Many years of strife and bloodshed, 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 as my wife this maiden, Minnehaha, Laughing Water, Loveliest of Dacotah women!" And the ancient Arrow-maker Paused a moment ere he answered, Smoked a little while in silence, Looked at Hiawatha proudly, Fondly looked at Laughing Water, And made answer very gravely: "Yes, if Minnehaha wishes; Let your heart speak, Minnehaha!" And the lovely Laughing Water Seemed more lovely, as she stood there, Neither willing nor reluctant, As she went to Hiawatha, Softly took the seat beside him, While she said, and blushed to say it, "I will follow you, my husband!" From the wigwam he departed, Leading with him Laughing Water; Hand in hand they went together, Through the woodland and the meadow, Left the old man standing lonely At the doorway of his wigwam, Heard the falls of Minnehaha Calling to them from afar off, "Fare thee well, O Minnehaha!” And the ancient Arrow-maker Turned again unto his labor, Sat down by his sunny doorway, Murmuring to himself, saying: "Thus it is our daughters leave us. Those we love, and those who love us! Just when they have learned to help us, When we are old and lean upon them, Comes a youth with flaunting feathers, With his flute of reeds, a stranger Wanders piping through the village, Beckons to the fairest maiden, And she follows where he leads her, Leaving all things for the stranger!" Pleasant was the journey homeward, Through interminable forests, Over meadow, over mountain, Over river, hill, and hollow. Short it seemed to Hiawatha, Though they journeyed very slowly, Though his pace he checked and slackened Over wide and rushing rivers With the dry cones of the pine tree. All the traveling winds went with them, And the rabbit, the Wabasso, Having such a wife to love you!" Sang the robin, the Opechee, From the sky the sun benignant Love is sunshine, hate is shadow; Life is checkered shade and sunshine; From the sky the moon looked at them, Day is restless, night is quiet, Half is mine, although I follow; Rule by patience, Laughing Water!" Thus it was they journeyed homeward; Thus it was that Hiawatha To the lodge of old Nokomis Brought the moonlight, starlight, firelight, Brought the sunshine of his people, Minnehaha, Laughing Water, In the land of the Dacotahs, The Children's Hour. ETWEEN the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the day's occupations, That is known as the children's hour. I hear in the chamber above me The sound of a door that is opened, From my study I see in the lamplight, Grave Alice, and laughing Allegre, A whisper and then a silence, A sudden rush from the stairway; |