The league of the Iroquois and other legends : from the Indian muse

THE AFTER-DAYS. 121
But fairest life will sorrows dim :
Erelong, with mighty arm and cold,
Dread 0-wah-ai-gut came for him
Her sire
more feeble grown and old,
And bore him to the Better Land;
Land that the dim horizon bounds,
Where roams each dusky tribe and band-
1
The nobler Spirits Hunting Grounds.
And him they dressed with loving care :
They wrapped him in his blanket new,
His moccasins that were beaded fair,
His snowy leggins softly drew ;
39
His brow they bound with warrior-band
And crowned it with the eagle-plume ;
They laid his war-club in his hand,
Then bore him to the waiting tomb.
And Hayo-went-ha, through his tears,
Said, speaking to the chieftain gone :
"0 thou whom parting more endears,
Beloved !
who hast journeyed on,
Albeit a weary way and long,
To land where noble Hunters dwell,
The Mighty Warriors, brave and strong,
!
Knee-ha, Father ! fare thee well.' 140