In the Moon when nights are brightest, In the dreary Moon of Snow-shoes. Listless, careless Shawondasee! In his life he had one shadow, He beheld a maiden standing, Brightest green were all her garments, Day by day he gazed upon her, Day by day he sighed with passion, Day by day his heart within him Grew more hot with love and longing For the maid with yellow tresses. But he was too fat and lazy To bestir himself and woo her : Yes, too indolent and easy To pursue her and persuade her. Till one morning, looking northward, He beheld her yellow tresses Changed and covered o'er with whiteness, From the land of the White Rabbit! Till the air seemed full of snow-flakes, And the maid with air like sunshine 'T was no woman that you gazed at, That through all the dreamy Summer Ah! deluded Shawondasee ! Thus the Four Winds were divided! Thus the sons of Mudjekeewis Had their stations in the heavens, III. Hiawatha's Childhood. DOWNWARD through the evening twilight, In the days that are forgotten, In the unremembered ages, From the full moon fell Nokomis, She a wife, but not a mother. She was sporting with her women, Cut the leafy swing asunder, Cut in twain the twisted grape-vines, Downward through the evening twilight, On the Muskoday, the meadow, "See! a star falls!" said the people; |