Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-03-29
HIAWATHA'S wOOINC.

Like iirc upon a hcarthstona
Is urtghh0rs homely daughter
Nv" the starlight or the moonlight
Is the handsomest OF straugersF
Thus dissuading spake Nokomis.
And my Iliuwatha answered
only this Dear old Nokamis
VERY pleasant Is the freight
But like The starlight better.
Better do like the moonlight "
Gravely then said old Nokomis
Bring not here an idle maiden
Bring not here useless woman
Hands uuskilful, feet unwilling;
Bring wife with uimbie fingers
Heart ana hand that move together
he"t mat iiin on willing errandsr p
Smiling answered Hiawatha:
In the land of the Daeotahs
Lives the Arrow-niakeris daughter
Minnchaha. Laughing Water
llandsonresf of all the women
viii bring her to your wirwam
she shall run upon your rrrands
Ne vour starlight. moonlight freight
BE the sunlight of my people r
Stlll dissuading said Nokomis:
bring not to NV lodge a stranger
FROM the land OF the llaeotahsi
Very fierce are the lacotahs
Of;cn L. there war between us
There are tcuds vet unforrottpu
wounds that ache and still are openF'
Laughing answered Hiawatha:
For that rraSon N no other
Would wed the fair Dacatah
That our tribes might ~, united
That old feuds might be forunttep.
Ana the wounds be healed foreverr'
Thus departed Hiawafha.
To the land of the Dacotahs
TO the land Of handsome women:
Strtdiug over moor and meadow.
Through interminable forests
Through uninterrupted silence.
With his moeeasins of magic.
az each stride n mile he measured;
Yet The wav seemed long before him
And hts heart outrun his footsteps;
Amd he iourneyed without resting.
Iill he heard the cataract's laughter
Heard the Falls of Minnehala
tHlling 10 him through the silence
Pleasant is the sound r' he murmured
fIehsant Is the voice that calls me -
On the outskirts of the forest.
fTwiXt the shadow and the suusbine
Herds of fallow deer were feeding
But they saw not Hiawatha;
1, To MS bow he whispered, Fail notr
sent II singing ON its Grand
To the red heart of the roebuck:
Threw the deer across his shoulder
And sped forward without pausing
Al the doorway Of his wiswam
sat the ancient Arrow.maker,
In the land of the DacOtahs
Making arrow.heads of Jasper.
Atrow-heads Of chalcedonv
At his side IN all her beauty
SAT The Lovely Minnchaha
sat his daughter Laughing Water
Ilalling mats OF flags and rushPs:
OF the past the old man ; Thoughts w-r.
And the maiden's of the future
lie was thinking as he sat there.
Ot the DAYS when with such arr.,ws
lie had struck the deer and bison,
On The MUSK nday. the meadow:
Shot me Wild goose. flying southwark,
on the wing. the clamerons Wawa
Thinking of the great war.parties
How they came to buy his arrows
touid not hight without his arrnws
Ah. no more such noble warriors
Could be found on earth as they yyerel
Nov the men were all like women.
ohiN used thelr tongues for weapons
She was thinking Of a hunter
From another tribe and country.
naung and tall and very handsome,
Who one morning. in the Spring-tin,e
Came 70 buy her fathers arrows
sat and rested in the wigwam
Lingering long about the doorway,
Looking back as he departed
She had heafd her father praise him.
Praise his courage and hts wisdom
would he come again for arrows
To the Falls Of Minnehahaf
ON the mat her hands Law idle.
And her eyes were very dreamy
Through their thoughts they heard a footst
Heard rustling in the branches
And with glowing check and forehead
Win the deer upon his shoulders
suddenly from ont the woodlands
lliawatiia stood before them
Straight the ancient Arrow.maker
Looked up gravelv from his labor,
lsaiu aside tie unfinished arrow.
bahe him enter at the doorway,
Saving. as he rose to meet him,
"Hiawatha, You are welcome r
AZ the feet of Laughing Water
Iliawaiha laid his burden.
Threw the red deer from his shoulders;
And the maiden looked up at him.
Looked up nom his mat of rushes
Said with gentle look and accent
You are welcome, Iiawathaf
Very spacious was the wigwam.
Made Of deerskin dressed and whitehead
with the Gods Of the Dacotahs
Drawn and painted on its curtains.
And 50 tall the doorway hardly
Hiawutha stopped TO enter
Hardly touched his cagie.featbers
A ne entered at the doorway.
Then uprose the Laughing Water,
PROM the ground fatr Minuehaha.
Laid asidr her mat unfinished
Brought tuTti incd aud sat befor Them
Water brought them from the brooklef
Gave them food in rarthen vessels.
Gave them drink In bowls of bass-yrood
Lisienrd while the guest was speaking,
LISTENED while her father answered
liui not once her lips she opnea
MOI single word she uttered.
Yes. as in dream she listened
To the words ~ Hiawatha.
As lie talked Of old Nokomis
Who had nursed him in his childhood
A. hc told of his comma iona
Chihiabos the musician.
Anu we very strong man. kwaSind,
~ the land OF the Oiibways
IA tliv pleasant land and peaceful
"After many years of warf re-.
Mauv wears OF strife and bloodshrd
There y peace betwern the & iibways
And The tribe Of the Dacotahs."
Thus continued liiawatha
And thru added. speaking slovyl-.
lhnt this peace may last forev'.r.
AMI o,tr hands he claspetl NOR. clo.sly
Aud our hearts h. more united
Give nae - NV wife this maidrn,
Minnehaha. Laughing Water
Lovelirst oi bacOtah womenF'
And the ancient Arrow.maker
Paused u moment erc he answered.
Smoked little while In silence,
Looked nj liiawatha proudly.
Fondly looked at Laughing Water.
And made answer very Eravely
Yes. " Minnehaba wishes;
Let your heart speak. Minnehahar'
And the lovely Laughing Water
Seemed more lovely. as She stood there,
Neither willing nor reluctant,
As she went 10 Hi..watha
Sofily took the seat beside him,
While she said. and blushed 10 saw It.
Twill follow Won, my husband p'
This was IIiawatha's wooingl
Thus Il was he won the daughter
or the ancient Arrow maker.
In the land Of the Dac0tahsi
From tho wigwam he departed.
leading with him Laughing Water:
Hand IN hand they went together.
Through the woodland and the meadow
Len the old man standing lonely
At the doorway Of his wigwam,
Heard the Falls of Minnehaha
Calling 10 them from a distance,
Crying to them from afar or
Fare thee we'll o Minnehahai''
And the aHcient Arrow-maker
Turned again unto his labor,
Sat down by his sunny doorway,
Murmunng 10 himself and saying:
THUS Il is our daughters leave u.s.
just when they have learned to help VA
When We are old aud lean upon them,
Comes youth with fiaunting feathers.
With his flute Of reeds. a stranger.
Wanders piping through the village.
BcckOns TO the fairest maiden.
And she follows where he leads her,
Leaving all things for a strsngeri''
Pleasant was the journey homeward,
Through nterminabe forests.
over meadow, over mountain.
Over river. hill and hollow.
Short II seemed 10 Hiawatha,
Though they ioumeyed very slowly.
Though his pace he checked and slackened
To the steps Of Laughing Water.
over wide and rushing rivers
In his arms he bore the maiden;
Light he thought her ne a feather.
A. the plume upon his head-gear.
Cleared the tangled pathway for her.
Bent aside the swaying branches.
Made at night a lodge OF branches,
And n he'd Of boughs of henilock,
And a ERE before the doorway
With the dry cones Of the pine-tree.
AT the travelling winds went with them
Ger the meadow. through the forest.
All the stars Of night looked at them.
Watched with slecpless eyes their slunabef
Rrom hts ambush M the oak tree
Pecped the squirrel. Adjidaumo.
Watched with eager eyes the lovers
And the rabbit the WabbassO.
Scampered from the path before them.
peering peeping from his burfou.
sat erect upon his haunche-.
Watched with curious eyes the lover.
Pleasant was the Journey homeward.
Al fh.a h.rI. ennr 1oud and auIeetfv