The Song of Hiawatha — Chronicle
Ordered by chapter. No event in this book could be dated from the text, so it is not dated — no anchor, no chronology; a date is never inferred. Time expressions are copied from the text as written. Every event links back to one sentence of the original.
⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 📍 Places →
156 events · no event could be dated from the text
Undated
Introduction · 📍 [[the vale of Tawasentha]]
Dwelt the singer Nawadaha. Round about the Indian village Spread the meadows and the corn-fields, And beyond them stood the forest, Stood the groves of singing pine-trees, Green in Summer, white in Winter, Ever sighing, ever singing.
Introduction
Nawadaha Chetowaik Mahng Wawa Shuh-shuh-gah Mushkodasa
I repeat them as I heard them From the lips of Nawadaha, The musician, the sweet singer.
I · The Peace-Pipe · 📍 [[Mountains of the Prairie]]
Gitche Manito
Stood erect, and called the nations, Called the tribes of men together.
I · The Peace-Pipe · 📍 [[Mountains of the Prairie]]
Gitche Manito
From the red stone of the quarry With his hand he broke a fragment, Moulded it into a pipe-head, Shaped and fashioned it with figures; From the margin of the river Took a long reed for a pipe-stem, With its dark green leaves upon it; Filled the pipe with bark of willow, With the bark of the red willow; Breathed upon the neighboring forest, Made its great boughs chafe together, Till in flame they burst and kindled; And erect upon the mountains, Gitche Manito, the mighty, Smoked the calumet, the Peace-Pipe, As a signal to the nations.
I · The Peace-Pipe · 📍 [[Mountains of the Prairie]]
Gitche Manito
Therefore be at peace henceforward, And as brothers live together.
I · The Peace-Pipe · 📍 [[Mountains of the Prairie]]
Gitche Manito
I will send a Prophet to you, A Deliverer of the nations, Who shall guide you and shall teach you, Who shall toil and suffer with you.
I · The Peace-Pipe · 📍 [[Mountains of the Prairie]]
Gitche Manito
From the river came the warriors, Clean and washed from all their war-paint; On the banks their clubs they buried, Buried all their warlike weapons.
I · The Peace-Pipe · 📍 [[Mountains of the Prairie]]
Gitche Manito
And in silence all the warriors Broke the red stone of the quarry, Smoothed and formed it into Peace-Pipes, Broke the long reeds by the river, Decked them with their brightest feathers, And departed each one homeward
II · The Four Winds · Part 1 · 📍 [[the summit of the mountains]]
He had stolen the Belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-Mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous On the summit of the mountains,
II · The Four Winds · Part 1
Then again he raised his war-club, Smote again the Mishe-Mokwa In the middle of his forehead, Broke his skull, as ice is broken When one goes to fish in Winter. Thus was slain the Mishe-Mokwa, He the Great Bear of the mountains, He the terror of the nations.
II · The Four Winds · Part 1
Thus was Mudjekeewis chosen Father of the Winds of Heaven. For himself he kept the West-Wind,
II · The Four Winds · Part 1
Mudjekeewis Wabun Shawondasee Kabibonokka
Gave the others to his children; Unto Wabun gave the East-Wind, Gave the South to Shawondasee, And the North-Wind, wild and cruel, To the fierce Kabibonokka.
II · The Four Winds · Part 1 · one morning
And he wooed her with caresses, Wooed her with his smile of sunshine, With his flattering words he wooed her, With his sighing and his singing, Gentlest whispers in the branches, Softest music, sweetest odors, Till he drew her to his bosom, Folded in his robes of crimson, Till into a star he changed her, Trembling still upon his bosom;
II · The Four Winds · Part 2 · 📍 [[the lodge]] · at night
Then Kabibonokka entered, And though Shingebis, the diver, Felt his presence by the coldness, Felt his icy breath upon him, Still he did not cease his singing, Still he did not leave his laughing
II · The Four Winds · Part 2 · 📍 [[the lakes and rivers]]
Stamped upon the crusted snow-drifts, Stamped upon the lakes and rivers, Made the snow upon them harder, Made the ice upon them thicker
II · The Four Winds · Part 2 · 📍 [[the kingdom of Wabasso]] · all night
Wrestled all night with the North-Wind, Wrestled naked on the moorlands With the fierce Kabibonokka, Till his panting breath grew fainter, Till his frozen grasp grew feebler, Till he reeled and staggered backward, And retreated, baffled, beaten, To the kingdom of Wabasso
II · The Four Winds · Part 2 · 📍 [[the prairie]]
’T was the prairie dandelion That through all the dreamy Summer You had gazed at with such longing, You had sighed for with such passion, And had puffed away forever, Blown into the air with sighing.
II · The Four Winds · Part 2 · 📍 [[the heavens]]
Mudjekeewis Kabibonokka Shawondasee
Thus the Four Winds were divided Thus the sons of Mudjekeewis Had their stations in the heavens, At the corners of the heavens; For himself the West-Wind only Kept the mighty Mudjekeewis.
III · Hiawatha’s Childhood · 📍 [[the full moon]] · In the days that are forgotten
From the full moon fell Nokomis, Fell the beautiful Nokomis,
III · Hiawatha’s Childhood
When her rival the rejected, Full of jealousy and hatred, Cut the leafy swing asunder, Cut in twain the twisted grape-vines, And Nokomis fell affrighted
III · Hiawatha’s Childhood · 📍 [[the prairie]] · at evening
And the West-Wind came at evening, Walking lightly o’er the prairie, Whispering to the leaves and blossoms, Bending low the flowers and grasses, Found the beautiful Wenonah, Lying there among the lilies, Wooed her with his words of sweetness, Wooed her with his soft caresses, Till she bore a son in sorrow, Bore a son of love and sorrow.
III · Hiawatha’s Childhood
Then the little Hiawatha Learned of every bird its language, Learned their names and all their secrets,
III · Hiawatha’s Childhood · 📍 [[the forest]]
Dead he lay there in the forest, By the ford across the river;
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 1
Learned from her the fatal secret Of the beauty of his mother, Of the falsehood of his father;
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 1
Then he said to old Nokomis, “I will go to Mudjekeewis, See how fares it with my father, At the doorways of the West-Wind, At the portals of the Sunset!”
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 1 · 📍 [[the kingdom of the West-Wind]]
“Welcome!” said he, “Hiawatha, To the kingdom of the West-Wind Long have I been waiting for you Youth is lovely, age is lonely, Youth is fiery, age is frosty; You bring back the days departed, You bring back my youth of passion, And the beautiful Wenonah!”
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 1
Answered, saying, “There is nothing, Nothing but the black rock yonder, Nothing but the fatal Wawbeek!”
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 1
Of her death, as old Nokomis Had remembered and related.
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 2
It was you who killed Wenonah, Took her young life and her beauty, Broke the Lily of the Prairie, Trampled it beneath your footsteps; You confess it! you confess it!” And the mighty Mudjekeewis Tossed upon the wind his tresses, Bowed his hoary head in anguish, With a silent nod assented.
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 2
Rent the jutting crag asunder, Smote and crushed it into fragments, Hurled them madly at his father, The remorseful Mudjekeewis
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 2 · 📍 [[the mountains]] · Three whole days
Back retreated Mudjekeewis, Rushing westward o’er the mountains, Stumbling westward down the mountains, Three whole days retreated fighting, Still pursued by Hiawatha
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 2 · at length
I have put you to this trial, But to know and prove your courage; Now receive the prize of valor!
IV · Hiawatha and Mudjekeewis · Part 2 · 📍 [[the mountains]]
As I slew the Mishe-Mokwa, Slew the Great Bear of the mountains.
V · Hiawatha’s Fasting · Part 1 · 📍 [[Big-Sea-Water]] · In the Moon of Leaves
First he built a lodge for fasting, Built a wigwam in the forest, By the shining Big-Sea-Water, In the blithe and pleasant Spring-time, In the Moon of Leaves he built it, And, with dreams and visions many, Seven whole days and nights he fasted.
V · Hiawatha’s Fasting · Part 1 · On the fourth day of his fasting
From the Master of Life descending, I, the friend of man, Mondamin, Come to warn you and instruct you, How by struggle and by labor You shall gain what you have prayed for. Rise up from your bed of branches, Rise, O youth, and wrestle with me!
V · Hiawatha’s Fasting · Part 1 · On the fourth day of his fasting
Faint with famine, Hiawatha Started from his bed of branches, From the twilight of his wigwam Forth into the flush of sunset Came, and wrestled with Mondamin; At his touch he felt new courage Throbbing in his brain and bosom, Felt new life and hope and vigor Run through every nerve and fibre.
V · Hiawatha’s Fasting · Part 1 · On the morrow and the next day
On the morrow and the next day, When the sun through heaven descending, Like a red and burning cinder From the hearth of the Great Spirit, Fell into the western waters, Came Mondamin for the trial, For the strife with Hiawatha;
V · Hiawatha’s Fasting · Part 2
You will conquer and o’ercome me; Make a bed for me to lie in, Where the rain may fall upon me, Where the sun may come and warm me; Strip these garments, green and yellow, Strip this nodding plumage from me, Lay me in the earth, and make it Soft and loose and light above me.
VI · Hiawatha’s Friends
Like a wisp of straw he wrung them, Like a wisp of straw he broke them, Could not wring them without breaking,
VI · Hiawatha’s Friends · 📍 [[the forest]]
Lo! the path was cleared before him; All the trunks had Kwasind lifted, To the right hand, to the left hand, Shot the pine-trees swift as arrows, Hurled the cedars light as lances.
VI · Hiawatha’s Friends · 📍 [[Pauwating]]
Tore it from its deep foundation, Poised it in the air a moment, Pitched it sheer into the river, Sheer into the swift Pauwating,
VI · Hiawatha’s Friends · 📍 [[Pauwating]] · Once
Kwasind Ahmeek, the King of Beavers
Brought the beaver, dead and dripping, Brought the King of all the Beavers.
VII · Hiawatha’s Sailing · 📍 [[the valley]]
Thus the Birch Canoe was builded In the valley, by the river, In the bosom of the forest;
VIII · Hiawatha’s Fishing · 📍 [[Gitche Gumee]]
In his wrath he darted upward, Flashing leaped into the sunshine, Opened his great jaws, and swallowed Both canoe and Hiawatha.
VIII · Hiawatha’s Fishing
And he said to the Kenozha, To the pike, the Maskenozha, “Take the bait of this rude fellow, Break the line of Hiawatha!”
VIII · Hiawatha’s Fishing
And the mighty sturgeon, Nahma, Said to Ugudwash, the sun-fish, To the bream, with scales of crimson, “Take the bait of this great boaster, Break the line of Hiawatha!”
VIII · Hiawatha’s Fishing
And he smote it in his anger, With his fist, the heart of Nahma, Felt the mighty King of Fishes Shudder through each nerve and fibre
VIII · Hiawatha’s Fishing
“O ye sea-gulls! O my brothers! I have slain the sturgeon, Nahma; Make the rifts a little larger, With your claws the openings widen, Set me free from this dark prison, And henceforward and forever Men shall speak of your achievements, Calling you Kayoshk, the sea-gulls, Yes, Kayoshk, the Noble Scratchers!”
VIII · Hiawatha’s Fishing
“I have slain the Mishe-Nahma, Slain the King of Fishes!” said he;
IX · Hiawatha and the Pearl-Feather · Part 1
Megissogwon the father of Nokomis
He it was who slew my father, By his wicked wiles and cunning, When he from the moon descended, When he came on earth to seek me.
IX · Hiawatha and the Pearl-Feather · Part 1
Weltering in the bloody water, Dead lay all the fiery serpents, And among them Hiawatha Harmless sailed, and cried exulting:
IX · Hiawatha and the Pearl-Feather · Part 1
“Come forth from your lodge, Pearl-Feather! Hiawatha waits your coming!”
IX · Hiawatha and the Pearl-Feather · Part 2 · All a Summer’s day
Then began the greatest battle That the sun had ever looked on, That the war-birds ever witnessed. All a Summer’s day it lasted,
IX · Hiawatha and the Pearl-Feather · Part 2
At the feet of Hiawatha Lifeless lay the great Pearl-Feather, Lay the mightiest of Magicians.
IX · Hiawatha and the Pearl-Feather · Part 2
Then he stripped the shirt of wampum From the back of Megissogwon, As a trophy of the battle, As a signal of his conquest.
IX · Hiawatha and the Pearl-Feather · Part 2
But the wealth of Megissogwon, All the trophies of the battle, He divided with his people, Shared it equally among them.
X · Hiawatha’s Wooing · Part 2 · 📍 [[the land of the Dacotahs]]
Hiawatha the ancient Arrow-maker Minnehaha
“Yes, if Minnehaha wishes; Let your heart speak, Minnehaha!”
X · Hiawatha’s Wooing · Part 2 · 📍 [[the land of the Dacotahs]]
Hiawatha Minnehaha the ancient Arrow-maker
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,
XI · Hiawatha’s Wedding-Feast
She had sent through all the village Messengers with wands of willow, As a sign of invitation, As a token of the feasting;
XI · Hiawatha’s Wedding-Feast
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.
XI · Hiawatha’s Wedding-Feast
Thus the merry Pau-Puk-Keewis Danced his Beggar’s Dance to please them,
XI · Hiawatha’s Wedding-Feast
And Iagoo answered straightway, “You shall hear a tale of wonder, You shall hear the strange adventures Of Osseo, the Magician, From the Evening Star descending.”
XII · The Son of the Evening Star · Part 1 · Once to some great feast invited
Thus Osseo was transfigured, Thus restored to youth and beauty; But, alas for good Osseo, And for Oweenee, the faithful! Strangely, too, was she transfigured. Changed into a weak old woman, With a staff she tottered onward, Wasted, wrinkled, old, and ugly!
XII · The Son of the Evening Star · Part 2
Broken are the spells that bound you, All the charms of the magicians, All the magic powers of evil;
XII · The Son of the Evening Star · Part 2
Given you back your youth and beauty,
XII · The Son of the Evening Star · Part 2
Then returned her youth and beauty, And her soiled and tattered garments Were transformed to robes of ermine,
XII · The Son of the Evening Star · Part 2 · 📍 [[the Evening Star]]
On the Evening Star alighted, As a snow-flake falls on snow-flake,
XII · The Son of the Evening Star · Part 2 · 📍 [[the Evening Star]] · Many years
Many years, in peace and quiet, On the peaceful Star of Evening Dwelt Osseo with his father;
XII · The Son of the Evening Star · Part 2 · 📍 [[the Evening Star]] · Many years
Osseo Oweenee the son of Osseo
And fair Oweenee, the faithful, Bore a son unto Osseo,
XII · The Son of the Evening Star · Part 2 · 📍 [[the Evening Star]]
Opened the great cage of silver, And let loose his aunts and uncles, All those birds with glossy feathers, For his little son to shoot at.
XII · The Son of the Evening Star · Part 3
Ah me! when I parted from him, Round my neck he hung the wampum, As a pledge, the snow-white wampum, O my sweetheart, my Algonquin!
XIII · Blessing the Cornfields · When the noiseless night descended
From her bed rose Laughing Water, Laid aside her garments wholly, And with darkness clothed and guarded, Unashamed and unaffrighted, Walked securely round the cornfields, Drew the sacred, magic circle Of her footprints round the cornfields.
XIII · Blessing the Cornfields · On the morrow, as the day dawned
Without mercy he destroyed them Right and left, by tens and twenties, And their wretched, lifeless bodies Hung aloft on poles for scarecrows Round the consecrated cornfields, as a signal of his vengeance, As a warning to marauders. Only Kahgahgee, the leader, Kahgahgee, the King of Ravens, He alone was spared among them As a hostage for his people. With his prisoner-string he bound him, Led him captive to his wigwam, Tied him fast with cords of elm-bark To the ridge-pole of his wigwam.
XIII · Blessing the Cornfields · Then
And the merry Laughing Water Went rejoicing from the wigwam, With Nokomis, old and wrinkled, And they called the women round them, Called the young men and the maidens, To the harvest of the cornfields, To the husking of the maize-ear.
XIV · Picture-Writing · 📍 [[the solitary forest]] · In those days
From his pouch he took his colors, Took his paints of different colors, On the smooth bark of a birch-tree Painted many shapes and figures, Wonderful and mystic figures, And each figure had a meaning, Each some word or thought suggested.
XIV · Picture-Writing
All these things did Hiawatha Show unto his wondering people, And interpreted their meaning, And he said: “Behold, your grave-posts Have no mark, no sign, nor symbol, Go and paint them all with figures; Each one with its household symbol, With its own ancestral Totem; So that those who follow after May distinguish them and know them.”
XIV · Picture-Writing
Thus it was that Hiawatha, In his wisdom, taught the people All the mysteries of painting, All the art of Picture-Writing, On the smooth bark of the birch-tree, On the white skin of the reindeer, On the grave-posts of the village.
XV · Hiawatha’s Lamentation · Seven long weeks
In his wigwam sat lamenting, Seven long weeks he sat lamenting,
XV · Hiawatha’s Lamentation · 📍 [[the Sacred Wigwam]]
And upstarting wild and haggard, Like a man from dreams awakened, He was healed of all his madness.
XV · Hiawatha’s Lamentation · 📍 [[the Land of Spirits]]
Ruler in the Land of Spirits, Ruler o’er the dead, they made him,
XV · Hiawatha’s Lamentation · 📍 [[the Islands of the Blessed]] · Four whole days
Came unto the Lake of Silver, In the Stone Canoe was carried To the Islands of the Blessed, To the land of ghosts and shadows.
XV · Hiawatha’s Lamentation
Forth then issued Hiawatha, Wandered eastward, wandered westward, Teaching men the use of simples And the antidotes for poisons, And the cure of all diseases.
XVI · Pau-Puk-Keewis · 📍 [[the lodge of old Iagoo]]
“I can beat you, Pau-Puk-Keewis, I can even give you lessons In your game of Bowl and Counters!”
XVI · Pau-Puk-Keewis · 📍 [[the lodge of old Iagoo]] · Played till midnight, played till morning
Pau-Puk-Keewis Iagoo Face-in-a-Mist
Played until the Yenadizze, Till the cunning Pau-Puk-Keewis, Of their treasures had despoiled them
XVI · Pau-Puk-Keewis · 📍 [[the lodge of old Iagoo]]
As he turned and left the wigwam, Followed by his Meshinauwa, By the nephew of Iagoo,
XVI · Pau-Puk-Keewis · 📍 [[the lodge of Hiawatha]]
Strangled Kahgahgee, the raven, From the ridge-pole of the wigwam Left its lifeless body hanging, As an insult to its master, As a taunt to Hiawatha.
XVI · Pau-Puk-Keewis · 📍 [[the lodge of Hiawatha]]
Pau-Puk-Keewis Nokomis Minnehaha
Round the lodge in wild disorder Threw the household things about him, Piled together in confusion Bowls of wood and earthen kettles, Robes of buffalo and beaver, Skins of otter, lynx, and ermine, As an insult to Nokomis, As a taunt to Minnehaha.
XVI · Pau-Puk-Keewis · 📍 [[the Gitche Gumee]]
And he killed them as he lay there, Slaughtered them by tens and twenties, Threw their bodies down the headland, Threw them on the beach below him,
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 1
“I will slay this Pau-Puk-Keewis, Slay this mischief-maker!” said he.
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 1
Then in swift pursuit departed Hiawatha and the hunters On the trail of Pau-Puk-Keewis,
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 2
“You shall be our ruler,” said they; “Chief and King of all the beavers.”
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 2
Then they heard a cry above them, Heard a shouting and a tramping, Heard a crashing and a rushing, And the water round and o’er them Sank and sucked away in eddies, And they knew their dam was broken.
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 2
With their clubs they beat and bruised him, Beat to death poor Pau-Puk-Keewis, Pounded him as maize is pounded, Till his skull was crushed to pieces.
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 2
Till it drew itself together, Till it rose up from the body, Till it took the form and features Of the cunning Pau-Puk-Keewis
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 2
“Pishnekuh!” cried Pau-Puk-Keewis, “Pishnekuh! my brothers!” said he, “Change me to a brant with plumage, With a shining neck and feathers, Make me large, and make me larger, Ten times larger than the others.” Straightway to a brant they changed him,
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 2 · On the morrow
On the morrow as they journeyed, Buoyed and lifted by the South-wind, Wafted onward by the South-wind, Blowing fresh and strong behind them,
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 2
And, forgetful of the warning, Drew his neck in, and looked downward, And the wind that blew behind him Caught his mighty fan of feathers, Sent him wheeling, whirling downward!
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 3
Dead out of the empty heaven, Dead among the shouting people, With a heavy sound and sullen, Fell the brant with broken pinions. But his soul, his ghost, his shadow, Still survived as Pau-Puk-Keewis
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 3
the Old Man of the Mountain Pau-Puk-Keewis
Giving Pau-Puk-Keewis shelter In his caverns dark and dreary, Bidding Pau-Puk-Keewis welcome To his gloomy lodge of sandstone.
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 3
Hiawatha Waywassimo Annemeekee
Then he raised his hands to heaven, Called imploring on the tempest, Called Waywassimo, the lightning, And the thunder, Annemeekee; And they came with night and darkness
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 3
Waywassimo Annemeekee Pau-Puk-Keewis
Then Waywassimo, the lightning, Smote the doorways of the caverns, With his war-club smote the doorways, Smote the jutting crags of sandstone, And the thunder, Annemeekee, Shouted down into the caverns, Saying, “Where is Pau-Puk-Keewis!” And the crags fell, and beneath them Dead among the rocky ruins Lay the cunning Pau-Puk-Keewis
XVII · The Hunting of Pau-Puk-Keewis · Part 3
I will change you to an eagle, To Keneu, the great war-eagle, Chief of all the fowls with feathers
XVIII · The Death of Kwasind
Puk-Wudjies Kwasind
All conspired to murder Kwasind, Yes, to rid the world of Kwasind,
XVIII · The Death of Kwasind · 📍 [[Taquamenaw]] · an afternoon in Summer
Puk-Wudjies Kwasind
There they stood, all armed and waiting, Hurled the pine-cones down upon him, Struck him on his brawny shoulders, On his crown defenceless struck him. “Death to Kwasind!” was the sudden War-cry of the Little People. And he sideways swayed and tumbled, Sideways fell into the river, Plunged beneath the sluggish water Headlong, as an otter plunges; And the birch canoe, abandoned, Drifted empty down the river, Bottom upward swerved and drifted: Nothing more was seen of Kwasind.
XIX · The Ghosts · 📍 [[wigwam]] · One dark evening, after sundown
the pallid guests Hiawatha
As two women entered softly, Passed the doorway uninvited, Without word of salutation, Without sign of recognition, Sat down in the farthest corner, Crouching low among the shadows.
XIX · The Ghosts · 📍 [[wigwam]] · Once at midnight
the ghosts Hiawatha
And they said, with gentle voices: “We are ghosts of the departed, Souls of those who once were with you. From the realms of Chibiabos Hither have we come to try you, Hither have we come to warn you.
XIX · The Ghosts · 📍 [[wigwam]]
the ghosts Hiawatha
When they ceased, a sudden darkness Fell and filled the silent wigwam. Hiawatha heard a rustle As of garments trailing by him, Heard the curtain of the doorway Lifted by a hand he saw not, Felt the cold breath of the night air, For a moment saw the starlight; But he saw the ghosts no longer,
XX · The Famine · 📍 [[Hiawatha’s wigwam]]
And the lovely Minnehaha Shuddered as they looked upon her, Shuddered at the words they uttered, Lay down on her bed in silence
XX · The Famine · 📍 [[the forest]] · All day long
All day long roved Hiawatha In that melancholy forest
XX · The Famine · 📍 [[the forest]] · Then
Then they buried Minnehaha; In the snow a grave they made her In the forest deep and darksome Underneath the moaning hemlocks
XXI · The White Man’s Foot
It was Peboan, the Winter! From his eyes the tears were flowing, As from melting lakes the streamlets, And his body shrunk and dwindled As the shouting sun ascended, Till into the air it faded, Till into the ground it vanished, And the young man saw before him, On the hearth-stone of the wigwam, Where the fire had smoked and smouldered, Saw the earliest flower of Spring-time, Saw the Beauty of the Spring-time, Saw the Miskodeed in blossom.
XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure · 📍 [[Gitche Gumee]] · the pleasant Summer morning
Came the Black-Robe chief, the Prophet, He the Priest of Prayer, the Pale-face, With his guides and his companions. ... Till the Black-Robe chief, the Pale-face, With the cross upon his bosom, Landed on the sandy margin.
XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure
All our town in peace awaits you, All our doors stand open for you; You shall enter all our wigwams, For the heart’s right hand we give you.
XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure
And the careful old Nokomis Brought them food in bowls of basswood, Water brought in birchen dippers, And the calumet, the peace-pipe, Filled and lighted for their smoking.
XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure
Then the Black-Robe chief, the Prophet, Told his message to the people, Told the purport of his mission, Told them of the Virgin Mary, And her blessed Son, the Saviour, How in distant lands and ages He had lived on earth as we do;
XXII · Hiawatha’s Departure · 📍 [[the Islands of the Blessed]]
On the clear and luminous water Launched his birch canoe for sailing, From the pebbles of the margin Shoved it forth into the water; Whispered to it, “Westward! westward!”