XII. THE SON OF THE EVENING STAR. CAN it be the sun descending Yes; it is the sun descending, Sinking down into the water; All the water flushed with crimson! No; it is the Red Swan floating, To the sky its wings are lifted, With its blood the waves are reddened! Melts and trembles through the purple, On the robes of the Great Spirit, As he passes through the twilight, Walks in silence through the heavens ! This with joy beheld Iagoo And he said in haste: "Behold it! See the sacred Star of Evening! You shall hear a tale of wonder, Hear the story of Osseo, Son of the Evening Star, Osseo! "Once, in days no more remembered, Ages nearer the beginning, When the heavens were closer to us, And the Gods were more familiar, In the North-land lived a hunter, Only Oweenee, the youngest, She the wilful and the wayward, Was the fairest of the sisters. "All these women married warriors, Married brave and haughty husbands; Only Oweenee, the youngest, Laughed and flouted all her lovers, All her young and handsome suitors, And then married old Osseo, Old Osseo, poor and ugly, Broken with age and weak with coughing, Always coughing like a squirrel. "Ah, but beautiful within him Was the spirit of Osseo, From the Evening Star descended, 158 THE SONG OF HIAWATHA. Star of Evening, Star of Woman, Star of tenderness and passion! All its fire was in his bosom All its beauty in his spirit, All its mystery in his being, Handsome men with belts of wampum, Followed her with jest and laughter. "Once to some great feast invited, Through the damp and dusk of evening Walked together with their husbands; Slowly followed old Osseo, With fair Oweenee beside him; All the others chatted gayly, These two only walked in silence. "Listen!' said the eldest sister, 'He is praying to his father! What a pity that the old man And they laughed till all the forest "On their pathway through the woodlands |