And the chiefs made answer, saying: "We have listened to your message, We have heard your words of wisdom, We will think on what you tell us. It is well for us, O brothers, That you come so far to see us! Then they rose up and departed Each one homeward to his wigwam, To the young men and the women Told the story of the strangers Whom the Master of Life had sent them From the shining land of Wabun. Heavy with the heat and silence Grew the afternoon of Summer; From the corn-fields shrill and ceaseless Sang the grasshopper, Pah-puk-keena ; And the guests of Hiawatha, Weary with the heat of Summer, Slumbered in the sultry wigwam. Slowly o'er the simmering landscape Fell the evening's dusk and coolness, And the long and level sunbeams Shot their spears into the forest, Breaking through its shields of shadow, Rushed into each secret ambush, Searched each thicket, dingle, hollow ; Slumbered in the silent wigwam. From his place rose Hiawatha, Bade farewell to old Nokomis, Spake in whispers, spake in this wise, Did not wake the guests, that slumbered: "I am going, O Nokomis, On a long and distant journey, Forth into the village went he, Bade farewell to all the warriors, Many moons and many winters Will have come, and will have vanished, Ere I come again to see you. But my guests I leave behind me ; Listen to their words of wisdom, Shoved it forth into the water; Whispered to it, "Westward! westward!" One long track and trail of splendor, Sailed into the fiery sunset, And the people from the margin High into that sea of splendor, Like the new moon slowly, slowly And they said, "Farewell forever!" Moved through all their depths of darkness, Hiawatha the Beloved, In the glory of the sunset, VOCABULARY Adjidau'mo, the red squirrel. | Hiawa'tha, the Wise Man, the Ahdeek', the reindeer. Ahkose'win, fever. Ahmeek', the beaver. Algonquin, Ojibway. Annemee'kee, the thunder. Apuk'wa, a bulrush. Teacher, son of Mudjekee wis; the West-Wind, and Wenonah, daughter of Nokomis. Ia'goo, a great boaster and story-teller. Baim-wa'wa, the sound of the Inin'ewug, men, or pawns in thunder. Bemah'gut, the grape-vine. Beꞌna, the pheasant. the Game of the Bowl. Ishkoodah', fire; a comet. Jee'bi, a ghost, a spirit. Big-Sea-Water, Lake Supe- Joss'akeed, a prophet. rior. Bukada'win, famine. Cheemaun', a birch canoe. Chetowaik', the plover. Chibia'bos, a musician; friend of Hiawatha; ruler in the Land of Spirits. Dahin'da, the bull-frog. Dush-kwo-ne'she, or Kwone'she, the dragon-fly. Esa, shame upon you. Ewa-yea', lullaby. Ghee'zis, the sun. Gitche Gu'mee, the Big-SeaWater, Lake Superior. Gitche Man'ito, the Great Spirit, the Master of Life. Gushkewau', the darkness. Kabibonok'ka, the North Wind. Kagh, the hedgehog. Kahgahgee', the raven. Kaween', no indeed. Keeway'din, the Northwest wind, the Home-wind. Kena'beek, a serpent. Keneu', the great war-eagle. Keno'zha, the pickerel. Ko'ko-ko'ho, the owl. Kuntasoo', the Game of Plum stones. Kwa'sind, the Strong Mạn. |