The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-03-28
Seleft 2uetru.
HIAWATHA'S wOOING.
BY LONGEELLOW,

At the doorway of his wigwam,
Sat the ancient arrow maker,
In the land of the DacotahS.
Making arrow heads Of Jasper,
Arrow heads Of Chalcedony.
At his side in all her beauty,
Sat the lovely Minnehaha,
Sat his daughter Laughing Water,
Plating mats Of flags and rushes;
Of the past the old mans thoughts were,
And the maiden of the future.
He was thinking us he sat there,
Of the days when with such arrows
He had struck the deer and bison:
On the Muskoday, the meadow;
Shot the wild goose, flying southwark
On the wing, the clamorous wawa;
Thinking of the great war parties,
EosS-thay- -eamesto buy his arrows
Could not 6ghtwithout his arrows.
All! no more: such noble warriors
Could be found on earth as they were
Now the men are all like women,
Only used their tongues for weapons
She was thinking of hunter,
From another tribe and country,
Young and tall and very handsome,
Who, one morning, in the spring time,
Came to buy her father arrows,
Sal and rested in the wigwam
fingered long about the doorway
Looking back as he departed
She had heard her father praise him,
Praise his courage and his wisdom;
Wuuld he come again for arrows,
To the Falls of Minnehaha?
On the mats her hands lay idle,
And her eyes were very dreamy.
Through their thoughts they heard a footstep.
Heard a nesting in the branches,
And with glowing cheek aud forehead,
With the deer upon his shoulders,
Suddenly from out the woodlands
Hiawa,ha stood before them.
Straight the ancient arrow maker
Looked up gravely from his labor,
Laid aside the unfinished arrow,
Babe him enter at the doorway,
Saving AS he rose to meet him
9 Hiawatha-youar welcome!'
At the feet of Laughing Water
Hiawatha threw his burden,
Threw the red deer from his shoulders,
And the maiden looked up at him,
Looked up from her mat of rushcS,
Said with gentle look and accent,
'.You are welcome, Hiawatha! =
Very spacious was the wigwam
Made of dcer-skns dressed end whitened,
With the gods of the DacotahS
Drawn and painted on its curtains.
Then mp rose the Laughing Water,
From the ground fair Mnnehaha.
Laid aside her mat unfinished,
Brought them food and set before them,
Water brought them, from the brouktct,
Gave them food in earthcn vessels,
Gave them drink in bowls of basSw ood.
After many years Of warfare,
There is peace between the OJhways
And the tribe of the Dacutahs.H
Thus continued Hiawatha,
And then added, speaking slowly,
"That this peace may last forever,
And our hands be clasped more closely,
And our hearts be more united.
Give me us Il wife this maiden,
Minnehaha, Laughing Water,
Lovelirst of Dacotah women ~
Aud the ancient arrow maker
Paused moment ere he answered,
Smoked little while in silence,
Looked ut Hiawatha proudly.
Fonlly looked at Laughing Water
And made answer very gravey:
''Yes. it Minuehaha wishes;
Let YOUR heart speak Minnehaha.
And the lovely Laughing Water
Seemed more lonely, as she stood there:
As she went to Hiawatha,
Softly took q seat beside him
While she said and flushed to say It
II will follow you, my husband
This was IIiawatha'S wooing,
Thus it was he won the daughter
Of the ancient arrow maker.