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

178 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQU01S.
Near Onondaga's billows were,
Afar the lofty Yo-nond stood ;
And many a goodly land and fair
He pictured wide with wave and wood ;
With lake and river, hill and vale,
.
And grassy plain outstretched between,
Where, traced with each familiar trail,
His scattered People's homes were seen.
And large amid the symbols, framed
He fierce the Tortoise, Wolf and Bear,
As in the forest free, untamed ;
For these their signs armorial were,
The warriors' royal heraldry,
Their marks and to-tems savage, bold ;
And seeing, each well.knew that they
Of cunning, patience, valor told.
And bright beneath the rising sun
That seemed the place to guard and bless,
Five lofty wigwams all in one
Were seen, yet separate none the less ;
And this the sense, the meaning lent:
The five in one of Union showed ;
And separate none the less, it meant
The Union wrought of Brotherhood.