona wed Till love shall light her wedding-day." Now flickers dim the camp-fire light ; The tawny braves that hideous made With whoop and dance the falling night. Lie slumbering in the dusky shade. A deeper gloom the midnight wears ; Till silence in that fading glow Hangs like some sable wing that bears The presage of on-coming woe. From out the forest dim and faint, From off the waters glooming nigh, Comes up the Wa-won-ais-se's plaint, The Wa-be-wa-wa's clang and cry ; And many a nightbird lonely calls, While sweeter than the morning-rise The dew of sleep that softly falls But not on anguish-burdened eyes. WIN ON A. Slow through the purple gates of even The hours to mournful measures move ; As if the radiant hosts of heaven Looked down with pitying eyes of love ; As conscious of thy breaking heart, Winona, that so lone and late And wildly weeping sitst apart, Sad brooding on the morrow's fate. tender Soul ! heart of grief That trembles like the startled fawn, Or flutters like the aspen leaf Touched by the ruder breath of dawn ! What means thy look so all forlorn, Thy pallid cheek and tearful eye ? Alas'! that thou must wed at morn, Or morn will bring thy hour to die ! Where Ko-ko-ko-ho to the night The hour of midnight sober calls, Where far along the rocky height The silver starlight softly falls, Lo ! sorrowing maiden form appears ; And lone the rocky steeps along Now silent pour her anguished tears Now troubled wakes her saddened song. 246 SONG OF WINONA. "Hush thy moaning, Es-con-aw-baw, Hear my cry ; Hark the plaint of lorn Win-o-na, She must die ! Gitche Manito, pity me ! pity me . Linger nigh; Bear the shade of lost Winona To the sky ! "Wa-bun An-nung, Wa-bun An-nung, Hasten, come ! Dwelling where the shining Spirits Happy roam ; Bring, oh ! bring thy charmed Chee-maun O'er the foam ; Bear Winona's bruised and bleeding Spirit home. " Se-bow-ish-a, Se-bow-ish-a, Sobbing by ; Hoarse Da-hin-da, cease thy croaking Doleful cry ; Wa-won-ais-se, Wa-won-ais-se, Plainting nigh, Hearken to Winona's moaning, She must die ! SONG OF WINONA. 247 " Oft when Segwun fair shall brighten All the plain, By the wigwam shall the Shaw-shaw Build again ; Dear 0-me-me sing her lonesome Sad- refrain; But her song will lost Winona Call in vain. " Oft shall Minne-wa-wa linger In the trees ; Oft shall Show-on-dai-se whisper To the breeze ; Loud the Wa-wa clang his honking On the seas ; But no more shall wake Winona's Song with these. " Soan-ge-ta-ha, my beloved ! Evermore On the beautiful Hereafter's Fairer shore, Soan-ge-ta-ha's dear Winona, Gone before, Still will be his Ne-ne-moosh-a, Weep no more ! 248 SONG OF WINONA. "1 " Gush-ke-wau ! the darkness ! Part the gloom ! Unk-ta-he, low make Winona's Billowy tomb ! Ne-ba-naw-baigs take Winona's Spirit home ! Gitche Manito, pity me ! pity me ! Lo ! I come !" A shriek ! was that the scream of bird ? Was it Key-oshk's the wing I saw ? The Ne-ba-naw-baigs, waking heard The cry, and answered. " Win-o-na !" A shriek that startled all the plain, And mournful as a dying swan ; A shriek a plash ; and Night again Sat weeping o'er a glory gone. And still along the rocky walls, The listening night-wind hushed in awe, The Ko-ko-ko-ho nightly calls : "Lost Win-o-na ! lost Win-o-na !" And far the answering caves along, The Loon from many a lone bayou, Shrieks sorrowing in her midnight song : " Win-o-na 0! Win-o-na !!" WINONA. 249 How beauteous shone thy maiden fame, How beauteous where thy footsteps stood, When, sorrowing in thy maiden blame, Thou trembledst o'er the threatening flood ! What yearnings vain thy heart possessed When love's sweet morning-dream decayed ; No darlings for the woman's breast, No lovelight for the lonely maid ! And oh, what anguish over all What grief the aching breast enfolds, When one so loved and beautiful Goes sorrowing to the Land of Souls ! But yet metbinks I hear the cry From many and many a breaking heart : "Alas ! alas ! oh, would that I Had chose the Indian Maiden's part !" THE GREAT SNAKE OF CANANDAIGUA LAKE A partial sight, a narrow view Has he, an eye to error prone, Who only sees the story true That tells of outward truth alone. The fabled fireside stories old, The lore in childhood's wonder shrined, Do nobler, deeper lessons hold Of Wisdom for the wiser mind. ORIGIN OF THE SENECA NATION. FAIR in a goodly land, beside The springs of Canandaigua, still Yo-non-to looms along the tide, The lofty Nun-dow-aga Hill ; That wide renowned in days of yore, Still frequent breath of wonder stirs ; Whose earthy, fecund bosom bore A nation's great progenitors. What time from out his shining home The mighty Oway-neo came, He to the rocky summit clomb, And all the air was wrapped in flame ; Bright seeming girt with fiery zone, Though robed in mortal garb ; nor less His lofty brow with luster shone Of love's diviner tenderness. 254 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CANANDAIGUA. While she, the wood-emmantled Hill, Blushed red through all her summer face, As, chained in passion's thrall and thrill, She yielded to his rapt embrace ; O'er all the plain a cloudy fold A glory made as if to hide With flaming sunset's fire and gold The bliss of more than mortal bride. All unaware of maiden blame, What time the Seasons onward drew, Her life of other life became A part ; or so in seeming grew ; A marvel more, so new to her The miracle of life to prove ; To feel the quickening pulse and stir That wakes the fond maternal love. Still more a wonder day by day, Until the days to fullness grown The quarried steep in travail lay, In mighty child-birth wail and moan. By earthquake-pain parturient urged, The parted cliff made willing way ; And lo ! a people thence emerged The great and noble Seneca. ORIGIN OF THE SENECA NATION. 255 And lie, whose place is high above, * Them lent his fostering love and care ; Nor knew they idle wisli to rove From land so passing good and fair ; And where the plain in beauty showed, Sloped greening to the rippled wave, Content the infant tribe abode, Each tawny maid and dusky brave. The manly arms so brown and bare From far the poles of cedar brought ; And many a flaggy mat and fair The damsels' lighter fingers wrought ; Still to the brake and to the wood The willing footsteps came and went, Till new, in home-like comfort, stood The lowly Indian's barky tent. And in the years that onward drew He marked the Seasons come and go ; Taught of each varied need, he knew To shape the arrow, string the bow, Swift-speed the pointed shaft, to slay Skan-o-do, to unerring pierce The Mosa on the hills away, The shaggy Yek-wai, prowling fierce. 256 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CANANDAIGUA. While she who bore life's equal part, Who in the wigwam toiling sat, With hand more deft in household art, Wove fair the waiting couch and mat ; With charms than maiden charms more rare, Full-ripened unto matron grace, With gentle, frugal house-wife care Made bright the Yong-we's home and place. And waxing strong, and more and more, The hunters roamed the farthest wood ; While thick along the grassy shore The new built wigwams smiling stood ; Where oft at twilight's dewy fall, Afar the tranquil seas along Woke childhood's gleesome shout and call, Or dusky forest-maiden's song. With skillful bow, with valiant arm, The bravest of the Hunter Race, They went and came, secure from harm, With eager feet pursued the chase ; No fear of foe their bosoms felt, No dread forebode of coming ill ; For blest with peace and plenty dwelt Content The People of the Hill. II THE GREAT SNAKE. How oft, alas ! is sorrow wrought When but of joy we careless dream ; How oft the fairest path is fraught With danger that we little deem. How oft the flower we nurture best But hides the wasp with fatal sting ; Or fondling cherished in the breast, But proves at last a cursed thing. What time, when passed the winter glooms, The Wild-goose clanged his song amain, What time the tender-burgeoned blooms Of spring-time brightened all the plain ; When bearing proud their lesser bow Beyond the Nun-dow-aga Hill, With eager feet that come and go, Elate their little game to kill, 258 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CAXAXDAIGVA. The youthful mimic hunters caught The nursling of a viper brood ; And home the tiny serpent brought A reptile beautiful and good. The pretty snake, though unrestrained, No more unto the wild it dreAV ; But in the wigwam glad remained, And, fondly cherished, greatly grew . Beloved of all, the old and young, The little hands the creature fed, To see it draw its forked tongue And high erect its shining head. Delighted still to see it grow Its ever-growing want supplied, Until in vain their shaft and bow The weaker hands industrious plied. Then portion of their larger game It day by day the hunters gave ; Till o'er the wild it went and came, Or fearless tracked the foaming 1 wave. THE GREAT SNAKE. 259 Now roaming wide ; more fleet and free ; Nor longer beautiful and good ; But growing, grew accursed, to be A dragon of tire field and flood. So great and strong, it fleetly sped Like winged thing from shore to shore ; Becoming more a beast of dread A prowling monster, thriving more. And still the scaly reptile grew, Till it to see foreboded ill ; Till such enormous length it drew, It quite encircled all the hill. And still it grew, and grew, till vain It battened for its daily food On Mosa from the farthest plain, Skan-o-do from the farthest wood. And grew, and grew, and grew, until His food, but not his hunger failed ; As reaching far from hill to hill, He splashed the rivers with his tail. 34 260 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CAXAXDAIGUA. Or hissing like a roaring blast, With eyes like demon, fierce and red, Swift as the wind went writhing past, The hapless Indian's scourg*e and dread. When in the vale he horrid sang The frightened beasts with howlings fled ; The woods, the while his rattles rang, Stood shivering with a scaly dread. When leaping from the rocky steeps He floundered in the frightened waves, The fishes in the startled deeps Went shuddering to the rocky caves. With jaws distent and high in air, With fiery tongue, that went and came, A roaming horror everywhere Destroyer of the Indian's game. Ill THE BATTLE, ALAKMED, the People of the Hill Gazed on that dragon form with dread ; And questioned now how they might kill The ugly beast their hand had fed. And still the danger heightened more ; More near the monstrous thing they saw : More frightful woke his hiss and roar, More wicked clashed his hungry jaw. And still more wroth the reptile grew, Still more the growing fear appalled ; Till, dark in doubt what they might do, The warrior-braves a Council called. Some weakly urged to spare the beast, It, angered more, might them consume ; And oh, what shade might peaceful rest, If buried in such awful tomb ! 262 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CANANDAIGVA. Replied the braves : "If all unslain, Yet death were certain all the same ; For from the wood and from the plain Were soon devoured the hunter's game. " And if with famine fierce subdued, More sore were their destruction then ; And coward life is never good, But always good to die like men." The while the bolder chieftains spoke, With valor shone each kindling eye ; Till forth the cry of vengeance broke : "The Snake must die ! the Snake must die ! !" The warriors 1 trusty weapons laid In secret place, from thence were drawn ; And spear and shaft were sharper made For fiercest conflict at the dawn. While in the wigwams, glooming nigh, Throbbed many a woman's troubled breast ; That watched the dawn with tearful eye More close her little ones she pressed. THE BATTLE. 263 Dim rose the Hill, in darkness walled, The pines their midnight shadows cast ; But dreader sight their hearts appalled When tardy morning broke at last. And oh ! how fear to terror grew As farthest wigwam closing round, The huge and wide-mouthed reptile drew His scaly length along the ground. ^ Encircling all the town his size Enormous barring all the way, With clanging jaws and glaring eyes, The frightful reptile horrid lay. Then bravely forth, with shaft and bow, The warriors swift to battle flew ; With vigorous arm, expert to throw The pointed missile, strong and true. And woman there forgot her fear, And dauntless bore, like noble brave, The warrior-bow and shaft and spear, And many a thrust the monster gave. 264 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CAXANDAIGVA. If valor fired eacli manly arm, Love more her hand its vigor lent, To shield her little ones from harm Her darlings in the waiting tent. But for each murderous missile thrown The more the brute their wrath defied ; Till broke their spears, their arrows gone, And none had pierced his scaly hide. Till sore in every purpose foiled, They, weak and wounded, sick and spent, Loth from the fearful strife recoiled Sought refuge in the inner tent. And resting there their weary feet, Their grief they bore with patient heart Ate sparing of their little meat, Until the monster might depart. And so they tarried many a day, Till on them frowned a darker fate ; For still the awful reptile lay, His jaws wide-yawning at the gate. THE BATTLE. 265 And forth again the warriors bore Their shivered spears, with brave intent, To fight the fearful battle o'er. For hunger fierce new courage lent. But all in vain each valiant hand Assailed the brute with thrust and throw ; And never braver warrior-band Did battle give more desperate foe. Some frantic made with fear and pain, Rushed mad to pile the savage feast ; Though swift devoured, such pittance vain But hungered more the insatiate beast. And some in terror thought to flee The dragon's flinty side to climb ; But swaying like an angry sea, He crushed them in the ooze and slime. Still shrieking ran the maniac din, Still clashed his frightful jaw amain, Till last of all those noble men Had the devouring monster slain. IY THE VICTORY. How frequent, in the battle tried, Alone the weaker hands prevail ; While freely flows the crimson tide From bosoms clad in iron mail. Still rests with Oway-neo great The victory in the fiercest strife ; They triumph at the last who wait On Him who Master is of Life. Low-fallen lay each noble brave, The wigwams empty pressed the plain ; Save one alone that shelter gave To Yong-we with her children twain : Who, spared her kinsmens' sadder fate Still lingered in that frightful place ; Lone with her little ones she sat : Sad remnant of a noble Race. THE VICTORY. 267 And forth at dusk she softly crept To bear them to the sheltering wood ; While prone the snaky monster slept, Made drunken with his feast of blood. As fleet as flees the startled hare, She to the leafy covert fled ; Her weary feet she rested there, Bewailing still her kindred dead. Still for her grief no comfort knew, No sleep her eyes so tearful saw, Till midnight bright with vision grew, And all the land was hushed in awe. Lo ! on the dark, with glowing haft, An arrow shone : with wondrous skill Thence was she taught to shape the shaft Wherewith that monster she might kill. Straightway with patient hand she wrought The weapon ; at the peep of day She forth that venomed reptile sought, Alone the wanton brute to slay. 35 268 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CANANDAIGVA. Strong in her heaven-instructed art, She near approached the dreadful beast ; Deep pierced the sleeping monster's heart, Gorged frightful with his horrid feast. Mad writhing in his mortal pain, With many a dying roar and wail, That dragon awful lashed the plain And farthest hill-side with his tail. More fierce than tempest-tiding storm, The lofty pine, the mighty oak, That demon-like contracted form Like fragile reeds to splinters broke. The beasts that, howling, fled the plain Felt all the earth with terror quake As, rolling down the slope amain. He plunged into the foaming lake. He there his human victims vain Disgorged along the crimson shore ; Then with one throe of dying pain Sank slowly, and was seen no more. THE VICTORY. 269 And she whose hand the arrow sped,- If noble deeds may gladness win Rejoiced to see the monster dead, Destroyer of her tribe and kin. Thence from the Canandaigua shore, Beyond the sorrow-darkened land, Afar with hurrying feet, she bore Her children with a loving hand. Built them a wigwam by the mere, By Canadesoga r s tranquil wave ; With them abode unvexed of fear, And reared them to be wise and brave. And from them sprang in after days, And worthy of their race and name, ' The brave and noble Senecas, The mightiest warriors known to fame. Yet if there was a snake at all Some fain would question ; some at least Would count my story mythical Of her that slew the dreadful beast. 270 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CANAXDAIGVA. But many a hill-side gully shows, In many a forest still abides Some token of the awful throes Wherewith the frightful monster died. And still the curious eye may see Where Canandaigua's billows moan, Out-spewed in death's last agony, The victim's skulls transformed to stone. Nor valor less her bosom bore, But more her greatness stands confessed If chance it were no serpent, more Than lives to-day in every breast. THE SHINING MANITO. GREAT Manabo-zho sailing lone Remotest tide, As drawing nigh to shores unknown, Bright on the hills afar he spied, And strange and new, Lodge of the Shining Manito. With warrior pride, he all night long And unafraid, Shaped spear and bow and arrow strong, And brought his weapons ready made At dawning light, And stripped and armed him for the fight. Then he the conflict dread began : The war-whoop gave ; "Surround him !" yelled, as on he ran, "Run up ! run up ! !" as with him, brave, Were there and then Three times a hundred armed men. 272 THE SHINING MANITO. Fierce did all day that battle wage, More furious grew ; Wide o'er the land did storm and rage : Nor wound had he that Manito, So all complete In wampum clad from head to feet. Thick fell the bloAvs the arrows sped : kt O it was you !" Cried Manabo-zho "You !" he said, " My kindred, my Ne-me-sho slew ! " Till left had he Of all his arrows only three. Just then a gentle voice he heard Past Ma-ma flew ; ''.0 Manabo-zho P spake the bird, As he another arrow drew, " Of wampum bare His crown ; shoot at that tuft of hair." As he let fly straight at that spot, Lo ! blood he saw ; He then his second arrow got, This brought him low ; a third did draw Full on his head, And down that Manito fell dead. THE SHINING MANITO. 273 Then, uttering his Saw-saw-quan, His scalp he drew ; He took the blood, as wide it ran, And Ma-ma's head the friend so true As seen to-day, All gory red, he painted gay. THE FLOOD. Among the mighty deeds, still told In legends dim, Of Manabo-zho strong and bold, None is, of all the tales of him From days of old, More strange or true, Than how he built the world anew. As journeying far by many a reach Of billowy strand, He saw, stretched on the sandy beach, And guarded by a faithful band Wound each with each And dazzling bright, The Prince of Serpents, snowy white. So late from battle won, he knew No fear of foe ; With all his strength his bow he drew, Full on his heart the shaft, let go, THE FLOOD. 275 Fell swift and true ; Then shouting dread His Saw-saw-quan, away he fled. Then horrid cried the Serpents " See ! Our Prince is slain ! Manabo-zho ! it is He ! ! But we will catch him !" as amain By land and sea They, hissing, ran In chase of him that Mighty Man ! Them Manabo-zho heard the while As on he sped O'er hill and vale each step a mile ! Heard close behind the writhing tread Of creatures vile ; And well he knew In each an Evil Manito. He mountain climbed the highest tree The topmost height ; O'er all the land a boundless sea Did rush and swash ; Oh ! fearful sight ! Up to his knee The waters drew, Still higher higher round him grew. 36 276 THE FLOOD. A cry great Manabo-zho gave : " Grandfather wise Do stretch yourself Ne-me-sho brave !"' And quick that tree did taller rise Out of the wave Him upward bore ; But still the waters heightened more. Thrice did he call ; thrice from the tide That tree did grow ; Still higher rose the billows wide ; " Alas ! I can no higher go," The tree replied ; While yet he prayed, Just at his chin the waters stayed. Near on the waste a Loon did pass : " Brother true ! Down get of earth a little mass," He said, "to build the World anew :" That bird, alas ! Though diver bold, Thence rose a lifeless form and cold. Then to the Musk-Rat, swimming nigh : U Brother ! bring A little earth ; down down and try ; THE FLOOD. 277 Each grassy tarn and reedy spring, As days gone by Your home shall be, Or on the land, or on the sea. 1 ' He too did down ; rose like the Loon, A lifeless thing ; But in his nostrils breathing, soon He, Manabo-zho, him did bring The precious boon Of life ; and then Said he "My Brother, try again." Next time a little soil he drew Up from the seas ; This Manabo-zho added to The drowned Loon ; and built of these The World anew, As you can see With every beast and bird and tree. ORIGIN OF THE RED WILLOW. Once on a time a-hunting went Great Manaho-zho : with his bow He traveled on through wind and snow ; At length, just as the day was spent, High perched upon a withered tree, Afar he spied a Kee-wau-nee ; He fixed an arrow, creeping nigher, He shot it, and the bird did bring Into the woods, where was a spring ; He plucked the feathers, built a fire, And by the flame, to cook it quick, He stuck it on a forked stick. And then he said, " I think that I Will take a nap. 1 ' " Here legs," said he, You roast the bird the Kee-wau-nee ; See it don't burn ; let none come nigh To touch it ; and be sure you keep A-watch :" and then he went to sleep. ORIGIN OF THE RED WILLOW. 279 A hungry Wolf the 0-kwa-ho, That near, but warily, had crept, Came seeing Manabo-zho slept ; " My Brothers, walking through the snow, You must," he said, " to come so far, Be tired as indeed you are." "Yes," said the legs, " We came from wide Beyond the rising sun to-day ; Brought Manabo-zho a 1 ! the way." "He sleeps, you watch," the Wolf replied ; He has a coat of skins to wear, While you, my Brothers, you are bare." Then forth he furry leggins drew : "With hunger I am almost dead ; Give me the bird, and I," ho said, Will give you these, so warm and new ; To Manabo-zho you can say : ' It came to life and flew away.' " The legs, cajoled by flattery, Did give consent ; as they were bid, Behind a log the leggins hid ; Them they would show another day To Manabo-zho, and declare That truly they had found them there. 280 ORIGIN OF THE RED WILLOW. But Manabo-zho sleeping yet, They brought, and on the leggins tried ; Their color, warmth, elate with pride, Admiring, all their shape and fit ; When Manabo-zho woke ; said he " Where is the bird, the Kee-wau-nee ?" " It came to life and flew away," They said ; " The Master of Life, He blew Upon the fowl, and off it flew. "And whence these leggins ?" Ah ! said they "We found them in the woods ; we did Indeed, there by some hunter hid." Them Manabo-zho taking, he Did smell them ; then more wroth he grew ; " I see, what I had thought was true," He said "who stole the Kee-wau-nee; I see, as I had cause to fear, The Wolf, my cousin, has been here." As him his legs did homeward bear, He cut a switch ; at every stride He switched them, till all gory-dyed ; The willows, that so yellow were Before, became, as you can see, As red with blood as red can be. THE BEAR-WIFE. IN days of old There lived an Indian hunter bold ; In childhood skilled In hunting, he a Bear had killed ; To more extol and record fair A deed so famed, His people hence him Yek-wai named- Named him the Bear. When manhood came He hunted Bears, his chosen game ; And many a beast Slain by his hand, had piled the feast ; Until no more that shaggy brute Did near abound ; By hunters brave alone was found In wilds remote. 282 THE REAR-WIFE. Once far away, When hunting vain, at close of day, His path beside A stranger wigwam glad he spied ; And coming there, he raised the mat : The inmates all, Lo ! they were Bears, both great and small, That smoking sat. A seat he sought, He silent smoked the pipe they brought. They offered meat; He took, and silently did eat ; And when refreshed with food and rest, An old gray Bear, The Chief, with friendly speech and fair, Thus him addressed : u My son," said he, " Among us I am glad to see One known of old, Though only as a hunter bold ; But oh ! we Bears do suffer sore For all your fame. The she Bears tremble at your name ; Hunt us no more.' 1 THE BEAR-WIFE. 283 " Come live with me ; A pleasant life our life shall be. Of savory things, Of fruits of earth the Summer brings, Fruits good alike for Bears and Men, We eat our fill ; Then sleep the winter long, until Spring comes again." ' My daughter, too, I, for a wife, will give to you." AVhen she came nigh, And moccasins so warm and dry Put on his feet ; while she did lean All unafraid, He thought he had no Indian maid So lovely seen. And biding there, He took for wife that Woman-bear ; They, void of strife, Lived happily in wedded life. Two sons ere while she bore to him ; Like her, one son A Bear became ; an Indian one In mind and limb. 37 284 THE BEAR -WIFE. The Bear-child, sore Oppressed with heat, the mother bore With her to sleep Into the caves, so cool and deep ; The other, left alone in pain, With hunger pressed, Would call and cry for mother's breast And arms in vain. When ripe and good The nuts were fallen in the wood Lay thick below, The Bear-wife said "Stay while I go And gather acorns : " with her kin Afar she went ; And Yek-wai tarried well content The lodge within. But tired at last, Into the woods he wary passed A little way, As on each still-remembered day, With shaft and bow ; and looking well About, he saw A fat she Bear ; on her did draw, And down she fell. THE BEAR-WIFE. 285 Oh ! fatal shot ! For when he came nigh to the spot, He there, with awe, His Bear-wife's sister, bleeding saw : "0 cruel man !" she cried; u in vain Our kindness shown ; Leave us I pray ! unto your own Return again.' 1 Straight did he go Back to the lodge ; pretending so By speech and air That all the time he had been there ; The Chief knew all : with anger seized, Would Yek-wai kill, But that the Bear-wife's woman skill His wrath appeased. The Autumn passed ; The Winter came ; the Bears, at last, As all Bears do, Into their winter-lodge withdrew. There Yek-wai with his Bear-wife went ; And lovingly Together in a hollow tree They lived content. 286 THE BEAR-WIFE. But them erewhile A hunter spied. To him beguile, Out of the hole All cautiously the Bear-wife stole ; Jumped from the tree ; with leap and bound And lame-pretence Allured him on, escaping thence Without a wound. When home again Returned, she cried "Unhappy man ! Yek-wai ! pray Go back, and with your people stay : Our union has brought only ill ; You killed, ah me ! My sister ; now your friends, you see, Seek us to kill." " It is not well That bears and men together dwell ; Each with its kind, As the Great Spirit has designed, Alone is good for men and bears ; As we can see, A different habitation he For each prepares." THE BEAR-WIFE. 287 And Yek-wai then Unto his tribe returned again; Took thence his son; The bear-wife kept the bear-like one. And though he led a hunter-life Full many a year, No she bear would he kill, for fear To kill his wife. SHIN-GE-BIS. He, Shin-ge-bis, so bold and free, Was duck or man, as he might please ; Him, in his barky wigwam, He, Kabi-bonok-ka, could not freeze ; But four small logs the winter through Had he to burn to keep him warm ; Yet stout of heart, no fear he knew Laughed at the Winter's raging storm. The Windy God the North Wind cold u Who is the wondrous man ?" said he : u I do not like such daring bold ; This Shin-ge-bis must mastered be ; I high will pile the drifting snow, Will freeze the lakes the rivers fast ; Will bid the mighty tempests blow, And with a tenfold fiercer blast. 1 ' SHIN-GE-BIS 289 Still Shin-ge-bis, through storm and gloam, Unto the reedy mere he went ; His strings of fish came dragging home ; Cooked, ate and slept he, well content ; Sang to the fire-light's paling glow, As on his bear-skin couch he lay : " Kabi-bonok-ka, blow, and blow Kabi-bonok-ka, go your way." Swift winged the North Wind o'er the land, Unto the wigwam wroth he came ; There Shin-ge-bis saw, listening, stand Saw just beside the barky frame, Kabi-bonok-ka, chill and wan ; Still louder rang his roundelay : "Ho ! Shin-ge-bis is still your man Ho ! Windy God, I know } r our way." Wild and more shrill the North Wind blew, And yet a colder blast he sent ; Then, as aside the mat he drew, He stalked into the reedy tent, Sat mute beside the failing fire ; Without, the tempest's roar and clang Rose louder higher still and higher ; Yet Shin-ge-bis, he careless sang : 21)0 SHIN-GE-BIS. "Ho ! you are but my fellow man !" He stirred the coals, a warmer glow They gave ; the tears free overran Kabi-bonok-ka's eyes of snow Fell streaming down ;" Alas !" said he, "I cannot stay this will not do, I cannot master him, I see ; His is a mighty Manito." Then from the wigwam silently He went ; still fleeing far and long ; Still on the land, or on the sea He heard of Shin-ge-bis the song : "Heigh ho ! my Windy God !" sang he, Let blow the fiercest blasts you may ; Still Shin-ge-bis will happy be You cannot freeze him go your way. 11 SPEECH OF ME-TEY-A. Me-tey-a : thou didst make thine own Thy people's wrongs still unredressed. Remembering the despairing moan That struggled through thy vain protest, I hear again, or seem to hear : l 'My Father, hearken what I say ; Have pity on your children dear They would not go afar away. "You see our land is very fair ; We sold you of our land before ; Your children built their wigwams there ; Already you are asking more ; But oh ! we cannot sell you all We cannot sell our homes to-day ; Our country now is all too small ; We would not go afar away. 38 292 SPEECH OF ME-TEY-A. "This land this goodly land you see, The Mighty Manito, he gave To grow the Indian's corn, and be His hunting-ground, his home, and grave ; We built our homes here long ago Here where you see our homes to-day ; It was our father's home ; and oh ! We would not go afar away. " Our hearts are good : but do not seek For more to get our little land ; " Your dusky childrens' hands are weak My Father's is a mighty hand. ! open wide your ears ; ! let Your hearts, too, hearken what I cay ; 1 speak for all in Council met ; We would not go afar away. "Look on our aged warriors there, Look on our women's trembling fears ; Look on our children, pleading fair, Have pity on our falling tears ; See where my people's wigwams stand, There would your dusky children stay ; How can they leave their Father-land ? We cannot go afar away." SPEECH OF ME-TEY-A. 293 Might heart of love or tongue of fire Prevail aggression's hand to stay Where proudly points yon glittering spire, Had been thy People's home to-day ; Where flaming meteors, glaring red, Fright all the plain with hurrying din, Had lightly woke thy children's tread, Their cheerful Home-fire bright had been. Or where the springs of Kankakee The grassy meadows interlace, Might, as of old, securely be Thy lowly People's dwelling place. Of what avail these tears that flow, More than availed thy mournful "Nay ?"- Thy latest kinsman long ago Went sorrowing on afar away. THE LAST OF THE HUNTER-RACE. Ye lingering few, who suffering bide Who wander where the falling moon Looks on Missouri's farthest tide, Fair silvers o'er each lone lagoon ; Far-exiled from your native plains Ye homesick roam the desert-wild, Or where Sierra-winter reigns, With mountains high on mountains piled. With grief in other years unknown, When crimson ran each bleeding breast, I hear afar your dying moan Go shrieking down the fading West. The fading West ! even now I see Your footsteps on its farthest shore ; The fading West ! there soon will be For you a fading West no more. THE LAST OF THE HUNTER-RACE. 295 And when no more a fading West These anxious eyes shall seek in vain, Where shall my failing People rest ? Their home-bright wigwams build again ? Or who in the far years shall tell That this broad land, so fair unrolled, Where now the Pale-face Strangers dwell Was all your heritage of old ? Yet on still on, unresting flee Till bounded by the billowy waste ; For oh ! a more remorseless sea Bids your retreating footsteps haste ; The hurrying, eager Hosts of Toil On like a fiery billow sweep, To spoil the wild with it to spoil Your homes beside the rolling deep. Low in the sunset's waning light, Above the hungry, roaring waves, I see, as with prophetic sight, The last of all the Hunter Braves ; With warrior arm uplifted high, And crying to the Indian's God, With one long, last, despairing cry He sinks in the devouring flood. 296 THE LAST OF THE HUNTER-RACE. Gone all are gone the noble dead, Save from this sorely-aching breast ; Though prone I linger, all are fled Of forms and sounds I love the best. No more return the days gone by The mournful waves along the shore Blend with my own their wail and cry, And echo back ""No more ! no more ! !" The Wheat cast in the earth, it needs must wait The slow on-coming time; The autumn's gloom, the ivinler' s frost and rain And glow of summer's sunshine, ere it yield The bread-filled ears. Yet shall the seed again Return unto the soicer; soon or late Comes to the rudest clime The Harvest- home; and every well-tilled field Bears at the last its wealth of golden grain. NOTES. Note 1. " Ye lingering few icho weakly stand Page 6. Where strong of old your fathers stood." " There are still residing in the State of New York about four thousand Iro- quois [1851] . The several fragments of the nations yet continue their relation- ships and intercourse with each other, and cling to the shadow of the ancient League." LEWIS H. MORGAN'S League of the Iroquois. It is claimed that their numbers are now slowly on the increase. Note 2. " Hid in the sacred wampum-band." Page 8. " The original Wampum of the Iroquois, in which the laws of the League were recorded, was made of spiral fresh-water shells, Ote-ko-a, which were strung on deer-skin strings, or sinews, and the strands braided into belts, or simply united into strings." Ibid. Note 3. " Traced only by the narrow trail Page 13. That dusky moccasined feet had made." Not only the villages of the Iroquois were connected by well-worn trails, but there was one principal trail that extended all the distance from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. " It was usually from twelve to eighteen inches wide, and deeply worn in the ground ; varying in this respect from three to six, and even twelve inches, de- pending upon the firmness of the soil. The large trees on each side were fre- quently marked with the hatchet. This well-beaten foot-path, which no runner, nor band of -warriors could mistake, had doubtless been trodden by successive generations from century to century. * * While it is scarcely possible to ascertain a more direct route than the one pursued by this trail, the accuracy with which it was traced from point to point to save distance, is extremely surprising." League of the Iroquois, p. 429. Note 4. " The cry of beast or scream of bird Page 19. That sorrow's dim monitions bear." The Indian is a firm believer in a multitude of signs and omens in transfor- mations, incarnations, and possessions ; an animal, as a deer, a bear, or a bird> may be a messenger of good or evil. The natural proneuess of the Indian's mind to superstition has baen enhanced, no doubt, by their marvelous legends and fables handed down from generation to generation. 300 NOTES. Note 5. " Some spirit of the earth or air." Page 29. " Spirits of the earth and air abound on every hand, who stand ready to lend their aid by inhabiting human bodies, or by sanding monsters, or giants, or pig- mies, to do the needed work. The whole creation is filled with these lesser spir- its, of benign or malignant character, who at one moment spring out of a rock, or a tree, or a plant, or animate a shell, an insect or a bird." Oneota, by H. K. SCHOOLCBAFT, p. 259. Note 6. "Just by the day's departing track Page 30. Great Inigorio's shining tent." " The O-jib-was, and, indeed, nearly all the North American Indians, situate their Paradise to the west. "An O-jib-wa legend runs thus : Paradise was made by Manabo-zho. He aided the Great Spirit in the creation of the world, and at first neither of them thought of a Paradise. Man, such was their decree, should be happy in this earth, and find a satisfaction in this life ; but as the Evil Spirit interfered, and produced wickedness, illness, death and misfortune of every description among them, the poor souls wandered about deserted and homeless. When the Great Spirit saw this he grieved for them, and ordered Manabo-zho to prepare a paradise for them in the west, where they might assemble. Manabo-zho made it very beautiful, and he was himself appointed to receive them there." Kitchi Garni, by 3. G. KOLL, p. 216. " ' The happy home beyond the setting sun, had cheered the heart, and lighted the expiring eye of the Indian, before the ships of Columbus had borne the cross to this western world." League of the Iroquoit, p. 168. Note 7. Page 34. These, and other myths, will be found in full in Hiawatha Legends, by H. B. SCHOOLCBAFT. Note 8. " Bright by the Onondatja shore Page 40. He lit the Ifome-Jire's sacred flame." " It was a striking peculiarity of the ancient religious system of the Iroquois that once a year, the -priesthood supplied the people with sacred fire. For this purpose a set time was announced for the ruling priest's visit. The entire village was apprised of this visit, and the master of each lodge was expected to be prepared for this annual rite. * * His lodge-fire was carefully put out and ashes scattered about it, as a symbolic sign of desolation and want. Exhibiting the insignia of the sacerdotal office, he (the priest) proceeded to invoke the Master of Life in their behalf, and ended his mission by striking fire from the flint, or from per- cussion, and lighted anew the domestic fire." Notes on the Iroquois, H. K. SCHOOLCBAFT, p. 137. NOTES. 301 Note 9. " Wrought into each the magic spell Page 41. That fateful is for good or ill." " They believed that the possession of certain articles about the person would render the body invulnerable ; or that their powers over an enemy was thereby secured. A charmed weapon could not be turned aside." SCHOOLCBAFT'S History, Condition and Prospects, Vol. I, p. 86. Note 10. " To charm and guard his home and place, Page 41. Its barky sides he pictured fair With to-tems of his name and race." " By to-temic marks, the various families of a tribe denote their affiliation. A guardian spirit has been selected by the progenitor of a family from some object in the zoological chain. The representative device of this is called the to-tem. Indians are proud of their to-tems, and are prone to surround them with allu- sions to bravery, strength, talent, the power of endurance, or other qualities. A warrior's to-tem never wants honors, in their remembrance, and the mark is put upon his grave-post, or ad-je-du-tiiff, when he is dead. In his funeral picto- graph he invariably sinks his personal name in that of his to-tem or family name. There appears to have been originally three to-tems that received the highest honors and respect. They were the Turtle, Bear and Wolf. These were the great to-tems of the Iroquois." Ibid, Vol. V. p. 73. Note 11. " Ills shaft the frightful monster slew." Page 42. "After a time the people were invaded by the monster of the deep : The Lake Serpent traverses the country, which interrupts their intercourse. The five fam- ilies were compelled to make fortifications throughout their respective towns, hi order to secure themselves from the devouring monsters." David Cusic. See SCHOOLCBA.FT, VoL V. p. 637. Note 12. "He slew the frightful Flying Head." Page 43. " The Holder of the Heavens was absent from the country. * * * The reason produced the occasion that they were Invaded by the monsters called Kc-neh- ran-neh-neh, i. e., Flying Heads, which devoured several people of the country. The Flying Heads made invasion in the night ; but the people were attentive to escape by leaving their huts and concealing themselves in other huts prepared for the occasion." Ibid, VoL V. p. 637. Note 13. " The Stonish Giants fierce and tall." Page 43. " The Stonish Giants were so ravenous that they devoured the people of almost every town in the country ; but happily the Holder of the Heavens again visits the people, and he observes that the people are in distressed condition on account of the enemy. With a stratagem he proceeds to banish their invaders, and he changes himself into a Giant, and combines the Stonish Giants, he introduces 302 NOTES. them to take the lead to destroy the people of the country ; but a day's march they did not reach the fort Onondaga, where they intend to invade, and he ordered them to lay in a deep hollow during the night, and they would make attack on the following morning. "At the dawn of the day the Holder of the Heavens ascended upon the heights and he overwhelmed them by a mass of rocks, and only one escaped to announce the dreadful fate ; and since of the event the Stonish Giants have left the country and seeks an asylum in the regions of the earth." Ibid, Vol. V. p. 637. Note 14. " Gave thanks to Oway-neo great." Page 47. That the Indians observed the custom of giving thanks before meat, at least on certain occasions, and at their great feasts, is shown by several writers. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. II, p. 76, also KitcM Garni, p. 216. Note 15. "Herself to him, the favored brave, Page 48. She proffered with a modest grace." " The warrior never solicits the maiden to dance with him ; that privilege was accorded to her alone. In the midst of the dance the females present themselves in pairs between any set they may select, thus giving to each a partner." League of the Iroquois, p. 286. Note 16. "With teeming fields of growing corn." Page 48. " They cultivated this plant, as also the bean and the squash, before the forma- tion of the League. It cannot therefore be affirmed with correctness that the Indian subsisted principally by the chase. The quantities of corn raised by the Iroquois was a constant cause of remark by those who went earliest among them." Ibid, p. 198. Note 17. " Ta-ren-ya-iva-qo ! Mighty Man!!" Page 54. In one form of the legend this remarkable personage was called Ta-ren-ya-wa- go, that is, The Holder of the Heavens. " His wisdom was as great as his power. The people listened to him with admiration, and followed his advice gladly. There was nothing in which he did not excel good hunters, bravo warriors and eloquent orators." SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. III. p. 314. Note 18. " Still on to many a stranger sea." Page 55. " We find curious Indian travelers, who came a great distance, mentioned in the first European reports about Indians. The Choctas preserve the memory of a celebrated traveler of their tribe, >viio undertook a long journey west, in order to find the sea in which the sun disappeared at setting. " Similar traditions about great journeys and travelers are found among other tribes." Kite hi Garni, p. 121. XOTES. 303 Note 19. "Trim TTayo-u-ent-ha they did name, Page 56. The wisest he, among the wise." " When au individual was raised Tip as a sachem, his original name was laid aside, and that of the sachemship itself assumed. In like manner, at the raising up of a chief, the council of the nation which performed the ceremony, took away the former name of the incipient chief and assigned him a new one. " Thus when the celebrated Red Jacket was elevated by election to the dignity of a chief, his original name, O-te-ti-an-i, ' always ready,' was taken from him, and in its place was bestowed Sa-go-ye-wat-ha, ' keeper awake,' in allusion to the powers of his eloquence." League of the Iroquoisj p. 89. Note 20. "Iff, Ifayo-went-ha good and great, Page 58. Would woo and wed a mortal bride." "After he had given them wise instructions for observing the laws and maxims of the Great Spirit, * * * he laid aside the high prerogative of his public mis- sion, and resolved to set them an example of how they should live. " For this purpose he selected a beautiful spot on the southern shore of one of the lesser lakes, which is called Ti-o-to (Cross Lake) by the natives to this day. Here he erected his lodge, planted his field of corn, kept by him his magic canoe, and selected a wife." H. E. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. III. p. 314. Note 21. " In the fore-gone time of fasting, Page 65. Whence I drew Smile and blessing of the Mighty , M fir,', inuke bright il/e wirjietun, Page 66. ' As the forest maiden should." In the pure hunter state, the division of labor between the man and wife is not so unequal as many suppose. " Where, then, the whole duty and labor of providing the means of subsist- ence, ennobled by danger and courage, falls upon the man, the woman naturally sinks in importance, and is a dependent drudge. But she is not therefore, I sup- 304 NOTES. pose, so very miserable, nor, relatively, so very abject ; she is sure of protection ; sure of maintenance, at least while the inau has it ; sure of kind treatment ; sure that she will uever have her children taken from her but by death ; sees uoue better off than herself, and it is evident that in such a state the appointed and necessary share of the woman is the household work, and all other domestic labors." Mus. JAMISON, in Winter Studies and Summer Rambles. From unpublished notes by the late Mr. W. H. Clarke, of Chicago, whose acquaintance with leading Indians of the West extended over many years, I am permitted to make some extracts. He was well acquainted with Mrs. School- craft, to whom the world is greatly indebted for her praiseworthy efforts to pre- serve the legendary lore of the Indians. Herself of Indian lineage, and spending the greater part of a long life among her people, her statements cannot but be taken as trustworthy. In answer to questions as to the condition of the Indian women, she said, " It was better than that of the white woman, taking into consideration the differ- ences between the races. That is to say, although on account of many inevitable causes, the Indian woman is subjected to many hardships of a physical nature, yet her position, compared to that of man, is higher and freer than that of the white woman." "OMriC. !" said she, "why will they look only upon one side? they either exalt the Red Man into a demi-god, or degrade him into a beast. They say he compels his wife to do all the drudgery, while he does nothing but hunt and amuse himself ; forgetting that upon his activity and powers of endurance as a liuuter depends the support of his family." Note 23. " She is of my noble people Page 66. Ongue Honwe that is well." The term, ONGUE HONWE, a people surpassing all others that the Iroquois proudly applied to themselves, being older than the discovery of the continent by Europeans, did not refer to them ; but denoted a people surpassing all other red men. In that sense it was probably strictly true. Note 24. " No garden lilies undefiled, Page 72. No sweets their fragrance may possess, Surpass the roses of the wild The beauty of the wilderness." Had not the writer, in his casual intercourse with the Indians, seen among them maidens of surpassing beauty, comparing favorably with the most lovely maidens of the White Race, he would hardly have ventured to give expression to what will probably seem to many as existing only in the pictures of an exalted imagination. Fredrika Bremer, in her Homes of the New World, says of an Indian maiden she saw in Minnesota : "She was so brilliant and of such unusual beauty that she literally seemed to light up the whole room as she entered. Her shoulders were broad and round, and her carriage drooping, as is usual with Indian women, NOTES. 305 who are early accustomed to carry burdens on their backs ; but the beauty of the countenance was so extraordinary that I cannot but think that if such a face were to be seen in one of the drawing-rooms of the fashionable world, it would there be regarded as the type of a beauty hitherto unknown. It was the wild beauty of the forest, at the same time melancholy and splendid." Mrs. Jamison also speaks in high terms of Indian women she met. Of Mrs. Schoolcraf t she says : " Her genuine refinement and simplicity of manners, and native taste for literature, are charming. * * * While in conversation with her, new ideas of the Indian's character suggest themselves. * * She is proud of her Indian origin. * * But there is a melancholy and pity in her voice when speak- ing of them [her people], as if she did indeed consider them a doomed race." Of another Indian woman she says : " Though now no longer young, and the mother ol twelve children, she is one of the handsomest Indian women I have yet seen. * * Her daughter, Zah-gah-see-ga-quay the sunbeams breaking through a cloud is a very beautiful girl, with eyes that are a warrant for her poetic name." Note 25. "As youth and maiden may, did seek Page 74. Some token of her happier fate." " Even the Indian girls dream at times that they will become mighty runners, and evince a pride in excelling in this art, like the men. A case occurred during my stay at La Poiiite. A warlike maiden suddenly appeared, who boasted of having taken a Sioux scalp, and she was led in triumph from lodge to lodge. " I was told that a superannuated female had appeared to this girl, who was now nineteen, during the period of her great fasts and dreams of life, who prophesied to her that she would become the greatest runner of her tribe, and thus gain the mightiest warrior for husband. " I must remark here, as indeed every reader will easily conjecture, that the fasting dreams of the Indian girls chiefly allude to the subject of marriage. Thrice so said the prophetic voice she would join in an expedition against the Sioux, and thrice save herself by her speed of foot. In running home, the war- riors of her tribe would strive U outstrip her, but she would in two first cam- paigns outstrip everybody. * * On the return from the third campaign, how- ever, a young Ojib-wa would race with her, and conquer her, and she would then be married to him. " The girl had made her first war expedition this year. She had proceeded with the warriors of her tribe into the enemy's camp, raised the scalp of a wounded Sioux on the battle-field, and had run straight home for several days, ihus bringing the first news of the victory, which greatly augmented her renown. * * She was pointed out to every one as the heroine of the day and of the island ; and probably ere this some young warrior has run a race with her, in which she was only too ready to be defeated." Kitchi Garni, p. 125. 306 NOTES. Note 26. "Love beckon from hei waiting place-" Page 7. K . " The wife of the hunter has the entire control of the -wigwam and all its tem- poralities. To each person who is a member of the lodge family is assigned a fixed seat, or habitual abiding place, which is called abbiiios. * * If the son is married and brings his bride home, the mother assigns the bride her abbinos. This is done by spreading one of the finest skins for her seat, and no one besides her husband ever sits there. * * Iii this manner the personal rights of each individual are guarded. The female is punctilious as to her own, so that perfect order is maintained." H. K. SCHOOLCBAFT, Vol. II. p. 63. Note 27. "Or plucked the Autumn's ripened ears, Page 77. ,4s meet and Jit for Indian maid." "It is well known that corn-planting and corn-gathei'iug, at least among all the still uncolouized tribes, are left entirely to the women. It is not generally known, perhaps, that this labor is not compulsory, and that it is assumed by the women . as a just equivalent, in their view, for the onerous and continuous labor of the other sex, in providing meat, and skins for clothing, by the chase, and in de- fending their villages against their enemies. * * A good Indian housewife deems this a part of her prerogative, and prides herself to have a store of corn to exer- cise her hospitality, or duly honor her husband's hospitality, in the entertain- ment of the lodge guests." Oneota, p. 82. Note 28. "To gather its kernels ripe and good.' 1 Page 77. The wild rice of the north is the Zizania Palnstris, and abounds in the shal- low waters of the Western lakes and rivers. It forms a dish palatable and nutri- tious ; and is the principal vegetable food of the Indians where it abounds. It is gathered by the women, who shove their canoes among it, and, bending the ripened heads over the boat, beat out the grain with paddles. Note 29. " With patient trust her hunger bore Page 79. And all heroic sacrifice.'" "All acknowledge their lives to be in the hands of the Great Spirit, feel a con- viction that all things come from him, that he loves them, and that, although he allows them to suffer, he will again supply them. No people are more easy or less clamorous under suffering of the deepest die, and none are more happy, or more prone to evince their happiness when prosperous in their affairs. 1 ' H. K. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. II. p. 73. Note 30. "Or only do we fail to find Page 80. The measure meet for gifts diverse?" "Genius, learning and Christianity change the features of society, and cast over it an artificial garment, but its elements continue the same. It need rut awaken surprise that the Indian has revealed many of the highest virtues of NOTES. 307 Christianized man ; or that in some of the rarest traits in human character, he has passed quite beyond him." League of the Iroquois, p. 181. Mrs. Schoolcraft says : " I have seen among them instances of refined deli- cacy of feeling, and traits of kindness of heart diffusing itself through the action aud manners, which I have in vain sought in highly civilized communities. I have heard speeches which, had they been made by the sages of antiquity, would have been handed down to us with a world's applause ; and I have asked myself, where is the intrinsic difference between the soul of this red man in his blauket, and that of him who is surrounded by all the accidents of education, civilization and manners ; are not those noble sentiments the f eeling of the good, the great and the beautiful intuitive? " Unpublished Xotes. Note 31. "On her his tottering footsteps leant." Page 81. As an instance of filial affection manifested toward parents, Mr. Schoolcraft gives the story of an aged chief, who resided at Michilimaciuac. " He lived to be very old, aud became so feeble at last that he could not travel by land, when spring came on and his people prepared to move their lodge from the sugar-camp in the forest, to the open lake shore. * * It was his last winter on earth, his heart was gladdened once more by feeling the genial rays of spring, and he desired to go with them to behold, for the last time, the expanded lake, and inhale its pure breezes. He must needs be carried by hand. This act of piety was performed by his daughter, then a young woman. She carried him on her back from the camp to the lake shore, where they erected their lodge and passed their spring, and where he eventually died and was buried." Note 32. "In royal mantle rich arrayed." Page 88. " War shirts, war coats, and mantles for use on ceremonial occasions, are often made from the skins of the fiercest and most renowned animals captured in the chase. * "-They are elaborately wrought and profusely ornamented. * At the trea- ty at Prairie-du-Chien, on the Upper Mississippi, in 1825, a great variety of these dresses were exhibited. None, however, exceeded in its majestic style, the robe of a Yonkton chief, from the Minnesota river, who was called Wo-ni-ta. * * He was clothed in a war-robe of buff-colored buffalo-skin, ornamented with porcu- pine quills, brilliantly dyed. This garment reached to his feet." H. K. SCHOOLCKAFT, Vol. III. p. 67. Note 33. " What wonder he, though calm and wise, Page 90. Should feel the round world dance and swim, \V!'ii on In HI, bent those love-full eyes That more than greeting welcomed him .' " It has been asserted by some writers that love among the North American In- dians had no higher expression, between the sexes, than that of animal passion. While it may be said, with truth, perhaps, that this was its more usual manifesta- tion, their legends very clearly disprove the assumption that the Indian was never 40 308 NOTES. influenced by the tender passion. He could never have embodied in his mytho- logical stories a sentiment to which his mind and heart could not respond, and that had no existence in his experiences of life. So many of the Indian legonds are founded upon the idea of love, as a tender and lasting sentiment, existing between the young hunter and the young maiden, that it is a little remarkable these writers did not observe the fact. See The Red Lover, The White Stone Canoe, Osseo, and many more. Nor is this view wanting in confirmation from well-authenticated incidents, among the dwellers in the wig-warn. Mrs. Jamison says: " Some time ago a young Chippewa girl conceived a violent passion for a hunter of a different tribe, and followed him from his winter hunting-grounds to his own village. He was already married, and the wife, not being inclined to admit a rival, drove this love-sick damsel away, and treated her with the utmost indignity. The girl, in desperation, offered herself as a slave to the wife, to carry wood and water, and lie at her feet, anything to be admitted within the same lodge and only to look upon the object of her affections." Note 34. "Listened as only woman may, Page 94. Upon his deeper thought intent.'" " While at the meal, which is prolonged by cheerful conversation, anecdotes, and little narratives of personal adventure, the women are among the listeners ; and no one, except the aged, ever obtrudes a word. The young women and girls show that they partake of the festivities by smiles, and are scrupulous to evince their attention to the elder part of the company." H. R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. II. p. 75. Note 35. "Nor her alone keep in. thy love, Page 110. Keep him that wails so far away." " That the Indian, without the aid of revelation, should have arrived at a fixed belief in the existence of one Supreme Being, has ever been a matter of surprise and admiration. * * They looked up to him as the author of their being, the source of their temporal blessings, and the future dispenser of the felicities of their heavenly home. To him they rendered constant thanks and homage for the changes of the seasons, the fruits of the earth, the preservation of then- lives, * * and to him they addressed their prayers for the continuance of his protect- ing care." League of the Iroquois, p. 155. " Great Spirit, Master of our lives ; Great Spirit, Master of all Things both visible and invisible ; Great Spirit, Master cf other Spirits, whether Good or Evil ; command the Good Spirits to favor thy children. * * Command the Evil Spirit to keep at a distance from them. " O Great Spirit, keep up the Strength and Courage of our Warriors, that they may be able to stem the Fury of our Enemies. * * O Great Spirit, Great Spirit, hear the voice of the Nation, give Ear to all thy Children, and remember them at all times." Lahontan'ti Voyages, p. 35. NOTES. 309 Note 36. " \Vifh pipe and meat and courtesy Page 111. Gave welcome to his noble guest." " One of the most attractive features of Indian society was the spirit of hospi- tality by which it was pervaded. Perhaps no people ever carried this principle to the same degree of universality, as did the Iroquois. Their houses were not only open to each other at all hours of the day, and of the night, but also to the wayfarer and the stranger. * * He would surrender his dinner to feed the hun- gry, vacate his bed to refresh the weary, and give up his apparel to clothe the naked. * * With an innate knowledge of the freedom and dignity of man, he has exhibited the noblest virtues of the heart, and the kindest deeds of human- ity, in those sylvan retreats, which we are wont to look back upon as vacant and frightful solitudes." League of the Iroquois, p. 327. Not* 37. "Put by his pipe, looked on the maid, Page 113. And lonely musing, silent sal." " There is one custom their men constantly observe ; that if they be sent with any message, though it demand the greatest despatch, or though they bring intelligence of any imminent danger, they never tell it at their first approach, but sit down for a minute or two, at least, in silence, to recollect themselves be- fore they speak, that they may not show any degree of fear or surprise, by any indecent expression." Lahonlan's Voyages, p. 194. Note 38. "For Hayo-went-ha, he would bear Page 113. The burden of the ripened ears." " The man, to signify his wishes, kills a bear with his own hands, and sends a pail full of the oil to his mistress. If she receives the oil, he next attends and helps her hoe the corn in her field ; afterward plants her beans ; and when they come up he sets poles for them to run upon. In the meantime he attends her corn, until the beans have run up and entwined themselves about the poles. This is thought emblematical of their approaching union and bondage ; and they then take each other for better or for worse.' 1 H. E. SCHOOLCKAFT, Vol. V. p. 269. Note 39. "His snowy leggins softly drew." Page 121. " The corpse is dressed in its best clothes. It is wrapped in a new blanket, and new moccasins are put on. The crowu-baud, head-dress or frontlet, and feathers, are also put on. His war-club and pipe are placed beside him, together with a small quantity of veruiilliou. * * If a woman, that is about to be interred, she is provided with a paddle, a kettle, an apekan, or carrying strap for the head, and other feminine implements." Ibid, Vol. II. p. 68. 310 NOTES. Note 40. "Of Kne-ha Father, fare-thee-well." Page 121. " The corpse is laid in public, where all can gather around it, when an address is made, partly to the spectators, describing the character of the deceased, and partly to the deceased himself, speaking to him as though the Och^ich-ag or soul was still present, and giving directions as to the path he is supposed to be about to tread in a future state." Ibid- " My son, listen once more to the words of thy mother. Thou wert brought into life with her pains. Thou wert nourished with her life. She has attempted to be faithful in raising thee up. When thou wert young she loved thee as her life. * * Thy friends and relations have gathered about thy body to look upon thee for the last time. * * We part now, and you are conveyed from my sight But we shall soon meet again. * * Then we shall part no more. Our Maker has called you to his home. Thither we follow. Na-ho!" Speech of a Mother over her dead son. League of the Iroquois, p. 175. Note 41. "Endurance in the mother-breast Page 122. Wrought courage in the newly born." While it is true that it was held a weakness for a mother to give way to an/ signs of pain during the trying ordeal of child-birth, it must also be remembered that women in the savage state are comparatively free from the danger and suf- fering incident to civilized life. " Parturition, with the Indian female, is seldom attended with severe or long- continued suffering. * * A wife has been known to sally into the adjoining forest in quest of dry limbs for fire-wood, and to return to the wigwam with her new-born child, placed carefully on the back-load. * * Their exemption from the iisual sufferings of child-birth may be said to be the general condition of the hunter state, and one of the few advantages of it which the woman enjoys over her civilized sister." H. K. SCHOOLCHAFT, Vol. II. p. 65. Note 42. " What is there more than home and love?" Page 123. " I have witnessed scenes of conjugal and parental love in the Indian's wigwam from which I have often, often, thought the educated white man, proud of his superior civilization, might learn a useful lesson. When he returns from hunt- ing, worn out with fatigue, having tasted nothing since dawn, his wife, if she be a good wife, will take off his moccasins and replace them with dry ones, and will prepare his game for their repast ; while his children will climb upon him, and he will caress them with all the tenderness of a woman. "And in the evening the Indian's wigwam is the scene of the purest domestic pleasures. The father will relate for the amusement of the wife, and for the in- struction of his children, the events of the day's hunt, while they will treasure up every word that falls, and which furnishes them with the theory of the art, tho practice of which is to become the occupation of their lives." MKS. SCHOOLCRAFT, From Unpublished Notes. NOTES. 311 Note 43. "Lit ivith the mighty Council-flame." Page 138. " The government of this unique republic resided wholly in councils. By coun- cils all questions were settled, all regulations established, social, religious, mili- tary and political. The war-path, the chase, the Council-fire ; in these was the life of the Iroquois ; and it is hard to say to which of the three he was most de- voted." PAEKMAN'S Jesuits in America. Note 44. " Fifth shall in the Council be." Page 160. The order of precedence here adopted is that given by Lewis H. Morgan in his League of the Iroquois. This author, possessing, as he did, peculiar facilities for obtaining a correct knowledge of Iroquois history and traditions, is probably correct, though differing with both Clark and Schoolcraft. Note 45. "You as from your homes of old Page 161. From this fairer land expel." Tradition informs us that prior to their occupation of central New York the Iroquois were located upon the St. Lawrence, in Canada, and that they lived in subjection to the Adiroiidacks. " After they had multiplied in numbers and improved by experience, they made an attempt to secure the independent possession of the country they occupied ; but having been, in the struggle, overpowered and vanquished by the Adiron- dacks, they were compelled to retire from the country to escape extermination." League of the Iroquois, p. 5. Note 46. "To the wigwam's mat and shade Page 160. How can he again return Taking not the little maid." " If just and truthful pictures of Indian life were drawn, in connection with the civilized population of America, it could not fail to excite a deep interest in his fate. What is wanted is to show that the Indian has a heart. That in a state of repose from wars, his bosom beats with affection and hope, and fear, precise- ly like other varieties of the human race. That he is adhesive and reliable in his friendships. That he is true to his promises simple in his reliances and be- liefs. That he is affectionate to his kindred while they live, and mourns their loss in death with an undying sorrow." H. R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. 5, p. 410. Note 47. " See, his cloudy garments all Page 174. Has he taken from the sun." " He has taken his garment from before the sun and caused it to shine with brightness upon iis." See RED JACKET'S famous speech to a missionary; Drake's Biography and History, p. 98. 312 NOTES. Note 48. " The snowy parchment dressed and wrong /if. Page 177. From great Skan-o-do's hairy hide." " The practice of the North American tribes, of drawing figures and pictures on skins, trees and various other substances, has been noticed by travelers and writers from the earliest times. * * These figures represent ideas whole ideas, and their relation on a scroll, or bark, or tree, or rock, discloses a continuity of ideas. * * Picture-writing is, indeed, the literature of the Indian. It cannot be interpreted, however rudely, without letting one know what the red mi i thinks and believes." H. K. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. I. p. 333. " They love to speak in a symbolical manner, all their symbols being drawn from the realm of nature. * * I once saw a Buffalo hide covered with figures iu the style of children's drawings, which represented battles, treaties of peace, and other such events ; the sun and the moou, trees and mountains, and rivers, fish and birds, and all kinds of animals, having their part iu the delineations." Homes of the New World, p. 47. Note 49. " In. cares of State, .as woman should Page 179. Should woman have her part and place." " The history of the world shows that it is one of the tendencies of bravery to cause woman to be respected, and to assume her proper rank and influence in so- ciety. This was strikingly manifest in the history of the Iroquois. They are the only tribes in America, north or south, so far as we have any accounts, who gave to women a conservative power in their deliberations. The Iroquois ma- trons had their representatives in the public councils ; and they exercised a nega- tive, or what we call a veto power, in the important question of the declaration of war. They had the right also to interfere in bringing about a peace." H. E. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. III. p. 195. Tradition says that at the great Council, which resulted in the formation of the League, the women attended, and it preserves the name of Ja-go-sa-sa The Wild Cat as a woman of unusual power that took part in its deliberations ; and to whose insight and judgment, as we may infer, is due the liberal provisions of this forest-government in favor of tho equal rights of the sexes. Note 50. "In her all titled lineage, Page I7. Through her the sachem's kingly line." " Not the least remarkable among their institutions, was that which coufineo the transmission of the titles, rights and property in the female line to the ex- clusion of the male. * * If the Deer tribe of the Cayugas, for example, received a sachemship at the original distribution of these offices, the descent of such title being limited to the female line, it could never pass out of the tribr. * ; By the operation of this principle, also, the certainty of descent in the tribe c. their principal chiefs, was secured ly a rule infallible; for the child must be the son of its mother, although not necessarily of the mother's husband." League of the Iroqtioitt, p. 84. XOTES. 313 Note 51. " The covenant and record holds, Page 181. Deed of that noble Brotherhood." Among the most sacred heir-looms and treasures still in possession ef the sa- chems of the Iroquois, are those wampum-belts, into which the terms and con- ditions of the League were " talked " at the time of its formation. Although handed down from sachem to sachem, from generation to genera- tion, their mnemonic pages are still pregnant with meaning still hold in their mystic symbols the story of the formation of this remarkable League ; and are the only repositories remaining of the laws and principles upon which it was founded. That these belts are wrought upon some uniform system of recording ideas is evident from the fact that, while in the possession of widely separated tribes, although differing as to certain details, their interpretations are all alike as to the fundamental facts and principles of the alliance. Note 52. "Into the wisest sachem'e hand Page 182. He gave the mighty instrument" "As the laws and usages of the Confederacy were intrusted to the guardian- ship of such strings, one of the Unondaga sachems, Ilo-no-we-na-to, was consti- tuted "Keeper of the Wampum," and was required to be versed in its interpre- tation." League of the Iroquois, p. 121. Note 53. ";rs wide outspread the mighty feast Page 187. To feed a thousand hungry DI< //." " Some of their feasts were on a scale of extravagant profusion. A vain, am- bitious host threw all his substance into one entertainment, inviting a whole village, and perhaps several neighboring villages also. In the winter of 1635, there was a feast at the village of Contareea, where thirty kettles were on the fire, and twenty deer and four bears were served up." PARKMAN'S Jesuits in America. Note 54. "Of nil Ihf, par/3 they chose the best Page 188. And unto Hayo-went-ha bore." When a great feast is given, all the adult members of a village are invited with- out distinction. " When the time arrives, each one, according to ancient custom, takes his dish and spoon, and proceeds to the entertainer's lodge. The victuals are served up with scrupulous attention that each receives a portion of the best parts, accord- ing to his standing and rank in the village." H. R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. II. p. 75. 3M NOTES. Note 55. "Then forth the watting pipe was brought." Page 189. " Wherever the Indian goes, in peace and war, and whatever he does, his pipe is his constant companion. He draws consolation from it in hunger, want and misfortune." And when he is prosperous and happy, " it is the pipe to which he appeals, as if every puff of the weed were an oblation to the Great Spirit." Ibid, Vol. II. p. 69. Note 56. "Still piling high the stake and bet Page 139. Of blankets, weapons, trinkets all." " Of all the Indian's social sports the finest and grandest is the ball play. I might call it a noble game, and I am surprised how these savages attain such perfection in it. Nowhere in the world, excepting, perhaps, among the English and some of the Italian races, is the graceful E.nd manly game of ball played so passionately, and on so large a scale. They often play village against village, or tribe against tribe. Hundreds of players assemble, and the wares and goods offered as prizes often reach a value of a thousand dollars, or more." Kitchi Garni, p. 88. Note 57. "Flee in trembling terror, -wlxn Page 201. On the war-path bold they see Aquan-uschi-oni men." Colden says. " I have been told by old men in New England, who remembered the time when the Mohawks made war on their Indians, that as soon as a single Mohawk was discovered in their country, their Indians raised a cry from hill to hill, 'A Mohawk ! a Mohawk ! ' upon which they fled like sheep before wolves, without attempting to make the least resistance." Note 58. "From example wise and good Page 203. Shall they to all greatness grow, To a Mighty Brotherhood ; And all men, be bettered so." " It is a memorable fact that the Iroquois were so strongly impressed with the wisdom of their system of confederation, that they publicly recommended a similar Union to the British Colonies. In the important conferences at Lancas- ter, in 1774, Cannas-sa-te-go. a respected sachem, expressed this view to the commissioners of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland : ' Our wise forefathers established union and amity between the Five Nations. This has given us great weight and authority with our neighboring nations. We are a powerful confed- eracy, and by observing the same methods our wise forefathers have taken, you will acquire fresh strength and pow^r. Therefore I counsel you, whatever befalls you, never to fall out with one another.' " No sago of the bright days of Qreeco could have more truly apprehended the secret pf .their own power and success." II. R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. III. p. 183. NOTES. 315 Note 59. "ITis dishes all were carved and wrought. Page 230. Out, of the skulls of warriors dead, The trophies from the battle brought." " Most distinguished, however, above all others, east or west, was a leader of great courage and wisdom arid address, called Ot-o-tar-ho ; aud when they pro- posed to form a league, this person, who had inspired dread, and kept himself retired, was anxiously sought. He was found sitting in a swamp, smoking his pipe, and rendered completely invulnerable by living snakes. * * His dishes were made of the skulls of enemies, whom he had slain iu battle. " Ilim, when they had duly approached with presents, aud burned tobacco iu friendship, in their pipes, by way of frankincense, they placed at the head of their league, as its presiding officer. * * And his name, like that of King Arthur of the Round Table, or those of the Paladins of Charlemagne, was used after his (loath as an exemplar of glory and honor; while, like that of Caesar, it became perpetuated as the official title of the presiding officer. * * It is said that the thirteenth Ot-o-tar-ho reigned at Oiiondaga when America was discovered." Xotts on the Iroqaois. Note 60. "AJiery soul that most could sway Page 231. All 2)assions with the might of speech.' " For readiness to perceive the jiosition of the Red Race as civilization gathered around them, curtailing their hunting-grounds, and hemming up their path in various ways ; for quickness of apprehension, and breadth of forecast, and appo- siteuess and sharpness of reply, no one of the leading groups of tribes in North America has equaled the Seneca Orator, Red Jacket, or Sa-go-ye-wat-ha." H. R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. III. p. 198. Noted. "Who weakly owned no brother's God, Page 231. Xor less adjudged for wisdom thence." " He had no doubt that Christianity was good for white people, but the red men were a different race aud required a different religion. He believed that Jesus Christ was a good man, and that the whites should all be sent to hell for killing him; but the red men, having no hand iu his death, were clear of that crime. The Saviour was not sent to them, the atonement not made for them, nor the Bible given to them. " If the Great Spirit had intended they should be Christians, he would have made his revelations to them as well as the whites ; aud not having made it, it was clearly his will that they should continue in the faith of their fathers." CAMPBELL'S Indian Tribes of North America. Note 62. "On battle-field, in Council-halt, Page 232. Alike created to command." " The Oueida sachem, Sken-an-do, electrified the moral community when a hundred years had cast their frosts around his noble and majestic brow, by views of the tenure aud destinies of life, which were worthy of the lips of Job." H. R. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. III. p. 198. 41 316 NOTES. Note 63. "Grandfather wise, Page 276. Do stretch yourself Ne-me-sho brave.'" All objects in the material world being endowed, in the Indian's mind, with a living and intelligent spirit, birds, reptiles and beasts, and even inanimate ob- jects are often addressed as brother or grandfather. The trees of the forest, the stones that lie along his pathway, have ears open to his prayers, and whose power he invokes in the hour of peril. Note 64. "Our hearts are good, but do not seek Page 292. for more to get our little land." " Our country was given to us by the Great Spirit, who gave it to us to hunt upon, to make our cornfields upon, to live upon, and to make down our beds upon when we die. And he would never forgive us should we bargain it away." Speech of Me-tey-a at Chicago in 1821. FORD'S History and Biogi-aphy. " My reason teaches me that land cannot be sold. The Great Spirit gave it to his children to live upon, and to cultivate so far as is necessary for their sub- sistence; and so long as they occupy and cultivate it, they have the right to the soil ; but if they voluntarily leave it, then any other people have a right to settle upon it. Nothing can be sold but such things as can be carried a\\ a\ .'' BLACK HAWK. 317 VOCABULARY. A-MEEK', A-QUAX-US-CIII-O ' NI, ARO-SE'-A, BE-ZHU , CHEE'-MAUN, CHEBI-A' BOS, DA-IIIN'-DA, DO-DI-AII ' -TO, DUN-KA-DOO ' , E-GIIE-A' E-WA-YEA', ES-CON-AW'-BAW, GITCH'E GC'MEE, GUSH-KE ' -WAU, I-A ' -GO, JlK-ON'-SIS,- JIT ' -SHO, KABI-BOX-OK ' -KA, KAH ' -KAH, KAH-SAH ' -OIT, KEY-OSIIK', KAX'-AA, KE-NEU ' , KE-AVAU-XEE', KEE-WAY ' -DIN, KE-KAH-DAH ' -NONG, KI-HA'-DEE, KO'-KO-KO'-HO, KNE'-HAH, The beaver. United People. The squirrel. The panther. A canoe. The Ruler in t e Land of Souls. The bull-frog. The trout. The bittern. Yes. Lullaby. The Mississippi. Luke Superior. The darkness. A great story-teller. The pike. The fox. The North Wind. The crow. Winter. The sea-gull Maid. The War-eagle. The prairie-hen. The Home-wind. The lizard. A river. The owl. My father. 318 VOCABULARY. KU-HA'-GO, KUN-TA-SOO ' , KWAN-O-SHAISH ' -TA, KWAN-RUN-GE-A ' -GOSH, KWA-RA-RE ' , LEAP-MOON, MA'-MA, MAHNG, ME '-DA, ME-SHA-WAY', MUD JE-KE'-WIS, MINNE-WA'-WA, MO'-SA, NE-BA-NAW ' -BAIGS, NE'-GIG, NE-NE-MOOSH ' -A, O-'AH, OGH-WE-SE', OGH-NE'-TA, O-JIS-HON ' -DA, O ' -KAH, O-KWA-HO', O-ME'-ME, ON'-GUE HON'-WE, O-NOK'-SA, O ' -NTJST, O-WAH-AI'-GUT, PAU-PDK-KEE ' -wis, PUCK-WUDJ'-IES, SAH ' -WAH, SAW-SAW-QUAN', SCHO-TA-SA'-MIN, The forest. The Game of Plum-stones. Great snake. Great sturgeon. The wood-pecker. May. The red-headed wood-pecker. The loon. Medicine Man, or Priest. The elk. The West Wind. A pleasant sound, as of the wind. The moose. Water Spirits. The otter. Sweetheart. The wind. The pheasant. The pine tree. The stars. The snow. The wolf. The pigeon. Men surpassing all others. The bass. The Indian corn, Maize. Death. A trickster. The little men ; Fairies. The perch. The death-whoop The bean. VOCABULARY 319 SE-BOW-ISH'-A, SEG-WUX , SHAW '-SHAW, SnOW-OX-DA ' -SEE, SOAX-GE-TA'-IIA, SIIIN'-GE-BIS, SKAX-O'-DO, So ' -RA, SO-HA-UT', So-HA-Hl', TA ' -wis, Tl-O'-TO, TO'-TEM, UXK-TA-HE ' , Uxo ' -WUL, WA ' -BUX AN ' UNG, WA-BE-WA'-WA, WA-WOX-AIS ' -SA, Wl-WA, WAilP'-UM, WAU'-BOS, WAU-BE-ZEE', "\Vo-XE ' -DA, WA-ZHA-WAND', YEK'-WAI, Y( > XOXD, Yo-xox ' -TO, YO-YO-HOX'-TO, YOXG'-WE, * The outer column A rivulet. The Spring. The swallow. The South Wind. The strong-hearted. The diver, or grebe. The deer The duck. The turkey. The outlet of the Ouondaga Lake. The snipe. Cross Lake. The Indian's Heraldic emblems. The God -of water. The turtle. The Morning Star. The white goose. The whippoorwill. The wild goose. Strings of beads, also woven into The hare. [belts. See Note 38 The swan. The Moon. The Maker of the World. The bear. A mountain. A hill. A stream. Woman, mostly Algonquin, the inner Iroquois. ART LIFE AND OTHER POEMS, BY BENJAMIX HATHAWAY. Second Thousand Revised. :o: S. C. GRIGGS cC- CO., CHICAGO. PRICE $1.00, FULL GILT, $1.25. OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. "A new book by a new author, at least new to us, but one who gives us poems of a pure character aud of a high order A book of greater poetic merit has not appeared for years past." St. Louis Christian Adrocate. " 'Art-Life and Other Poems ' almost places Mr. Hathaway on an equal stand- ing with the most popular poets of the country." Chicago Times. " Some of the shorter lyrics woull do credit to famed pens." Boston Traveler. " While we should pass many of these poems by as unattractive at a first glance, a little peep here aud there convinces us, that the writer is not only possessed of the true inspiration, but that he is competent to express his thoughts in felicit- ous language." Inter-Ocean. " The reading public will find it amply fit to hold its place among American poems." Qulncy Whig. " His name is a new one in the literary world, but if this little book is an index of his power, it is destined to become widely known." Peoria Tranxcr/pf. " . . His writings indicate talent of a high order. There is much true poetry- beautiful thought in beautiful language in the book." Jacksonville Journal. " Many of the poems are gems, aud contain passages that would do credit to Dryden, whom his style somewhat resembles." Say City Daily Tribune. " The author of this volume has poetic genius. There are many passages, in different poems, of surpassing beauty." St. Louis Central Baptist. " The collection will be very welcome to those who love quiet, home aud fire- side poetry." Cleveland Herald. " Mr. Hathaway has undoubtedly poetic inspiration and a broad and fertile im- agination. . . . His poems are of a class which show culture and genius, and have the merits of originality, fervor, imagination and truth." Sacramento Eecord Union. OPISIOXS OF THE PRESS. " Matured and finished in Construction." N. C. INDEPENDENT. " This is a volume of poems by a new poet and we use this name in its true spiritual and artistic sense. The author starts up like a bird from some wood- laud seclusion soaring on strong wings and singing new songs, and he must attract attention. ... If a critical reader were to open the book carelessly at any page and read a poem, his interest would inevitably be awakened to such an extent that he would turn to the title-page to discover the author. There he would find au unknown name in literature, and he would be infinitely surprised. Then iu the spirit of a discoverer he would read every poem in the book and con- tinually wonder where this sweat and accomplished singer could have been hiding himself so long. ... Hathaway is not a crude versifier. He has been long in study and practice somewhere. He is a master of versification and embodies his thought in beautiful forms. They are new forms too, and not fantastical either. The flow of the verses is always in perfect harmony with the poetic idea. They sometimes come in torrents and sweep into au espaasa of broaJ thought, which mirrors the calm of nature and the repose of the sympathizing soul that is sing- ing its song for relief from its fullness of music and power. The book is a hyuiucd prayer for power, and the substance of {he prayer is work. The artistic longing, the potent aspiration, is answered in true song. 'Art-Life ' is in the key of Byron's Childo Harold, so far asthe reflective passages can form a paral- lel. The several 'Voices from Natura" aro iu Shelley's purely spiritual tone. Thus these songs of a new poet remind one of the qualities of some of the old singers, whose voices forever echo in our ears. And this genuine singer of Lit- tle Prairie Koude, Michigan, will certainly be heard from again." St. Louis Jiepublica/i. "A Michigan jjot/, worthy of the name." Grand Rapids Evening Post. " Throughout these records of a quiet country life, are scattered gems of poetry, thought aud sentiment that will well repay perusal and possession of the volume. A forest ramble or au aimless stroll upon the beach would be euriched by the companionship which many of these short poems might furnish One sentiment runs through all the poems the glory and reward of labor de- velopment, Art taken in its broadest sense, Creation Love is the inspiration of Art, and Art the destined means for the attaiumi :it of perfect- uess." Port Huron Times. " While it may be too soon to say that a new poet has appeared, it is very cer- tain that the poems comprising this volume are of more than ordinary merit. They are characterized by smoothness o f versification, a felicity of expression elegance of language and beauty of imagery. Some of the descriptive poems would do credit to poets of established reputation, so clear and beautiful are the pictures presented; while others display a vigor of thought and expression quite rare iu the poetry of the day. The poems, while good in themselves, are a prom- ise of better to come." Evening Wisconsin. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 4WKMAY241993 4 WK JUN 2 1 199! ICNOV06 MTD 1395 3 ' 315 i rjua is! f A T O S F- 3 1 o w ^ '[[.'''iiin mi mi || Jim in j CO