From the sky the moon looked at them, 'Half is mine, although I follow; 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, Handsomest of all the women In the land of the Dacotahs, In the land of handsome women. H XI. Hiawatha's Wedding-Feast. You shall hear how Pau-Puk-Keewis, How the handsome Yenadizze He the sweetest of musicians, Sang his songs of love and longing; Black and polished very smoothly. As a token of the feasting; And the wedding guests assembled, Splendid with their paint and plumage, First they ate the sturgeon, Nahma, And the pike, the Maskenozha, Caught and cooked by old Nokomis ! Then on pemican they feasted, Pemican and buffalo marrow, Haunch of deer and hump of bison, Yellow cakes of the Mondamin, And the wild rice of the river. But the gracious Hiawatha, And the lovely Laughing Water, And the careful old Nokomis, Tasted not the food before them, Only waited on the others, Only served their guests in silence. And when all the guests had finished, Old Nokomis, brisk and busy, From an ample pouch of otter, Mixed with bark of the red willow, Dance for us your merry dances, And our guests be more contented!" He the merry mischief-maker, Whom the people called the Storm-Fool, Though the warriors called him Faint-Heart, Called him coward, Shaugodaya, For the women and the maidens Thick with quills and beads embroidered. In one hand a fan of feathers, And a pipe was in the other. Barred with streaks of red and yellow, Streaks of blue and bright vermilion, Shone the face of Pau-Puk-Keewis. From his forehead fell his tresses, Smooth and parted like a woman's, Shining bright with oil and plaited, Hung with braids of scented grasses, As among the guests assembled, |