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

198 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS.
my People unto you
!
All these years, and not in vain,
Has he been as father true,
Bearing all your grief and pain ;
And each widely scattered band,
Dwelling in the farthest wood,
Has he taught to understand
Well his precepts wise and good.
Taught you how to build with pride
Homes where comforts more abound ;
Build your wigwams high and wide,
Softly matting all the ground ;
Of the to-tem's use and place,
Of the Tortoise, Wolf, and Bear
All the symbols of our race ;
Of the Wampum,
braided fair.
Toiling, he with patient hand
Widened all the grassy plain ;
Cleared the rivers ;
by his hand
Were the frightful monsters slain ;
Made he fairer hunting-grounds,
Where Skan-o-do, 0-kwa-ho
All the nobler game abounds ;
Wrought for you the hunter-bow.