s: Save his own dashings--yet--the dead are there;


s: And millions in those solitudes, since first


s: The flight of years began, have laid them down


s: In their last sleep--the dead reign there alone.


s: So shalt thou rest--and what if thou withdraw


s: Take note of thy departure? All that breathe


s: Will share thy destiny. The gay will laugh


s: When thou art gone, the solemn brood of care


s: Plod on, and each one as before will chase


s: His favorite phantom; yet all these shall leave


s: Their mirth and their employment, and shall come


s: And make their bed with thee. As the long train


s: The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes


s: In the full strength of years, matron, and maid,


s: And the sweet babe, and the gray-headed man,


s: Shall one by one be gathered to thy side,


s: By those, who in their turn shall follow them.


s: So live, that when thy summons comes to join


s: To that mysterious realm, where each shall take


s: His chamber in the silent halls of death,


s: Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,


s: Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed


s: By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave,


s: Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch


s: About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.


s: Catch war and vengeance from the glance;


s: Heave in wild wreaths the battle-shroud,


s: Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall,


s: Where breathes the foe but falls before us,


s: Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this


s: In profuse strains of unpremeditated art.


s: And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.


s: Like an embodied joy whose race is just begun.


s: Thou art unseen, but yet I hear thy shrill delight.


s: Until we hardly see, we feel, that it is there.


s: The moon rains out her beams, and heaven is overflow'd.


s: As from thy presence showers a rain of melody.


s: To sympathy with hopes and fears it heeded not;


s: With music sweet as love, which overflows her bower;


s: Among the flowers and grass, which screen it from the view;


s: Makes faint with too much sweet these heavy-winged thieves.


s: Joyous, and fresh and clear, thy music doth surpass.


s: That panted forth a flood of rapture so divine.


s: A thing wherein we feel there is some hidden want.


s: What love of thine own kind? What ignorance of pain?


s: Thou lovest, but ne'er knew love's sad satiety.


s: Or how could thy notes flow in such a crystal stream?


s: Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.


s: I know not how thy joy we ever should come near.


s: Thy skill to poet were, thou scorner of the ground!


s: The world should listen then, as I am listening now.


s: She starts--she moves--she seems to feel


s: Through wind and wave, right onward steer!


s: Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,


s: Our hearts our hopes, our prayers, our tears,


s: Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe--


s: That have their root in thoughts of ill;


s: The heights by great men reached and kept


s: This is the ship of pearl, which, poets feign,


s: On the sweet summer wind its purpled wings


s: In gulfs enchanted, where the Siren sings,


s: Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun their streaming hair.


s: Its webs of living gauze no more unfurl;


s: Where its dim dreaming life was wont to dwell,


s: As the frail tenant shaped his growing shell,


s: Its irised ceiling rent, its sunless crypt unsealed!


s: He left the past year's dwelling for the new,


s: Stole with soft step its shining archway through,


s: Stretched in his last-found home, and knew the old no more.


s: Thanks for the heavenly message brought by thee,


s: From thy dead lips a clearer note is born


s: Than ever Triton blew from wreathed horn!


s: Through the deep caves of thought I hear a voice that sings:--


s: Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,


s: Let each new temple, nobler than the last,


s: Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,


s: Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!


s: "There is nothing better for the United States than EDUCATED


s: Sing, pretty birds, and build your nests,


s: The fields are green, the skies are clear;


s: Better be an hour too early than a minute too late.


s: "Help one another," the snowflakes said,


s: As they cuddled down in their fleecy bed,


s: And then what a splendid drift there'll be."


s: Be good, dear child, and let who will be clever;


s: Do noble deeds, not dream them all day long;


s: And so make life, death, and that vast forever


s: Dare to be true, nothing can need a lie;


s: A fault which needs it most grows two thereby.


s: _Of_ whom you speak, _to_ whom you speak,


s: 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view


s: And clothes the mountain with its azure hue.


s: Give fools their gold and knaves their power,


s: Too low they build who build beneath the stars.


s: Errors, like straws upon the surface flow;


s: He who would seek for pearls must dive below.


s: The face you wear, the thoughts you bring,


s: Count that day lost whose low descending sun


s: Views from thy hand no worthy action done.


s: Act well your part; there all the honor lies.


s: Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.


s: One cannot always be a hero, but one can always be a man.


s: The heights by great men reached and kept,


s: We always may be what we might have been.


s: Often in a wooden house a golden room we find.


s: Life is too short for aught but high endeavor.


s: To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first.


s: Without some storms no rainbow could appear.


s: The noblest service comes from nameless hands,


s: And the best servant does his work unseen.


s: There's never a leaf or a blade too mean


s: The failings of others can never save you;


s: Stand by your conscience, your honor, your faith--


s: Stand like a hero, and battle till death!


s: May soothe, or wound, a heart that's broken.


s: And it must follow, as the night the day,


s: Thou canst not then be false to any man.


s: Be just and fear not; let all the ends thou aimest at, be thy


s: The saddest are these: "It might have been!"


s: Truth crushed to earth shall rise again;


s: Hold you here, root and all, in my hand,


s: Little flower,--but if I could understand


s: What you are, root and all--and all in all,


s: Life is the beat possible thing we can make of it.


s: Without a sign his sword the brave man draws,


s: And asks no omen but his country's cause.


s: There's a divinity that shapes our ends,


s: To be, or not to be: that is the question:


s: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer


s: The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,


s: Or to take up arms against a sea of troubles,


s: Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens.


s: The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear;


s: Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,


s: And waste its sweetness on the desert air.


s: What we call time enough always proves little enough.


s: Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy.


s: Drive thy business, let not that drive thee.


s: Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and


s: He that lives upon hope will die fasting.


s: Have you somewhat to do to-morrow, do it to-day.


s: Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.


s: If you would have your business done, go; if not, send.


s: Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets put out the kitchen fire.


s: Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.


s: Wise men learn by others' harms, fools scarcely by their own.


s: When the well is dry they know the worth of water.


s: Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy.


s: A little neglect may breed great mischief.


s: But little boats should keep near shore.


s: Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.


s: At the workingman's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.


s: By industry and patience the mouse ate into the cable.


s: Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.


s: A workingman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.


s: It is folly for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox.


s: It is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel.


s: If you would be wealthy think of saving as well as of getting.


s: The patriot's voice, to teach and rouse,


s: The monarch's crown, to light the brows?


s: "Sleep soft, beloved!" we sometimes say,


s: Sad dreams that through the eyelids creep.


s: That sees through tears the mummers leap,


s: And, friends, dear friends,--when it shall be


s: Uniform volumes. 4to. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.50.


s: Cried Debby, I'll kiss this sweet Donkey of mine,


s: For sure the dear creature is almost divine;


s: Look at his eyes, how they sparkle and shine!


s: In a car the fair ladies at Brighton he drew,


s: And jogging along with a jolly fat crew,


s: Quite into the sea for coolness he flew,


s: And made some fine pastime for dandies to view.


s: To the stump of his tail some gay ribands she bound,


s: And then at the races he tript o'er the ground,


s: And bore off the prize, 'ere a flea could hop round:


s: Though the slowest of Donkeys the winner is found,


s: Cries the dame, Pray turn Doctor, my honey,--d'ye see?


s: You'll get high in practice, and pocket a fee:


s: Since many a jackass (all parties agree)


s: For physic is famous, though silly as thee;


s: Says Deborah, Wherefore, since learning's the rage,


s: Should not my dear Donkey teach children their page?


s: Pray set up a school, and be one of the sage,


s: In this wonderful, wonderful, wonderful age,


s: She sent for a barber, her Donkey to shave,


s: Cried Frizzle,--O, sir, what a strong beard you have!


s: This counsellor's wig will make you look grave,


s: And then at the bar you may bellow and rave


s: And now, since your talents are gen'ral, you know,


s: The Ass took the hint--daub'd a canvas or so,


s: But found that his genius was lazy and slow.


s: My tale to conclude: he draws sand in a cart,


s: Having failed to get credit in science or art,


s: And angry old Deb, with her crutch makes him smart,


s: Because he'd creep slowly, and not bear his part,


s: Johnny Fig was a green and white grocer,


s: None than John to the shop could stick closer,


s: And _ax't_ all the village _musicioners_.


s: The Barber sung, 'Gallery of Wigs,' sir,


s: Madam Fig had trick'd out for a seat, sir,


s: But the cover crack'd under his feet, sir.


s: Snip was sous'd in the brine, but soon rising


s: Exclaimed, while they laughed at his grief,


s: That waked farmer Thrasher's dog Thunder,


s: Chimed in too, which made a wag say, sir,


s: And for dancing no souls could be riper,


s: There were oysters, and salads, and porter,


s: Scotch collops, roast pig, and boiled fowl,


s: No doubt you have heard how the grasshoppers' feasts


s: "Excited the spleen of the birds and the beasts;"


s: How the peacock and turkey "flew into a passion,"


s: On finding that insects "pretended to fashion."


s: Now, I often have thought it exceedingly hard,


s: That nought should be said of the beasts by the bard;


s: Who, by some strange neglect, has omitted to state


s: That the quadrupeds gave a magnificent fête;


s: So, out of sheer justice I take up my pen,


s: To tell you the how, and the where, and the when.


s: The place which they chose was a wild chestnut ground,


s: (And many such spots in the new world are found,)


s: Where the evergreen oak and the cucumber trees


s: Rear aloft their tall branches, and wave in the breeze;


s: Where the hickory, cypress, and cabbage-tree grow,


s: And shade the sweet flowers that blossom below;


s: And the creepers and vines form a beautiful sight,


s: As they climb the tall shaft, and hang down from a height;


s: Or they mix with the long pendant moss which is found


s: Growing high on the branches, yet touching the ground:


s: From amidst the dark foliage the mocking-birds sing,


s: Or mimic the hum of the honey-bees' wing,


s: As they whirl round a flower enjoying the feast,


s: So unsparingly spread for bird, insect, or beast.


s: From afar the bald eagle is seen in the sky,


s: Now darting below, and now soaring on high;


s: Now he takes from the fish-hawk his newly caught prey,


s: And with speed to the forest he bears it away;


s: Whilst the wood is alive with a feathery throng,


s: Who from morning till night fill the air with their song.


s: On one side is the lake where the wild cattle drink,


s: And trample the rice which grows wild on its brink;


s: The freshness untouch'd of earth's beauties declare,


s: Neither pride, pomp, nor envy, have ever been there;


s: Here Nature resides--nothing human is seen;


s: Foot of man hath not pass'd o'er that prairie I ween,


s: Unless some few wandering Indians have pass'd--


s: Of their sorrowing tribe perhaps nearly the last.


s: I should fail to describe in a picturesque manner


s: The splendid repose of that grassy Savanna;


s: Tall shadows swept out from the forest of pine, }


s: The site was a fair one, the weather so fine,   }


s: That even a quadruped thought it divine.        }


s: To this wild grassy spot, on the long look'd for day,


s: Merry parties of beasts made the best of their way;


s: The polar bear came in a sledge, and she said


s: That the journey had caused a sharp pain in her head:


s: For, although well protected from snout to her tail,


s: She thought she had got a slight "coup-de-soleil;"


s: So she hastily called for a gallon of ice,


s: Which a monkey in waiting served up in a trice.


s: Then the jaguar, the couguar, and fierce Ocelot,


s: And Sir Hans Armadillo, who came at full trot,


s: Brother Jonathan Beaver, escaped from the trappers,


s: Sloth, Tortoise, and Dormouse, notorious nappers.


s: That beau, the musk-Ox, with his long scented hair,


s: And John Bull just arrived on his travels, were there;


s: And the rock-mountain sheep, with his cousin, the goat;


s: Then the sociable marmot, and tiny shrew mouse,


s: The raccoon and agouti from hollow-tree house.


s: Chinchilla the soft, musk and Canada rats,


s: Hounds, mastiffs, wolves, foxes, and wild tiger cats;


s: Jerboa just roused from his long winter nap,


s: Opossum, with four little babes in her lap.


s: The morse, seal, and otter--amphibious group!


s: And of bisons (the humpbacked) there came a whole troop.


s: It seems that the elk out of pride staid away,


s: Having just shed his horns, which he does about May.


s: The fallow and red-deer were gone to a lick,


s: With a numerous party, who thought themselves sick;


s: But the antelope, stag, and the Wapiti deer,


s: Notwithstanding the age of the latter, were there.


s: The Esquimaux dogs, red, white, brindled, and black,


s: Who, for fear of the wolves, had arrived in a pack,


s: Were not heard to speak in the course of the day,


s: And were thought by the rest "to have nothing to say."


s: But if they were silent, 'twas clear they could growl,


s: And on meeting the wolf, gave a wild dismal howl;


s: For although 'twas supposed they were slightly connected,


s: In quarrels and fights they'd been often detected;


s: Though 'tis true, all dislikes for this day were forbidden,


s: Yet mutual antipathies could not be hidden.


s: Noble horses of Spanish extraction there came,


s: The chief of whose party was terribly lame;


s: For it seems that in one of his frolicsome scampers,


s: Beneath a hot sun in the wide spreading Pampas,


s: By the rich purple fruit of the Cactus allured,


s: And feeling a thirst that could not be endured,


s: He approach'd it to eat, but his nose was not proof


s: Against the sharp thorns, so he struck with his hoof,


s: When they pierced his bare foot, and so now he limp'd in


s: With his fetlock bound up in a garter-snake's skin:


s: The vampire-bat, surgeon, now offered to bleed it,


s: In case as he thought his poor patient would need it;


s: And added, at least it could do him no harm


s: To try his specific, the juice of the palm.


s: From the South came the puma, American lion,


s: Of the old house of Leo degenerate scion.


s: The tapir, and also that excellent diver,


s: Alligator, or Cayman, from Amazon river;


s: And with him the Llama, whose sad trick of spitting


s: Was thought by the company very unfitting.


s: But, to shorten my tale, all the New World were there,


s: From the tiny shrew mouse to the fierce grisly bear;


s: Though it seems that the peccary was not invited,


s: For he as a nuisance had just been indicted.


s: From the Old World, the lion and tiger with glee


s: Would have join'd them, but dreaded the journey by sea.


s: Beneath some fine trees, on the beautiful green,


s: Looking gravely about, and conversing together;


s: Some on learning and science, and some on the weather.


s: Dr. Mole on geology talk'd in high strain,


s: And declared his researches had not been in vain,


s: And that many geologists would have been glad


s: To have found opportunities such as he had;


s: For whilst searching for food in his underground travel,


s: Midst fossils, roots, shells, hid in chalk, sand, or gravel,


s: He the monstrous remains of great mammoths had seen,


s: Who no longer existed, but who once had been;


s: "The theories about them are various," said he,


s: "As to how they came there, and what they may be;


s: But not one of these I incline to receive,


s: For that they were elephants, who can believe?


s: There was one Mr. Cuvier, who talk'd of the sloth,


s: But to listen to nonsense like this I am loth;


s: From the strength of their limbs, and the make of their paws,


s: From the shape of their bodies, and length of their claws,


s: I am firmly convinced they're related to me,


s: And to this all philosophers ought to agree;


s: For how could such creatures have got into holes,


s: Unless, ('tis my theory,) they had been moles?"


s: He ceased, then just turn'd his diminutive eyes,


s: First round to the company, then to the skies,


s: And receiving applause from all who sate round,


s: He threw up his hill, and escaped underground.


s: Signor Greyhound, a foreigner, talk'd of the swamps,


s: Of the ague and fever, both caused by the damps;


s: Then quickly proceeded the climate to quiz,


s: And exclaim'd, "In Italia we've nothing of this!"


s: Mr. Hog said that he had sent over his daughter


s: To England, to have all the sciences taught her;


s: And learned she was, all the world must allow,


s: For the Savants pronounced her a wonderful sow.


s: She was heard to grunt forth an unwilling apology,


s: For daring to boast of her skill in Nosology,


s: And presuming to hint what a dab she'd been found,


s: At extracting the root, whether square root, or round.


s: Some beavers complain'd of that biped call'd man,


s: Who does to their race all the harm that he can,


s: Some of whom, not long since, came to kidnap and pillage


s: The whole of their neighbouring water-bound village,


s: And they guess'd the snake-Indians caught many a score,


s: To stew down the tails for their great Sagamore.


s: The hedgehog, who always lies snug in his nest,


s: Till his fourfooted neighbours betake them to rest,


s: Now changed his old custom for once in a way,


s: Unroll'd his warm nose, and came forth in the day.


s: He sought for the cow, and implored the good dame


s: Would find out some means to restore his fair fame,


s: For there still was prevailing a cruel belief


s: That oft in the night he came forth as a thief;


s: So he lived in continual danger and strife,


s: Though he never had tasted her milk in his life.


s: On the faith of a hedgehog he dared to affirm,


s: That he seldom found courage to injure a worm.


s: Mrs. Cow was astonish'd; she never had heard


s: A report more untrue, a belief so absurd.


s: She urged that his mouth was too little by half


s: To steal the sweet milk that she meant for Miss Calf;


s: And concluded by saying, "'Tis surely enough


s: To mention (excuse me) your coat is so rough,


s: If even supposing that you should not fear me,


s: I never could suffer your skin to come near me."


s: An old porcupine, too, just begg'd leave to observe,


s: That reports had been spread which he did not deserve;


s: To say he was "fretful," was using him ill,


s: He would prove the reverse to his very last quill;


s: Though he now bristled up at the simple idea,


s: This was often, with him, but a symptom of fear.


s: As he spoke, a poor toad, who had sate quite aloof


s: In a hovel of earth, with a stone for a roof,


s: Now slowly, on tiptoe, crept out of his hole,


s: And into the midst of the company stole;


s: The quadrupeds gazed as the reptile drew nigh,


s: Half afraid of his looks, though they could not tell why.


s: Mouse's hair stood on end, and, still stranger to say,


s: Miss Chameleon changed colour, and fainted away.


s: Poor bufo confess'd, as he sate in the dark,


s: He had listen'd to porcupine's brilliant remark,


s: And had thought it was due to himself and posterity,


s: T' expose a new case of the poets' temerity.


s: The poets, who kindly, but falsely, had said,


s: That he carried a beautiful gem in his head;


s: With his rustic brown coat, and his sallow green face,


s: And he knew not how people could think it was true,


s: Unless they had seen him when spangled with dew.


s: His Surinam friend could they possibly mean,


s: Who carried her little ones set in her skin.


s: Like Cornelia's, the good Roman matron of yore.


s: Having stated the case with regard to attire,


s: He said, with some warmth, that he did not spit fire:


s: And he ask'd why the wise ones omitted to hint


s: Where he carried his tinder, his steel, and his flint:


s: That his time was more usefully spent, he might say,


s: In chasing the vagrants and spectres away.


s: That of insects and grubs he destroy'd not a few:


s: His wife had just miss'd a huge pioneer spider,


s: Who fled to his home, and then rudely defied her,


s: And e'en bang'd his door in her face to deride her.


s: The marmot was "tchatting" away without end,


s: With a burrowing owl, his old neighbour and friend,


s: Who, being a bird in whom marmot confided,


s: Had hired his cottage, in which he resided.


s: The landlord just hinted, that when he lived there,


s: He had kept the old hovel in charming repair;


s: The walls neatly mended, the parlour swept clean,


s: And never a cobweb nor grain to be seen;


s: But that now this once pleasant and rural retreat,


s: By his tenant, the owl, was no longer kept neat;


s: That the little round chamber, and long slanting hall,


s: For the want of attention, were likely to fall;


s: Such a mess and confusion he could but deplore,


s: And he thought, at the least, she might plaster the floor,


s: Just turn out of doors all the shells of her eggs,


s: And those heaps of dried beetles' and butterflies' legs.


s: The poor owl, who spoke well in the prairie-dog tongue,


s: Now found an excuse, in the care of her young;


s: Alleged the hard times; that is, beetles were few,


s: So to find them in food she had plenty to do.


s: The raccoon stood apart in a beautiful glade,


s: Much disturb'd by the noise that the company made,


s: And there with a friend he stay'd fretting and pining,


s: To hear such a bellowing, howling, and whining.


s: "Oh! those red-monkeys' shrieks," his old friend would begin,


s: Let us get in this tree, 'tis the squirrel's old barn,


s: And (as Captain Seal says) I'll there spin a yarn.


s: I awoke very early to come to this feast,


s: Ere the sun warm'd the top of that hill in the east,


s: And forth from my lodging proceeded to creep,


s: For the wild turkey's 'gobble' had broken my sleep.


s: Then I climb'd some tall maize plants, and ate up the ears,


s: And enjoy'd the repast, notwithstanding my fears;


s: For great is my awe of the red Indian's gun,


s: And I thought I had caught a slight glimpse of one.


s: I saw, too, a rattlesnake creeping hard by,


s: And heard his tail clatter, and mark'd his red eye.


s: He coil'd himself up, for he spied me right soon,


s: And was wishing, no doubt, for a bit of raccoon;


s: Then, thinking the risk of a rifle in truth,


s: Was better by far than his poisonous tooth,


s: I hasten'd away from the much dreaded place,


s: That I might not be coil'd in his slimy embrace.


s: I rambled along to our nook in the beach,


s: And swallow'd the oysters that lay within reach.


s: Then traversed in haste the Savanna so wide,


s: Till I found the tall pine where you usually hide.


s: Then I scamper'd away o'er the Indigo fields,


s: Soon pass'd the old maple, (what sugar it yields!)


s: I travell'd along to the cabbage-palm quay,


s: Turn'd short by the far-spreading tall tulip tree.


s: Through forest and plain, and through dark dismal swamp,


s: And lighted alone by the firefly's lamp,


s: Which, fluttering around me, now here and now there,


s: Rings of gold to my fancy seem'd form'd in the air,


s: Till now at the brink of the lake I arrive,


s: Reconnoitre the spot, and prepare for a dive,


s: Then plunged in the water, and over I swam,


s: Quickly climb'd the green bank, and so now here I am!


s: "But I will not detain you with tales of the north,


s: Of the riches and beauties that nature brings forth;


s: I should fail in describing what flowers abound,


s: Rhododendrons and kalmias empurpling the ground;


s: How the laurels' gay berries, of deep coral red,


s: Hang far out from their cones on a bright silver thread;


s: How white lilies, azalias, enliven the green,


s: But will speak of the south, which will vary the scene.


s: Tell their tales of the Mexican gardens and state;


s: That in midst of a lake those bright swimming isles float,


s: Which are paddled about like a raft or a boat;


s: Then they boast of the flowers, the pepper, and maize,


s: And give one accounts of the natives' strange ways:


s: If a man be annoy'd by his neighbour, they say,


s: He will take his plantation and row it away.


s: The trees are luxuriant, the mora, whose size


s: Fills the wanderer's mind with delight and surprise;


s: The ebony, green-heart, and letter-wood tree,


s: The locust and parasite fig you may see;


s: On the Concourite's branch Ara parrots assemble,


s: Whose blue and red feathers the rainbow resemble.


s: There the trumpeter's sounds and the goatsucker's moans


s: Are mistaken sometimes for the dying man's groans:


s: The sad 'whip-poor-will,' and the 'willy-come-go.'"


s: Here a seal shuffled up, and, just waving his fin,


s: "Though the beauties of plain and of forest you know,


s: Yet who can describe all the wonders below?


s: On a soft bed of sponge in the deep sea I lie,


s: And watch the huge shark and the grampus glide by;


s: Or amidst groves of coral I play at bo-peep,


s: Or I float where the porpoise and flying-fish leap.


s: I have seen the thin nautilus trimming her sail,


s: And the Geyser-like waterspout made by the whale;


s: To this lord of the ocean there clung a whole bevy


s: Of parasite barnacles waiting his 'levée.'


s: I have seen the small soldier-crab coated in red,


s: With the shell of a whelk for a home overhead;


s: And the limpet, who, cased in a house of his own,


s: Shuts out all the air, and sticks fast to a stone;


s: And the fights of the quarrelsome swordfish and shark,


s: Which have lasted from morning until it was dark.


s: "Bright clusters of zoophite flowers I've seen,


s: Sea anemonies, purple, red, orange, and green,


s: That with petal-like fingers waylay the small fry


s: Who gaze on their hues, but gaze only to die;


s: Like the flower that buries a fly in its cup,


s: They draw in their feelers, and swallow them up.


s: One day, after lingering long in that place,


s: The cuttlefish spurted some ink in my face,


s: As it enter'd my eyes, for a time I was blind,


s: From a fish with three hearts this was very unkind.


s: "In the course of my travels I often have seen


s: Th' effects of the dreadful electric machine;


s: Of the gymnotus eel, with one stroke of his tail


s: He would make the stout African elephant quail,


s: Or the heart of the horny rhinoceros quake,


s: Oh! may he ne'er visit this land or this lake.


s: The small swimming spider, with silky lined cell,


s: I have seen her manoeuvre her own diving-bell.


s: They are endless the wonders of shallow and deep,


s: But I spare you the list, you are falling asleep."


s: The rest of the party amused themselves well,


s: Seeking insects and fruits in each dingle and dell:


s: Some stroll'd in the shade, others bask'd in the sun,


s: Whilst some with the cubs had a good game of fun.


s: The much injured hedgehog was hunting for plants,


s: The ant-bears, both greater and lesser, caught ants;


s: With their long slimy tongues hanging out from the mouth,


s: Though they thought they preferr'd the great grubs of the south.


s: Some traced out the store of the wild honey-bee,


s: Hoarded up in the trunk of an old hollow tree,


s: Then but sparingly tasted, although it was good,


s: Being told by their dams it was dangerous food.


s: The sloths, two and three toed, were hardly awake;


s: The fox caught his tail, and the Caiman a snake,


s: Which was wriggling along to a lark's low-built nest,


s: To tear the soft young from the mother's warm breast.


s: The sheep and the cow, in apparent dejection,


s: Were quietly chewing the cud of reflection.


s: The cavies and ermines were running a race,


s: Armadillo was off to a grasshopper chace.


s: The cat was surprised to see animals roam,


s: And she purr'd when she thought of her kitten at home.


s: By making remarks on the walrus's shape,


s: On her great staring eyes, and her ugly thick lips,


s: Her small head, her short neck, and the breadth of her hips;


s: But he said, "upon honour he meant no offence,"


s: And she, by forgiving him, shew'd her good sense.


s: The fox (cunning rogue!) too, complain'd of opossum,


s: For smuggling her young to the feast in her bosom;


s: For, as he was peeping and prying about,


s: "He had seen the young scapegraces get in and out."


s: The land mouse, the water, and long-tail'd mouse, too,


s: Tiny field mouse, that turn'd up nose vixen the shrew,


s: The harvest mouse, fresh from a settler's rick,


s: Were condemn'd by the great ones as not of their clique;


s: These reclined round a mole hill, and each dipp'd his paw


s: In a cocoa-nut bowl fill'd with rice, "en pillau."


s: And the harvest mouse took most exceeding great pains


s: To squeak them a stanza in honour of grains.


s: Our hearts, like our voices, are so very weak."


s: "Hark! hark! to the sound now my comrades rejoice,


s: 'Tis the bell-bird who calls us, I know well his voice;


s: Campanero, who graciously offer'd his song


s: When the feast was prepared, 'tis his ding-a-dong-dong;"


s: So exclaim'd a poor turnspit, their cook, who'd been toiling


s: All day very busily roasting or broiling.


s: At this moment that spoiler of pic-nics, a shower,


s: Obliged them to rush to the vine-cover'd bower,


s: Where in it--oh! joy to the hungry! they found


s: The repast long expected laid out on the ground.


s: They had raised to the office of "maître d'hotel"


s: The glutton, (and who could perform it so well?)


s: Who with excellent taste, and an eye to a share,


s: Had collected the following luxuries there:--


s: The cat-fish, the sturgeon, and hickory shad,


s: Bass and gar in such plenty it made their hearts glad;


s: The sun and the moon-fish, the star-fish and dab,


s: The sting-ray and sheepshead, drum, grooper and crab;


s: Turkey-buzzards, swans, eagles, form'd excellent hashes,


s: When flavour'd with tallow-nuts, pompions, and squashes;


s: Baked frogs, "en surprise," from a forest on fire,


s: Flamingoes, removed by a huge Lammergeyer;


s: Gulls, ravens, herons, boobies, bald-coots, water-hens,


s: And yards of strung ortolans, linnets, and wrens;


s: Loons, noddies, and nuthatches cook'd in a stew,


s: Whale blubber "en gras," and guanas "au bleu;"


s: Jerk'd beef from the south, and large watersnake broth,


s: And a great dish of pemmican brought from the north;


s: Green branches of trees from the beaver's damp hut,


s: Bowls of milk from the cow-tree and hickory-nut;


s: Then venison "en câche," maize, wild rice, and, to boot,


s: Guavas, cranberries, mangoes, grapes, shaddock, breadfruit!


s: Here they sate and discuss'd the magnificent fare


s: Which the glutton had superintended with care.


s: The monkeys in helping were very officious,


s: The bears suck'd their paws, and pronounced it delicious.


s: Of the noise-dreading Mr. Raccoon it was said,


s: That he sopp'd all his food, which was voted ill-bred;


s: And that, puff'd with conceit, he declared he look'd wise,


s: A distinction he owed to his spectacled eyes.


s: 'Twas observed too (you know how the gossips will talk,)


s: Master guinea-pig stuff'd till he hardly could walk,


s: Though which dainty was best it was hard to determine:


s: The meat was too fresh for the epicure ermine;


s: To which glutton answered, "That all he could say


s: Was, that it, like himself, was 'bien mortifiée.'"


s: All the others declared themselves very well pleased,


s: Though it must be confess'd they were terribly squeezed


s: By the poor little cubs, whom their dams would insert


s: Between the grown quadrupeds' seats at dessert.


s: The llamas departed while yet it was light,


s: As they always objected to travel by night,


s: And were trotting along, never thinking of harm,


s: When their friends heard the tree-frog foretelling a storm;


s: There he sate on a bough, with his keen glassy eye


s: Most sagaciously blinking and watching the sky,


s: Then he look'd to the east, and thus hoarsely he spoke,


s: "There's a terrible storm coming up, croak! croak! croak!"


s: The soft cooing ground-dove creeps close to her mate


s: At this sound of alarm, which all living things hate;


s: The snake-bird is startled, and drops from her bough


s: To dive in the stream that runs swiftly below.


s: Whilst perch'd on a tree the wood-pelican's dreams


s: Are disturb'd by the crane's and the crying-bird's screams.


s: The tortoise made off at the mention of rain,


s: And troops of scared quadrupeds scour the plain!


s: The rest quickly rise from their seats in affright,


s: To see if the warner has told them aright,


s: As they flatter themselves that it may be mere fancy,


s: Or put little faith in the toad's necromancy;


s: They find he speaks truly, the storm is approaching,


s: Dark clouds o'er the beautiful blue are encroaching,


s: The tempest lays low the tall grass in the field,


s: To the furious blasts even forest-trees yield;


s: All is silent at first, then the loud cracking thunder


s: Bursts at once o'er their heads, and o'erwhelms them with wonder!


s: Now confusion has taken the place of repose:


s: The bears shake their coats, and roll off with a growl,


s: Wolves, dogs, wolverenes, scamper off in full howl.


s: With their quills mounting guard, timid porcupines wait,


s: Whilst the Jaguar and Couguar crouch low and retreat.


s: The sloth gently draws himself up on a bough,


s: The raccoon slyly enters the hollow below.


s: Mice, hedgehogs, and tortoises creep to their holes,


s: And their fortified refuge is sought by the moles.


s: Seals and otters plunge silently into the lake,


s: Mrs. Beaver, too, dives with her young in her wake.


s: The tapir returns to his home in the fens,


s: The marmots are off to their underground dens,


s: And the wishtonwish marmot, the kind prairie dog,


s: Makes room in his hole for the tortoise and frog.


s: The hamster runs home, with the pouch in his cheek


s: Stuff'd with various provisions enough for a week;


s: Then stores in his dark lonely cell the rich pelf,


s: For, ill bred and greedy, he cares but for self.


s: No children, no wife, no companion had he,


s: With his very best friend he could never agree,


s: But lived by himself without pleasure or mirth,


s: In a hermit-like vault, five feet deep in the earth;


s: But the sentinel marmot's shrill whistle of fear


s: Echoes loud o'er the plain, and is heard far and near


s: By his joyous allies, for whose safety he cared,


s: And whose dangers, mirth, sorrows, and dwelling he shared.


s: And Mrs. Opossum, good dame, holds her breath,


s: Safely pockets her young, and as usual, feigns death;


s: Till the storm has blown over they lie in their sack,


s: Whilst the seal scrambles home with her cub pic-a-back.


s: Sir Hans Armadillo, coil'd up in a ball,


s: From the edge of a precipice lets himself fall;


s: Being arm'd "cap-à-pie," he rolls safely away,


s: And lives, without doubt, in his hole to this day.


s: The rein-deer most kindly was offer'd to share


s: In her cold wintry drive by the white polar bear;


s: And she proffers a seat in her sledge, for she knows


s: 'Tis a long weary way to her region of snows;


s: Besides, she is eager to join the dear child


s: She had left on an ice-floe alone to run wild.


s: Savage wolf, being greedy, fell into a trap,


s: Mr. Glutton was kill'd e'en whilst taking a nap;


s: And the badger, poor fellow! for shelter must roam,


s: For he finds the red fox has got into his home.


s: On an island of ice floats the walrus away,


s: With her cub in her fins, who upbraided her stay,


s: The joys of the feast deeply sank in her heart,


s: Like the rest of the guests she was loth to depart.


s: And now, the repast being greatly diminish'd,


s: By ravens and vultures is speedily finish'd.


s: The tempest has ceased, the wilds beasts are at rest,


s: And each tiny quadruped lies in his nest.


s: Once more o'er the landscape the long shadows creep,


s: The repose and the darkness soon lull them to sleep,


s: For nothing is heard in the once noisy land,


s: Save the whip-poor-will telling that night is at hand.


s: In life, as in prairies, there's danger abroad,


s: While love and kind hearts the best pleasures afford;


s: Though what we are seeking the pleasantest seems,


s: Disappointments and storms oft assail our best schemes.


s: Howe'er we may plan them, wherever we roam,


s: Our comforts and joys we at last find at home;


s: There we live on in quiet with those we love best,


s: And the voice of affection there lulls us to rest!


s: Yet, they were not without their failings:


s: Nor pluck the few wild flowers, that bloom


s: The babes were bless'd, and sent to bed,


s: Sometimes with beasts compelled to herd;


s: Who sports beneath the moon's pale rays,


s: How strange! what luck! what can have brought it?


s: Good lack! Dear me! Who would have thought it?


s: Lord, how the neighbours will all wonder!


s: I hope you'll hold your head much higher.


s: Well, well, then--shall I be a Squire?--


s: Squire Homespun! Lord how fine it sounds!


s: Such bonnets, mantles, ruffs, and puffs,


s: With chains and ear-rings, watch and broche,


s: Peace, said the husband, pr'ythee, peace!


s: Set all to rights, and brush'd her hearth;


s: Methinks 'twould broil so clean and nice;


s: O'erwhelm'd with grief and self-reproach,


s: Mean time the husband storm'd and rated,


s: And call'd his spouse--like savage shameless,


s: She cried, she stamp'd, she tore her hair;


s: And you shall have such gay rich clothes,


s: Therefore, my dearest, calm your passion!


s: Yet scarce recovered, laugh'd and cried,


s: To tempt us first, and then to flout us?--


s: "She tauld thee well thou was a skellum"      Frontispiece


s: Gathering her brows like gathering storm,


s: A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum;


s: That at the L--d's house, ev'n on Sunday,


s: Thou would be found deep drown'd in Doon;


s: The night drave on wi' sangs an' clatter;


s: Wi' favors, secret, sweet, and precious:


s: The storm without might rair and rustle,


s: As bees flee hame wi' lades o' treasure,


s: The minutes wing'd their way wi' pleasure:


s: Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious,


s: You seize the flow'r, its bloom is shed;


s: That flit ere you can point their place;


s: That hour, o' night's black arch the key-stane,


s: That dreary hour he mounts his beast in,


s: The speedy gleams the darkness swallow'd;


s: Loud, deep, and lang the thunder bellowed:


s: Whiles holding fast his gude blue bonnet;


s: Whiles crooning o'er some auld Scots sonnet;


s: Whiles glow'ring round wi' prudent cares,


s: Whare ghaists and houlets nightly cry.--


s: The doubling storm roars thro' the woods;


s: When, glimmering thro' the groaning trees,


s: Thro' ilka bore the beams were glancing;


s: The swats sae ream'd in Tammie's noddle,


s: But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels,


s: He screw'd the pipes and gart them skirl,


s: That shaw'd the dead in their last dresses;


s: Twa span-lang, wee, unchristen'd bairns;


s: The mirth and fun grew fast and furious:


s: They reel'd, they set, they cross'd, they cleekit,


s: Their sarks, instead o' creeshie flannen,


s: That ance were plush, o' gude blue hair,


s: Wi' twa pund Scots ('twas a' her riches),


s: Even Satan glowr'd, and fidg'd fu' fain,


s: And hotch'd and blew wi' might and main:


s: When plundering herds assail their byke;


s: When, pop! she starts before their nose;


s: Wi' mony an eldritch skreech and hollow.


s: Ah, Tam! Ah, Tam! thou'll get thy fairin!


s: In hell they'll roast thee like a herrin!


s: spirits, have no power to follow a poor wight any farther than


s: the middle of the next running stream.--It may be proper


s: likewise to mention to the benighted traveller, that when he


s: falls in with _bogles_, whatever danger may be in his going


s: forward, there is much more hazard in turning back.]


s: THE LONE WAR-PATH. Elaine Goodale Eastman,


s: THE PEACE-PIPE QUARRY. Adelaide George Bennett,


s: THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. Henry W. Longfellow,


s: THE TRAILING ARBUTUS. Adelaide George Bennett,


s: O'er a vast prairie stoops the sultry night;


s: The moon in her broad kingdom wanders white;


s: High hung in space, she swims the murky blue.


s: Low lies yon village of the roaming Sioux--


s: Its smoke-stained lodges, moving toward the west,


s: By conquering Sleep invaded and possessed.


s: All there, save one, own his benign command;


s: Their chief has lately left this little band,


s: And up the glittering path of spirits fled;


s: Thus his young widow, not a twelvemonth wed,


s: The aching hope, the trembling pangs she feels.


s: How breathless is the night! None saw it rise--


s: That black cloud stealing up the glassy skies--


s: Till threatening murmurs, loud and louder grown,


s: Burst from its swelling bosom, and the moon


s: Slips into brief oblivion, while a glare


s: As of far, flickering torches, seems to bear


s: The challenge of the gods. Awake, awake!


s: Make ready for the tempest, ere it break!


s: Drive tent-pins deeper, stretch the covering tight--


s: Hobble the ponies, scattering in affright


s: Before the thunder-peals. When all is fast,


s: Keep vigil, then, till the gods' wrath be past!


s: In dizzy slant descends the sheeted rain;


s: Sharp lightnings rend in twain the sable gloom,


s: While, cannon-like, the unchained thunders boom!


s: No ear discerns a woman's thrilling cries;


s: In caverns where the mocking spirits play,


s: Faint, but rejoicing, on a couch of skins,


s: The wise men of the tribe strange signs relate--


s: This stormy birth portends a stormy fate--


s: And since the warring heavens, that should affright,


s: Called forth these daring boys on such a night,


s: Their names must own the event that marked their birth--


s: The younger twin, "Coming-his-voice-is-heard"--


s: Darkens the mother's heart with nameless dread,


s: But casts no shadow on the unconscious head


s: Of either sturdy twin. Their mutual play


s: With joyous echoes fills the livelong day!


s: Till sudden sorrow bowed the mother's pride--


s: The gossips point to him that's left alone--


s: "He, too, will die, for half himself is gone!"


s: At first, distraught he seemed--unlike a child;


s: He ate not, slept not, neither spoke nor smiled.


s: Then sought the forest--wandered there alone


s: For days--his tender mother frantic grown--


s: Till he returned to her, and smiling, said,


s: "My spirit meets and talks with him that's dead!"


s: Thenceforth he seemed as one who, hand-in-hand,


s: Walks with a brother in the spirit land.


s: When certain valor gained the meed of praise,


s: The seasoned warrior, old and full of scars,


s: (If he returned victorious), on that day


s: When he, the twin we know of, seeks her side


s: And murmurs in her ear, who loves him so,--


s: On a lone war-path." Knowing well 'twere vain


s: To plead with him, her tears must fall like rain


s: On 'broidered moccasins for those dear feet;


s: His pouch, her choicest store of pounded meat


s: Must fill before the dawn, which sends him forth


s: On foot, alone, to pierce the savage north.


s: _I hear them coming who made thee weep![A]


s: And meet them first, who hurt thee most.


s: (Still at his twin's mysterious behest),


s: He kills a buck with branching horns, and takes


s: The tongue and heart for food--then straightway makes


s: On a fair, level spot, encompassed round


s: With trees, he pins the carcass to the ground;


s: Prays for success, his burning heart's desire,--


s: Then sleeps beside the embers of his fire.


s: How wearisome, how long the painful days


s: That follow, as he treads by unknown ways


s: All perils challenging his eye-sight keen.


s: Yet on--with tattered shoes and blistering feet--


s: To find the savage foe he longs to meet!


s: At last, to wearied eyes that search in vain,


s: The far-off meeting-place of sky and plain,


s: A fleck of dazzling whiteness doth appear.


s: Toward that white gleam his cautious steps are bent,


s: Surely some roving Blackfoot's lonely tent.


s: Nearer and nearer creeps, with cat-like tread,


s: The watchful Sioux. Above his lowered head


s: His sinuous motion ripples the broad breast


s: Of this ripe prairie, like a playful wind


s: That leaves its shining, silver track behind.


s: A tent of skins--that piercing eye saw true--


s: A life-size figure with a blood-red heart


s: Guards the low door. But who shall more divine,


s: Since not a thread of smoke, nor sound, nor sign


s: Of human presence makes the story clear,


s: Save yonder dappled ponies grazing near?


s: Crouched in deep grass the wily Indian lies,


s: Ambitious that lone hunter to surprise--


s: For the first glimpse of his returning foe;


s: The painted lodge full many a glance doth win--


s: Each moment may reveal who lurks within!


s: At last it moves--that swinging oval door--


s: At last she steps upon the prairie floor,


s: Shading her dark eyes from the dazzling ray--


s: A dusky princess, lovelier than the day!


s: No matron, to her hidden foeman's sight,


s: Her dress is rich, in style unlike the Sioux.


s: (These belles in doe-skin have their fashions, too!)


s: Her deep, black eyes and winsome features miss


s: Naught of proportion. What a conquest this!


s: His beating heart our youthful hero hears!


s: This charming stranger--carry off the prize


s: Before her lord's return. By impulse led,


s: To the low door he stoops his stately head,


s: Flings a last hurried glance to left and right,


s: Then enters, and beholds this beauty bright


s: He stands abashed--she glances up to greet


s: His hasty entrance with a smile so sweet,


s: Then drops her lashes with such coquetry.


s: Amazed, he thinks, "No mortal woman she,


s: Who does not fear a stranger entering so!


s: That warlike tribe, at last she starts, and shakes


s: Her head; then with her slender fingers makes,


s: Slowly, the signs all tribes of Indians know--


s: Where is your husband?" asks our hero young,


s: In this same silent, yet most graphic tongue.


s: "I am the daughter of a Blackfoot chief,


s: Whose home is three days' journey north. In brief,


s: To keep his lodge, while he pursues the deer."


s: "Then I will leave you," he replies, "and when


s: Your brother comes, I shall return again!"


s: Thus saying, takes his leave; but, ere he goes,


s: One longing, lingering, backward glance he throws,


s: Which tells the maid how straight her arrow sped


s: To pierce the heart of him she else must dread.


s: Concealing in the grass his eagle plumes,


s: The patient Sioux his lonely watch resumes.


s: The reddening sun is low, when, far away,


s: He sees a moving speck. With its last ray


s: A handsome youth dismounts before the door.


s: Unsaddles, waters, pickets out his steed,


s: Curls upward from the Blackfoot's lodge.


s: The youthful pair have ended their repast,


s: Of evening. All their sportive converse, full


s: Of meaning gestures, doth right well supply


s: Its story to their unseen watcher's eye,


s: Who through the night his tireless vigil keeps,


s: While, wrapt in dreams, the unconscious Blackfoot sleeps.


s: At earliest dawn, in the chill morning gray,


s: And, when the sun mounts half way up the sky,


s: Her lover meets the Blackfoot maiden's eye.


s: Archly she greets him--"Laggard! why so late?


s: He whom you seek is gone--he could not wait!"


s: "But you--you told him not," the youth replies,


s: "Of my first visit!" In each other's eyes


s: They look and laugh; and in that laughter free


s: He tells his tale, "My father was a chief--


s: These eighteen years in yonder heaven he dwells."


s: The maiden's heart with awe and wonder swells


s: On hearing that mysterious name and birth


s: Which mark him as a being scarce of earth.


s: Then, too, his gallant height and handsome face,


s: Equipment strange, and bearing full of grace


s: Comes from this hero for her heart and hand,


s: In blush and smile her answer may be guessed;


s: Yet, womanlike, she puts him to the test!


s: Unto my father's lodge. And first--but see


s: This raw-hide trunk. I pray you, creep inside--"


s: (All this by signs); "then you can safely hide!


s: I dread my brother's anger, when he hears


s: (Prettily figured, it may be), win with ease


s: The youth's consent to any scheme you please;


s: This gallant wooer scorns, and smilingly


s: Consents to crowd his noble length of limb


s: Captive he lies, and, all defenseless, hears


s: The brother's late return. His jealous ears


s: Miss no least accent in the voice of each,


s: Yet glean so little from their foreign speech


s: That, spite of passion (knowing woman's art),


s: A spasm of dread contracts the hero's heart.


s: Suppose, while thus in helpless case he lay,


s: The maid his place of hiding should betray!


s: Clutching with iron grasp his trusty gun,


s: Scarce breathing, he awaits the morrow's sun.


s: Meanwhile, she prattles of adventures gay--


s: Tells how a handsome stranger called that day,


s: Describes his splendid dress,--the arms he bore,


s: But not a word her cunning lips let fall


s: Of love and courtship as the sum of all!


s: At daybreak forth again the hunter fares,


s: But with his artful sister first prepares


s: A fresh surprise. When scarcely out of sight,


s: She hastens to relieve her captive knight;


s: And while he gladly tastes the savory fare


s: Which presently her willing hands prepare,


s: Stretches his cramped limbs to the grateful sun,


s: And drinks the favoring smiles so hardly won,


s: A sudden shadow falls athwart his feet--


s: At last the war-like Sioux and Blackfoot meet.


s: Surely the boy his sister's secret guessed,


s: Since only kindness dwells within his breast


s: Toward his ancestral foe. By friendly signs,


s: Each comely youth the other's thought divines;


s: Then suddenly exclaims the dauntless Sioux,


s: "Listen, my friend! I must return with you


s: To ask and win this maiden for my wife!"


s: "Return with us! not if you prize your life--"


s: The startled Blackfoot answers. "You must know


s: As yonder leaves that twinkle on the bough.


s: Our jealous youth would slay him instantly!"


s: The youthful warrior merely smiles, and lays


s: This thing?" demands the other in surprise.


s: "Set up a mark, and you shall shortly see


s: What sort of weapon 'tis I bear with me!"


s: "Take my white pony!" "No," his friend replies,


s: Straight to its mark, and cleaves the target quite,


s: While youth and maiden, starting in affright,


s: Believe some heavenly wight this deed hath done--


s: Convinced at last, the Blackfoot yields assent,


s: And leads the stranger to his father's tent.


s: On the third evening, as the shadows fall,


s: In his great lodge, and listens to their tale


s: Of the brave Sioux, whose weapon cannot fail,


s: But, like the thunder, with mysterious roar,


s: Strikes enemies unseen. Well pleased before


s: With this fair stranger-youth's ingenuous face,


s: He bids him welcome with a courtly grace,


s: And on the morn proclaims to all his band


s: This warrior shall receive his daughter's hand.


s: The fiery Blackfeet, when this word they know,


s: Dart glances of dire hatred at their foe;


s: But, hold! the criers once again appear--


s: "This foreign bridegroom hath a magic here!


s: Bring forth a mark and then prepare with awe


s: Each brave presents his finest horse, while he


s: Accepts of one, and fires before them all.


s: But all declared so fair a maid should wed


s: No less a brave than this. All cavil ceased;


s: And now began with joy the marriage feast.


s: When the young hero carried home his bride,


s: Twelve others followed--costly loads they bore,


s: Rich robes and gifts--the Blackfoot maiden's dower.


s: Peace is declared between the tribes; and soon--


s: Guns, knives and blankets, prized past all belief,


s: Are sent as presents to the Blackfoot chief.


s: Such is the tale by Indian camp-fires told--


s: The old, old story that grows never old!


s: While o'er the hill creeps silver light,


s: Where calm and chaste the queen of night,


s: And when the thrills that sweep her heart


s: And hear his voice call me "sweet dove!"


s: To the frowning bluffs, where warlike cries


s: Their spears with reeking scalps are clad,


s: Their thoughts are blood, their brains are mad;


s: Ere she would raise her death-chant tone,


s: She looks like some wild, charm-bound elf,


s: That fills a glance with beauty's light.


s: He comes! She waits, 'tween joy and fear,


s: While on he glides, each stroke more near.


s: Love gives him more than wonted strength,


s: One rapturous kiss with quick impress,--


s: And then they gaze, at love's sweet will,


s: Which told me (more than words could tell)


s: Those yells of warning? Though this spot


s: Will meet the blood-storm's awful shock;


s: The fragrance given of sleeping flower--


s: He smiles, and there with dauntless front


s: His war-whoop's taunt rings through the glen,


s: And, ere their foes have gained the strand,


s: Falls from his hand; his powers all fade


s: Her chief through brush and wild beast lairs.


s: All through the night she speeds her flight.


s: To where his people's fires burn bright.


s: Her faithful powers have filled their task,


s: Pierce through the tenuous robe of Night,


s: The court of the queen is suddenly seen,


s: (Leaves fluttering slow in the slow night breeze)


s: Their passionate lightnings, wild, yet all


s: Made reverent by the spot on which they fall.


s: Like some strange chieftain o'er his band.


s: For here the tribe's most cherished flower,


s: His deep, rich voice floats down the glade,


s: Like gentle winds through pine-tree cones;


s: That halts while still in gloom arrayed,


s: O hark! ye sprites that haunt this time,--


s: She flies not, though her heart takes flight


s: And the fortunate touch of a fairy's wand


s: Far ruder would seem than the touch of his hand;


s: And the light of his eye like a streamlet doth flow


s: Where passion and tenderness mingle and flash


s: On the dancing ripples, whose murmuring low


s: Couldst thou but feel it pulse and bound


s: Couldst thou but see how these fond eyes


s: Thy dew-bright eyes, whose flashing glance


s: Shall teach thy heart to pulse with mine,


s: While moons shall pass or starlight shine."


s: And thou, young Love! canst thou not make


s: And crowding thoughts that gender strife.


s: For this must prove, she could but feel,


s: What clouds were gathering o'er thy life!


s: When the spirit drinks at Memory's spring.


s: Her heart's whole life, her richest treasure,


s: Through but a dozen moons' small measure;


s: Whose fountain-head, once bubbling bright,


s: And this, even this, renewed the thought


s: Betrayed by faith, yet faithful to the last,


s: She murmured not; but patiently she passed


s: 'Tis morning: every bird its matin sings


s: The air so sweet and quick; the glistening dew


s: Hangs crystal beauty on all verdant things,--


s: While from the east the cohorts of the sun


s: Have left the lodge and gone from sight.


s: When she was but the old chief's daughter,


s: When love such wondrous fortunes planned;


s: Why dost thou call, why dost thou shiver,


s: Thinkst thou from jaws of death to force


s: How strange that peace should thus be found


s: That lead the soul, when the Great Spirit calls,


s: The flood is cold, but the heart is bold


s: When the future that lives new sorrow gives;


s: Winona, first-born daughter, was the name


s: Dwelt with her people here unknown to fame.


s: Sweet word, Winona, how my heart and lips


s: Cling to that name (my mother's was the same


s: Ere her form faded into death's eclipse),


s: She knew, made moccasins, and dressed the game.


s: From crippling fashions free, her well-knit frame


s: At fifteen summers was mature and strong.


s: She pitched the tipi, dug the tipsin roots,


s: Gathered wild rice and store of savage fruits.


s: She speared the fish while in his wildest flight,


s: Yet she was not all hardness: the keen glance,


s: Lighting the darkness of her eyes, perchance


s: Betrayed no softness, but her voice, that rose


s: O'er the weird circle of the midnight dance,


s: Through all the gamut ran of human woes,


s: Passion, and joy. A woman's love she had


s: In garments of the softest doeskin fine,


s: With shells about her neck; moccasins neat


s: Were drawn, like gloves, upon her little feet,


s: Adorned with scarlet quills of porcupine.


s: That to the toilet her pale sisters bind,


s: Yet much the same beneath the outer rind,


s: She was, though all unskilled in bookish lore,


s: Before her memory could his face retain.


s: Two bitter years his widow mourned him dead,


s: And none might see, without a secret fear,


s: Those thin lips ever curling to a sneer.


s: Among the chieftains; true he rarely lent


s: More than his presence in the council tent,


s: And when he rose to speak disdained pretence


s: Of arts rhetoric, but his few words went


s: Straight and incisive to the question's core,


s: And though his winters well-nigh reached three-score,


s: Few of his tribe excelled him in the chase.


s: The dancing eagle plumes, and seemed to scorn


s: Who often sought him, and the two would walk


s: The gossips, marveling much what this might mean,


s: Whispered that they at midnight had been seen


s: Far from the village, wrapped in secret talk.


s: They seemed in truth an ill-assorted brace,


s: By some strange tie, the farthest opposites.


s: Gray Cloud was oily, plausible, and vain,


s: His lodge was still provided with the best,


s: And though sometimes but a half welcome guest,


s: He took his dish and spoon to every feast.


s: Priestcraft and leechcraft were combined in him,


s: Two trades occult upon which knaves have thriven,


s: Almost since man from Paradise was driven;


s: Padding with pompous phrases worn and old


s: And gravely selling, at their weight in gold,


s: Placebos colored to their patients' whim.


s: Man's noblest mission here too oft is made,


s: In heathen as in Christian lands, a trade.


s: The tortured body and the sin-sick soul,


s: But pain and sorrow, even prayer and creed,


s: Are turned too oft to instruments of greed.


s: The conjurer claimed to bear a mission high:


s: He knew to read; his medicine could find


s: Oozed from his form obese at every pore.


s: Skilled by long practice in the priestly art,


s: To chill with superstitious fear the heart,


s: He knew each herb and root that healing bore;


s: But lest his flock might grow as wise as he,


s: Disguised their use with solemn mummery.


s: When all the village wrapped in slumber lay,


s: His chant now weirdly rose, now sank away,


s: As o'er some dying child he cast his spell.


s: And sometimes through his frame strange tremors ran--


s: Magnetic waves, swept from the unknown pole


s: And swifter came his breath, as if to fan


s: The feeble life spark, and his finger tips


s: Were to the brow of pain like angel lips.


s: And thought his sacred rattle could compel


s: The swarming powers unseen to serve him well.


s: Of smoke curled upward from the scarlet bowl


s: Of Gray Cloud's pipe with willow bark supplied.


s: Her form with household cares and burdens bent,


s: Fresh fuel adds, and stirs the boiling pot.


s: Meanwhile the young Winona, half reclined,


s: Plies her swift needle, that resource refined


s: For woman's leisure, whatsoe'er her lot,


s: The cronies smoked without a sign or word,


s: A mother mourning for her child, was heard,


s: And Gray Cloud moved, as though the sound had stirred


s: Some dusty memory; still that bitter wail,


s: That beats the brazen firmament in vain,


s: Since the first mother wept o'er Abel slain.


s: At length the conjurer's lips the silence broke,


s: Till warmed by his own swarming fancies' brood


s: He poured the strain almost in numbers rude.


s: Dull clods that move and breathe a day or two,


s: Ere other clods shall bury them from view.


s: Tempest and sky have been my home, and when


s: I pass from earth I shall find welcome there.


s: Sons of the Thunder-Bird my playmates were,


s: In all the land was but a grass blade then).


s: Reared with such brethren, breathing such an air,


s: My spirit grew as tall and bold as they;


s: We tossed the ball and flushed the noble prey


s: O'er happy plains from human footsteps far;


s: And when our high chief's voice to arm for war


s: Rang out in tones that rent the morning sky,


s: A god might gaze and tremble at the sight


s: Of our array that turned the day to night;


s: With bow and shield and flame-tipped arrows all,


s: Like storm clouds sweeping round a mountain height.


s: The lofty cliffs our warlike muster saw,


s: Where through a lake the Mississippi flows;


s: Far o'er the dwelling of our ancient foes,


s: Cold, dark and deep the sluggish current runs.


s: Up from their caverns swarming, when they heard


s: And answered back the challenge of their foes.


s: With horns tumultuous clashing like a herd


s: Of warring elks that struggle for the does,


s: They lashed the wave to clouds of spray and foam,


s: Through which their forms uncouth, like buffaloes


s: Seen dimly through a morning mist, did loom,


s: Or isles at twilight rising from the shore.


s: Though we were thirty, they at least fourscore,


s: We rushed upon them, and a midnight pall


s: Over the seething lake our pinions spread,


s: 'Neath which our gleaming arrows thickly sped,


s: As shooting stars that in the rice-moon fall.


s: Rent by our beating wings the cloud-waves swung


s: In eddies round us, and our leader's roar


s: Smote peal on peal, and from their bases flung


s: The rocks that towered along the trembling shore.


s: But even so a warrior's life should end,--


s: A Thunder-Bird was stricken; his bright beak,


s: Cleaving the tumult like a lightning streak,


s: Smote with a fiery hiss the watery plain;


s: His upturned breast, where gleamed one fleck of red,


s: His sable wings, one moment wide outspread,


s: Blackened the whirlpool o'er his sinking head.


s: The Water-Demon's sons by scores were slain


s: By our swift arrows falling like the rain;


s: With yells of rage they sank beneath the wave


s: That ran all redly now, but could not save.


s: Our flaming darts lit up the farthest cave,


s: Fathoms below the reach of deepest line;


s: Our cruel spears, taller than mountain pine,


s: Mingled their life blood with the ruddy wave.


s: The combat ceased, the Thunder-Birds had won.


s: Fled from the carnage and escaped our wrath.


s: The vapors, thinly curling from the shore,


s: The air was stilled, the silence of the dead;


s: The sun, just starting on his downward path,


s: Save where, like vultures, ominous and still,


s: We clustered close, on sullen wings outspread;


s: A giant shadow swept o'er plain and hill,--


s: Seeking the track by which the foe had fled.


s: While thus we hovered motionless, the sun


s: Adown the west his punctual course had run,


s: When lo, two shining points far up the stream


s: That split the prairie with a silver seam,--


s: Still struggling up from the horizon's rim.


s: His sleeping anger kindled at the sight,


s: Our leader's eyes glowed like a flaming brand.


s: Thrilled by one impulse, all our sable band


s: Dove through the gathering shadows of the night


s: On wings outshaken for a headlong flight.


s: Anger, revenge, but more than all the thirst,


s: Stung me like fire, and filled each quivering plume.


s: With tenfold speed our sharp beaks cleft the gloom,


s: We hissed to pierce the foe ere yet 'twas dark.


s: Still up the stream the Water-Demons fled,


s: Their bodies glowed like fox-fire far ahead;


s: Between our thirsty spear-heads and our foes.


s: Louder the blast our buzzing pinions made


s: Than mighty forest in a whirlwind swayed;


s: The giant cliffs of Redwing speeding back,


s: Like specters melting from a cloudy wrack,


s: Melted from view in our dissolving track.


s: Kaposia's village, clustered on the shore,


s: With sound of snapping poles and tipis riven,


s: Vanished like swan's-down by a tempest driven.


s: Stung by our flight, the keen air smote us sore


s: As ragged hailstones; on, still on, we strained,


s: And fast and faster on the chase we gained,


s: But neck and neck the fierce pursuit remained,


s: O'er which the mighty river plunging falls,


s: The panting chase at last had turned to bay.


s: Then thrilled my nerves with more than mortal strength;


s: That bore me out a goodly lance's length


s: His evil horn clanged hollow on my shield


s: Just as my spear transfixed him through and through;


s: A moment towering o'er the foam he reeled,


s: Then sank beneath the roaring falls from view.


s: A dying yell that haunts me yet he gave,


s: And as he fell the crippled water coiled


s: About him like a wounded snake, and boiled,


s: Lashing itself to madness o'er his grave.


s: We knew not where the parent Demon fled;


s: None of our spears might pierce his ancient mail,


s: Welded with skill demoniac scale on scale.


s: Some watery realm he wanders, and 'tis said


s: That he is changed and bears a brighter form,


s: And peace, 'tis but a hollow truce I know,


s: Now reigns between him and his ancient foe.


s: He hates me still, and fain would do me harm,


s: Who hath the cruel Thunder-Bird for friend.


s: Sealed by her signet, felt although unseen.


s: And scarce a youthful beau in all the band


s: But sighed in secret longing for her hand.


s: One only she distinguished o'er the rest,


s: Redstar, a youth whose coup-stick like his name


s: (Till recently he had been plain Chaské)


s: Was new, fresh plucked the feathers on his crest.


s: Just what the feats on which he based his claim


s: He ne'er had seen more than one trivial fray,


s: But bold assurance sometimes wins the day.


s: For all the gallant deeds he meant to do.


s: Enmeshed her in a sweet bewildering snare.


s: Transfigured by the light of her own passion,


s: She saw Chaské in much the usual fashion


s: Of fairer maids, who love, or think they do.


s: 'Tis not the man they love, but what he seems;


s: A bright Hyperion, moving stately through


s: Alas! that love, the purest and most real,


s: And martial things have some strange necromancy


s: The very word "Lieutenant" hath a charm,


s: E'en coupled with a vulgar face and form,


s: His untried sword, his title, are to her


s: Better than genius, wealth, or high renown;


s: Is knightly grace and chivalry with him.


s: And he, too selfish love like hers to know,


s: Warmed by her presence to a transient glow,


s: Her silent homage drank as 'twere his due.


s: Nor hardly dreamed as yet of closer bond;


s: (Call it what name you will), or soon or late,


s: And brings to each its destined good or ill.


s: Where like snowy maidens the aspen trees


s: While the prairie grass, like rippling seas,


s: There is no such charm in a garden-close,


s: As a place where the wild and free rejoice.


s: Woo the heart with half so sweet a voice


s: As the bowering arms of the wild-wood larch,


s: And the linden blossoms are softly stirred,


s: As the fanning wings of the humming-bird


s: That mounts to the kindling soul like must;


s: Where the turtles each spring their loves renew--


s: That bubbles from the song-bird's throat;


s: Where the squirrel and rabbit shyly mate,


s: Youth, Love, and Life, 'mid scenes like this,


s: E'en the flaming flowers of passion seem


s: That through the tree-tops trickling crept,


s: But the trembling shadows the aspens cast


s: And the nectar was poisoned that thrilled and filled,


s: Her veins that night with a strange alloy.


s: Swift came the hour that maid and boy must part;


s: Winona's conscious face as home she sped;


s: Beat her light moccasins with rhythmic tread.


s: Along whose base the village lay outspread,


s: Smote the sweet fever in her veins with chill.


s: The lake she skirted, on whose mailèd breast


s: Rode like a shield the moon from out the west,


s: She neared her lodge, but there her quick eye caught


s: The voice of Gray Cloud, and her steps were stayed,


s: Brooded with vulture wings when he was near.


s: She knew not why, her eye he never sought,


s: Nor deigned to speak, and yet she felt dismayed


s: Before the fingers touch it shrinks with dread.


s: She paused a moment, then with furtive tread


s: She listened there to what the conjurer said.


s: Strange tales of days when other forms he wore:


s: Where soars and sings the weird, fantastic crane,


s: Wafted like thistle-down he strayed at will,


s: With power almost supreme for good or ill,


s: Over all lands and nations near and far,


s: Beyond the seas, or 'neath the northern star,


s: And long had pondered where were best to dwell


s: When he should deign a human shape to wear.


s: "Whether to be of them that buy and sell,


s: With fish-scale eyes, and yellow corn-silk hair,


s: Or with the stone-men chase the giant game.


s: But wander where you may, no land can claim


s: Circles the earth with glaring eye, but sees


s: No lakes or plains so beautiful as these;


s: Nor e'er hath trod or shall upon the earth


s: Our chiefs and sages, who so wise as they


s: And heal the sick by deep mysterious law.


s: Our beauteous warriors, lithe of limb and strong,


s: Fierce to avenge their own and others' wrong,


s: What gasping terror smites their battle song


s: When, night-birds gathering near the dawn of day,


s: Or wolves in chorus ravening for the prey,


s: Their women wail whose hated fingers dare


s: To reap the harvest of our midnight hair;


s: Swifter than eagles, as a panther fleet,


s: So swift and noiseless their avenging feet.


s: He ceased, and soon, departing through the night,


s: She watched his burly form till out of sight.


s: And then the Raven spoke in whispers low:


s: "Gray Cloud demands our daughter's hand, and she


s: But something checked her in his tone or eye.


s: Her suitor suits me, let no more be said."


s: Like a resistless tempest shook her frame,


s: The earth swam round her, and her senses reeled;


s: Better for her a thousand times the grave


s: Than life in Gray Cloud's tent, but what could she


s: Of one whose will was never known to yield?


s: Winona fled, scarce knowing where or how;


s: Fled like a phantom through the moonlight cool,


s: That overlooked a deep sequestered pool,


s: Where slumbering in a grove-encircled bay


s: Unto the brink she rushed, but faltered there--


s: Life to the young is sweet; in vain her eye


s: Swept for a moment grove and wave and sky


s: With mute appeal. But see, two white swans fair


s: Gleamed from the shadows that o'erhung the shore,


s: Like moons emerging from a sable screen;


s: Swimming abreast, what haughty king and queen,


s: With arching necks their regal course they bore.


s: Of white swans swimming there at dead of night,


s: Her frenzy half beguiling with the scene.


s: Unearthly heralds sure, for in their wake


s: What ruddy furrows seamed the placid lake.


s: Almost beneath her feet they came, so near


s: She might have tossed a pebble on their backs,


s: When lo, their long necks pierced the waters clear,


s: As down they dove, two shafts of purest light,


s: And chasing fast on their descending tracks,


s: Swirled to the gloom of nether depths from sight.


s: Then all was still for some few moments' space,


s: So smooth the pool, so vanished every trace,


s: It seemed that surely the fantastic pair


s: Had been but snowy phantoms passing there.


s: But while she gazed with half-expectant eyes,


s: The waters strangely quivered in a place


s: Where weirdly lighting up the hollow wave


s: Beat a deep-glowing heart, whose pulsing ray


s: Now filled with fiery glare the farthest cave.


s: A shapeless bulk arose, then, taking form,


s: Bloomed forth upon the bosom of the lake


s: And round its base the curling foam did break


s: And on it poised a swiftly changing form,


s: And colors of the floating bubble's ball,


s: Fair and elusive as the sprites that play,


s: Bright children of the sun-illumined spray,


s: Then mingling with the falling waters came


s: So indistinct and low that voice intense,


s: That she, half frightened, cowering in the grass


s: Till thrice repeated noted not its sense.


s: She rose, and on the very brink defined,


s: Again those accents weird her wonder stirred,


s: And this is what the listening maiden heard:


s: "Thy fate, Winona, hangs on thine own choice


s: To scorn or heed the Water-Demon's voice.


s: Gone are thy pleasant days of maidenhood,


s: And evil hours draw nigh, but knowest thou not,


s: Of all thy sisters? Thou must be the bride


s: Of one thou lovest not, must toil for him,


s: Watch for his coming, and endure his whim;


s: Must share his tent, and lying at his side


s: Weep for another till thine eyes grow dim.


s: And he, so fondly loved, will pass thee by


s: E'en he, whose wanton hands and hated arms


s: Have crushed the fair flower of thy maidenhood,


s: Will weary of thy swiftly-fading charms,


s: Aha, thou shudderest; in thy tense veins,


s: Fierce and rebellious, leaps the mingling blood


s: Of countless warriors, high of soul and brave;


s: And would'st thou quench their spirit 'neath the wave?


s: Is Gray Cloud's life more dear to thee than thine?


s: The village sleeps, unguarded is his tent,


s: Thy knife is keen, and unto thee is lent


s: Cradled in blissful dreams alone he lies,


s: And he shall stray so deep in sleep's dominions,


s: He would not waken though the rushing pinions


s: Of his own Thunder-Bird should shake the sky.


s: All freedom-loving spirits are with thee,


s: Strike hard and fear not as thou would'st be free;


s: Lest thine own hatred prove too weak a charm,


s: The Water-Demon's hate shall nerve thine arm."


s: And faint and fainter fell those accents weird,


s: Still as December's crystal seal the wave.


s: How changed in one short hour! no longer now


s: The song-birds singing at her heart, but there


s: A thousand gnashing furies made their lair,


s: And urged her on; her nearest pathway lay


s: A group of trees, whereof each blackened bough


s: Its clustering load of ghastly charnel fruit,


s: The swaddled forms of all the village dead--


s: The infant and the conjurer with his bag,


s: Fouling the fairness of the moonlit sky;


s: And heavily there flapped above her head,


s: Loading with pestilential breath the air


s: That fanned her temples, or the reeking wing


s: And something crossed her path that halting nigh,


s: Leaving behind that hideous umbrage fast,


s: Winona through the sleeping village passed,


s: And pausing not, to Gray Cloud's tipi went,


s: Laid back the door, and with a stealthy tread,


s: Entered and softly crouched beside his head.


s: Her gaze that seemed to pierce his inmost thought,


s: Keen as the ready knife her hand had sought,


s: And through the open door the slant moonbeams


s: Smiting the sleeper's face awaked him not.


s: He vaguely muttered in his wandering dreams


s: As if to go, her knife she half returned;


s: Whether her woman's heart with pity stirred,


s: Or superstitious awe, she slightly turned,


s: But gazing still, over his features came


s: The semblance of a smile, and his arms moved,


s: Clasping in rosy dreams some form beloved,


s: And his lips moved, and though no sound she heard,


s: She thought they shaped her name, and a red flame


s: Leaped to her brain, and through her vision passed;


s: A raging demon seized and filled her frame,


s: And like a lightning flash leaped forth her knife:


s: That cold keen heart-pang is his last of life;


s: She struck but once, no need hath lightning stroke


s: For second blow to rend the heart of oak,


s: Nor waited there to see how Gray Cloud died;


s: Her fury all in that fierce outburst spent,


s: As from a charnel cave she fled the tent;


s: Sniffed at her moccasins but let her pass.


s: Her tipi soon she reached, distant no more


s: Than arrow from a warrior's bowstring sent,


s: Paused but to wipe her knife upon the grass,


s: And found her usual couch upon the floor.


s: But not to sleep; she closed her eyes in vain,


s: Shutting away the moonlight from her view;


s: Darkness and moonlight wore the same dread hue,


s: Flooding the universe with crimson stain.


s: She clasped her bosom with her hands to still


s: The throbbing of her heart that seemed to fill


s: With tell-tale echoes all the air; an owl


s: The secret with unearthly shrieks confessed,


s: And Gray Cloud's dog sent forth a doleful howl


s: At intervals; but worse than all the rest,


s: That dreadful drum still beating in her breast,


s: As furious war-drums in the scalp-dance beat


s: Early next morning, as the first faint rays


s: Of sunlight through the rustling lindens played,


s: Two children sent to seek the conjurer's aid,


s: Gazed on the sight, with horror and amaze,


s: Of Gray Cloud's lifeless body rolled in blood.


s: Fast through the village spread the news, and stirred


s: With mingled fear and wonder all who heard.


s: And spoke with muffled tones and looks of dread:


s: "Some envious foeman lurking in the wood,


s: With medicine more strong than his," they said,


s: "Stole in last night and gave the fatal wound."


s: The warriors scoured the country miles around,


s: Seeking for sign or trail, but naught they found:


s: The murderer left behind no clue or trace


s: More than a vampire's flight through darkling space.


s: Of Gray Cloud's death, nor showed by look or word


s: The wrath that to its depth his being stirred.


s: Winona heard the news with false surprise,


s: As if just roused from sleep she rubbed her eyes;


s: When she arose her knees like aspens shook,


s: But this she quelled and forced a tranquil look


s: To feign the calmness that her soul forsook.


s: And when the mourning wail rose on the air,


s: Winona's voice was heard commingling there.


s: She gathered with the other maidens where,


s: And wept such tears above the painted clay


s: Moons waxed to fullness and to sickles waned.


s: The gossips still conversed with bated breath.


s: The appalling mystery of Gray Cloud's death,


s: A blighting shadow o'er the village spread.


s: Nor fear nor superstition long can quell


s: The bubbling flow of that perennial well;


s: And so the youths and maidens soon regained


s: All save Winona, in whose face and mien,


s: Unto the careless eye, no change was seen;


s: A furtive fear that shot across her eye,


s: As in a forest, 'thwart some bit of blue,


s: Darts a rare bird that shuns the hunter's view.


s: Her laugh, though gay, a subtle change confessed,


s: A shade less light her footsteps in the dance,


s: And sometimes now the Raven's curious glance


s: Her soul with terrors new and strange oppressed.


s: Grief shared is lighter, none had she to share


s: Burdens that grew almost too great to bear,


s: For Redstar sometimes seemed to look askance,


s: And sought, they said, to win another breast.


s: Winona feigned to laugh, but in her heart


s: Sometimes she almost thought the Raven guessed


s: The guilty secrets that her thoughts oppressed,


s: And sought, whene'er she could, to shun his sight.


s: Apart from human kind, still more and more,


s: The Raven dwelt, and human speech forbore.


s: When all the demons of the earth and air


s: Like raging furies were embattled there,


s: Flitting athwart the flashes of the storm,


s: By fitful gleams beheld the Raven's form.


s: To her he spoke not since the fateful night


s: His chosen comrade passed from human sight,


s: And half forgetting too her care and woes,


s: Of stern reproof that on the instant froze


s: All thought of mirth, and when she met his eye,


s: As by a serpent's charm it fixed her own;


s: Were all compressed in that remorseless glance,


s: Smote down the shield of her false innocence.


s: She strove to wrest her eye from his in vain,


s: As in a trance she neither breathed nor stirred.


s: Smaller than quill from wing of humming-bird,


s: Shot from his eyes, and a keen stinging pain


s: Sped through the open windows of her brain.


s: Her senses failed, she sank upon the ground,


s: And darkness veiled her eyes; she never knew


s: How long this was, but when she slowly grew


s: Back from death's counterfeit, and looked around,


s: So little change was there, that it might seem


s: The scene had been but a disordered dream.


s: A gloomy mask that none might penetrate,


s: Betrayed no sign of anger, grief, or hate;


s: Absorbed so deep in thoughts that none might share,


s: From his disdainful lips the thin blue smoke


s: From time to time in little spirals broke,


s: Floating like languid sneers upon the air,


s: And settling round him in a veil of blue


s: She shunned him more than ever from that day,


s: But Hope and Love, like Indian summer's glow,


s: Gilding the prairies ere December's snow,


s: The season for the Maidens' Dance drew nigh,


s: And Redstar vowed, whatever might betide,


s: To claim her on the morrow as his bride.


s: What now to her was all the world beside?


s: Malicious sneers, her rival's envious eye,


s: While her false lover lingered at her side,


s: All passed like thistle-down unheeded by.


s: The evening for the dance arrived at last;


s: An ancient crier through the village passed,


s: To the appointed place, a greensward where,


s: Since last year unprofaned by human feet,


s: Rustled the prairie grass and flowers sweet.


s: None but the true and pure might enter there--


s: Maidens whose souls unspotted had been kept.


s: At set of sun the circle there was formed,


s: And thitherward the happy maidens swarmed.


s: The people gathered round to view the scene:


s: Old men in broidered robes that trailing swept,


s: Dotting like tropic birds the prairie green,


s: Their rival graces to the throng displayed.


s: Into the mystic ring one word, "Beware!"


s: That all was still, and every look was turned


s: To where the Raven stood; his stern eye burned,


s: And like a flower beneath that withering glare


s: No need those shameful words that stained the air:


s: Beneath her bosom bears a warrior's child."


s: That seared his coward heart for many a day,


s: Into the deepest woods she took her way.


s: The dance was soon resumed, and as she fled,


s: Pursued the music and the maidens' song.


s: Just as she passed from sight an angry eye


s: Glared for a moment from the western sky,


s: And flung one quivering shaft of dazzling white,


s: With tenfold thunder-peal, adown the night.


s: Her mother followed her, and sought her long,


s: Calling and listening through the falling dew,


s: While fast and furious still the cadence grew


s: Of the gay dance, whose distant music fell,


s: Smiting the mother like a funeral knell.


s: High rode the sun in heaven next day before


s: The stricken mother found along the shore


s: The cooling wave whereon she lay at rest


s: Had stilled the tumult of Winona's breast


s: Along that shapely ruin's plastic grace,


s: The hopeless mother's glances searching there


s: The Thunder-Bird's mysterious mark might trace.


s: For vengeance follows fast and will not spare,


s: Who hath the cruel Thunder-Bird for friend.


s: Outward swell the rolling prairies like the waves of ocean deep;


s: Higher rise the crested billows rolling upward as they sweep


s: From horizon to horizon, and the air grows pure and free,


s: "On the mountains of the prairie," on the wind-swept emerald sea.


s: As in olden time the zealots who would build unto their God,


s: Sacred temples for his worship, chose a "high place," and the sod


s: Of footsore and weary pilgrims who had sought the sacred heights,


s: Looked for their Manitou above the low level of the plain;


s: Not to him they founded temples, gilded fanes and altars fair;


s: Looking up, they saw already Manitou enthronèd there


s: In the fastness of the mountain, with his sphynx-like, stony face


s: Who regarded not each other, and their deadly hatred slaked


s: "Gitche Manitou, the Mighty," the Great Spirit throned above,


s: Was a God of truth and wisdom, was a God of peace and love;


s: And as God upon Mount Sinai, stooping from his heavenly throne,


s: Gave the law unto his people, deeply graven into _stone_,


s: "Gitche Manitou, the Mighty," in compassion for the race


s: Of unlettered, untaught heathen who knew not his god-like face


s: Save they saw it in the tempest or the lightning's livid glare,


s: Or in some familiar emblem they could see, or feel, or wear,


s: Lay the mystical red pipe-stone, never yet by sachem found.


s: The Great Spirit's words were heeded, and the calumet, the pipe


s: Which they often smoked together in their councils, was the type


s: Of good-will and peace thereafter, and upon the quarry's site,


s: Many legends and traditions cluster round this sacred spot;


s: Many histories and records deep with hidden meaning fraught,


s: Have been chiseled on the ledges at the ancient bowlders' base,


s: Who, like strangers in the valley, drifted to a resting place.


s: Here, ere Manitou had given to the tribes the pipe of peace,


s: Saw he mighty war and bloodshed, saw the tribes of men decrease,


s: Until fleeing from destruction, come three maidens to the rocks--


s: Of the deadly fight and carnage which was raging through the air,


s: Now in memory of the conflict and the part the bowlders bore,


s: They are named in weird tradition, "The Three Maidens," evermore.


s: Here the thunder-bird portentous, Wakan, terrible in might,


s: Made his home in awful grandeur on the cliff's mysterious height.


s: Glazing all the fissured surface like enamel smooth and fair;


s: And from agile feats to gather for themselves an envied name.


s: Hither came to try his daring, with brave heart to valor nerved,


s: To lead them all in bravery as he oft before has led,


s: And the plumes of the war eagle proudly waving on his head,


s: To wear in boastful triumph on the far-famed treacherous height,


s: And in his tribe's traditions, thus his envied name to write.


s: Fearlessly he stands a moment on the overhanging edge


s: Stands there bold and free and fearless, taking inward at a sweep


s: Calculates with hope of winning, never with a fear of loss.


s: High above him arch the heavens; deep below him yawns the gulf;


s: Just as anxious friends and kindred gather hastily around,


s: Dropping tears unto his memory and with slow and measured tread,


s: Bear away the bold young chieftain, to the mansions of the dead.


s: Fear the falls of Winnewissa sweetly wooing to repose


s: With its murmurous plash of waters perfume-laden of the rose,


s: Long may Manitou, the mighty, the Great Spirit throned above,


s: Of the past the old man's thoughts were,


s: Through their thoughts they heard a footstep,


s: But where the right hand's strength? and where


s: Where o'er the meadows springs the maize


s: Where glide the fish through every lake--


s: Here bring the last gift! loud and shrill


s: A pine-girt lake, broad spread; a glimpse


s: To the sun; it pierced the dense of the mists;


s: At play, on a plateau's breast, content.


s: For that mountain's home, which pierced through


s: With which to stamp that fair land's Queen


s: With sheaves of wheat entwined, the North


s: And seared, suggests his past life's course,


s: Proemial haunts. The lake, wine-stained,


s: The Autumn's glory forth, and set aflame


s: Was muffled in requiem, mournful, low,--


s: Of death, but tuned to death's sweet hope--


s: Swift pinioned bird of noiseless flight--


s: Of Chippeway braves had pitched their camp,


s: Of Night, that, flushed with triumph, flung


s: O'er which all ransomed souls must cross.


s: Those gleaming strands of gold, he first


s: Whose darkly deep and treacherous bounds


s: The rocks turned red with blood. They stole


s: 'When winter snows, and springtime showers,


s: Them none; but shape their arrows strong


s: The shores, thy garnered stores of grass


s: And grain must yield them food. Their horns


s: Bound souls, and they shall not be harmed


s: And poisoned tongue, my guides will come.


s: The chieftain placed his wing-trimmed stick--


s: With meekness due, stepped out and grasped


s: "I was thy dead chief's handmaid, Friends.


s: Produced, the night-hawk's startling cry


s: Much loved withal, must need take thought


s: And twenty hours have passed, light thou


s: "I thank thee, milk-white bird, that guides


s: Yield in my task, thou'rt kinder, Death,


s: The while was draped with care, his tongue


s: The dead Chief's sense of justice craved


s: Found the Sioux, near the jaws of death,


s: That they required; yet both had learned


s: And both had learned the same--learned to love


s: And, with the rest, bring too, the white


s: Winged dove of peace, nor claim from lips


s: Well aimed against the Sioux Chief's head;


s: The threatening blade, and, chief to chief,


s: His tribe the well-earned peace, the which


s: Their grieving songs; athirst for blood,


s: In clear and clarion tones, broke through


s: Which hath preserved itself through test


s: From friend, to friend, with greetings kind,


s: Her blanket couch, high-heaped on leaves,


s: Where West sweeps westward, in its pride,


s: Where yellow glows the sunflower's gold,


s: And rivers sweep through greensward lush;


s: And perch and trout the clear brook swell.


s: Rest, rest, my little love, on my breast."


s: That fed its tongue on thee, would scorch


s: Her friends, despite themselves; so that


s: And listened with their heart-strings tuned


s: Their teas and plied their healing arts;


s: Were heard or where her light step fell,


s: Changed camp, from place to place, with each


s: That sweet, sweet Indian name, which, in


s: "There was once a time when the world was filled


s: The frightful scourge that has wasted us


s: At the bidding of man the beasts of the field


s: For they feared him not, nor reason had,


s: "They numbered millions, as nature designed,


s: The sports of the field were their delight;


s: They watched the stars with loving gaze,


s: The homes of the good, with the Great Spirit


s: "One night a star shone strangely bright,


s: Then some declared they believed it stood


s: "These went one night and found the star


s: And stood by his side--in sweetest tones,


s: "'I love your beautiful lakes,' said she,


s: The youth awoke and stepped from his lodge


s: The warriors at once to the Council Lodge,


s: The young brave told his dream so strange.


s: "On the mountains first in the pure white rose


s: By the tribe she loved: so next she went


s: She trembled with fear, with ceaseless dread,


s: My playmates can be. I will kiss your cheeks


s: "These words she spoke and alighted soon


s: Looked down at her image reflected there,


s: "In the southern sky this bright star lived;


s: Far off in the cold North, hunting the bear:


s: Hold them toward heaven, their rightful home,


s: In the vast, primeval forest, unremembered moons ago,


s: Said the old man, "Ah, my daughter, I am glad to see you here.


s: And he smaller grew and smaller, till, all mortal substance sped,


s: "Talk not to the treacherous white man,"


s: "You are cold," she said, "and famished;


s: Decked his hood with quills and feathers--


s: Decked his hood with quills and feathers,


s: Brought the black-fox tipped with silver.


s: Thrice he puffed his pipe and passed it,


s: Till the strong tree rocked and trembled,


s: Searched for leagues along the lake-shore,


s: Caught her wailing child and nursed her.


s: Blazed their lodge-fire on the sea-shore.


s: Where I, a weary hunter, paused to fling


s: And from the cool, delicious water drank


s: A draught so comforting it well might seem


s: The fabled fount of Ponce de Leon's dream,


s: The marks of seasons wild and winters bleak


s: Were softened by the warm light from the west--


s: Sunset--the last day-beauty, and the best!


s: Beside the spring he sat and gazed and dreamed


s: And melting in that mirror, where the skies


s: Were glassed in all their purity, and where


s: No ripple reached the surface from the fair


s: A constant flowing breast o'er Nature's grand,


s: Of her life which I quaffed; 'twas sweet, and rife


s: With flavor from foundations of her hills:


s: 'Twas strong with her strength; throbbing with her thrills;


s: Enriched with her untainted blood; a part


s: Gave voice to my delight, the old man turned


s: To meet my glance. His deep eyes lit and burned


s: With growing brightness, and he softly said:


s: "This spring is sacred for the holy dead;


s: And lovely death brood o'er this sleeping wave--


s: Bestirred the air with perfumed thrills,


s: 'Neath trees that thrilled with morning life;


s: The sharp and vengeful bow-string's twang


s: While she was wondering whose keen sight


s: A tall young brave stepped from the wood


s: 'Twas strange to leave their tried canoe,


s: His deeds would bring her fears to naught.


s: Should lead her own to death that night.


s: She clasped his arm with trembling hand,


s: Love's first reproach, doubt's first surmise.


s: From cold, white lips her question broke:


s: Strode forward, and, with murderous look,


s: Come," growled the brute, and clutched her wrist,


s: "Come, lead us now, with noiseless creep,


s: "Dog thou," he cried; "and darest thou pain


s: Swung through the hissing air and lodged


s: Then forward leaped, with fearful cries,


s: With whirlwind sweep their knives outflashed,


s: And lightning followed when they clashed.


s: The crimson flood gushed forth; a thrill


s: She turned, and like a storm-chased leaf,


s: With common stroke their bow-strings' twang


s: In vain they searched. They found her not;


s: They gathered round with breathing hushed


s: And when they die, their souls shall know


s: Like _magás_ ride the birchen canoes on the breast of the dark,


s: They tarried a time on the shore of _Remníca_--the Lake of the


s: Up-towering, in rugged repose, to a dizzy height over the waters.


s: Her will must Winona obey, by the custom and law of Dakotas.


s: "My Father's Spirit, look down, look down--


s: From your hunting grounds in the shining skies;


s: Behold, for the light of my heart is gone;


s: "I looked to the East, but I saw no star;


s: The face of my White Chief was turned away.


s: I harked for his footsteps in vain; afar


s: "Long have I watched till my heart is cold;


s: In my breast it is heavy and cold as a stone.


s: And the robin that sang in her heart is gone.


s: "Shall I sit at the feet of the treacherous brave?


s: Shall she kindle his fire like a coward slave?


s: No!--a warrior's daughter can bravely die.


s: From your hunting-grounds in the shining skies;


s: Behold, for the light in my heart is gone;


s: Forever she sank mid the wail, and the wild lamentation of women.


s: Fast she flew; the flames spread faster,


s: "The Falls of Minnehaha." (The Scenery about Fort Snelling, etc.)


s: grandfather" is the Ojibway's preface to all his traditions and


s: pheasant. At certain seasons the pheasant drums with his wings.]


s: lightning, etc. His home is on Thunder-Cap at Thunder-Bay, Lake


s: remains about Lake Superior all winter.]


s: Ojibways, would bury the hatchet and join them in a war of


s: In 1867 "Hole-in-the-day" took "another wife." He married Helen


s: At the time of his death, "Hole-in-the-day" was only thirty-seven


s: "Hole-in-the-day." His reply was terse and truthful--"_Mádgè


s: tche-mó-ko-mon, mádgè a-nische-nábé: menógé tche-mó-ko-mon, menó


s: a-nischè-nábè._--Bad white men, bad Indians: good white men, good


s: Tears.--Called by the Dakotas Pem-uee-chah-mday--Lake of the


s: When the first Miscellany of American Poetry appeared in 1920,


s: The newcomers--H. D., Alfred Kreymborg, and Edna St. Vincent


s: Collected Poems with the exception of a long poem--a volume in


s: itself--but he hopes to appear in any subsequent collection.


s: _A Foreword_                                              _III_


s: Twenty-four Hokku on a Modern Theme                       _8_


s: And So To-day                                            _41_


s: Monolog from a Mattress                                 _103_


s: _The ragged pilgrim on the road to nowhere_


s: _When the tree bares, the music of it changes_


s: _"This is the hour," she says, "of transmutation"_


s: _Now the great wheel of darkness and low clouds_


s: _Heaven, you say, will be a field in April_


s: _When you, that at this moment are to me_