With the crimson tuft of feathers,

With the blood-red crest of Mama.
But the wealth of Megissogwon,

All the trophies of the battle,
He divided with his people,
Shared it equally among them.

127

X.

HIAWATHA'S WOOING.

"As unto the bow the cord is,

So unto the man is woman,

Though she bends him, she obeys him, Though she draws him, yet she follows, Useless each without the other!"

Thus the youthful Hiawatha

Said within himself and pondered,
Much perplexed by various feelings,
Listless, longing, hoping, fearing,
Dreaming still of Minnehaha,

Of the lovely Laughing Water,

In the land of the Dacotahs.

“Wed a maiden of your people," Warning said the old Nokomis; "Go not eastward, go not westward, For a stranger, whom we know not! Like a fire upon the hearth-stone Is a neighbor's homely daughter, Like the starlight or the moonlight Is the handsomest of strangers!" Thus dissuading spake Nokomis, And my Hiawatha answered Only this: "Dear old Nokomis, Very pleasant is the firelight, But I like the starlight better, Better do I like the moonlight!" Gravely then said old Nokomis : (6 Bring not here an idle maiden, Bring not here a useless woman, Hands unskilful, feet unwilling ; Bring a wife with nimble fingers, Heart and hand that move together,

Feet that run on willing errands!"
Smiling answered Hiawatha :
"In the land of the Dacotahs

Lives the Arrow-maker's daughter,
Minnehaha, Laughing Water,
Handsomest of all the women.
I will bring her to your wigwam,
She shall run upon your errands,
Be your starlight, moonlight, firelight,
Be the sunlight of my people!"

Still dissuading said Nokomis :

Bring not to my lodge a stranger From the land of the Dacotahs!

Very fierce are the Dacotahs,

Often is there war between us,

There are feuds yet unforgotten,

Wounds that ache and still may open!'

Laughing answered Hiawatha:

"For that reason, if no other,

Would I wed the fair Dacotah,

That our tribes might be united,

That old feuds might be forgotten,

And old wounds be healed for ever!

Thus departed Hiawatha

To the land of the Dacotahs,

To the land of handsome women;
Striding over moor and meadow,
Through interminable forests,
Through uninterrupted silence.

With his moccasins of magic,

At each stride a mile he measured;
Yet the way seemed long before nim,
And his heart outrun his footsteps;
And he journeyed without resting,
Till he heard the cataract's laughter,
Heard the Falls of Minnehaha

Calling to him through the silence.

“Pleasant is the sound!" he murmured,

"Pleasant is the voice that calls me!"

On the outskirts of the forest,