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

258 THE GREAT SNAKE OF CAXAXDAIGVA.
The youthful mimic hunters caught
The nursling of a viper brood ;
And home the tiny serpent brought
A reptile beautiful and good.
The pretty snake, though unrestrained,
No more unto the wild it dreAV ;
But in the wigwam glad remained,
And, fondly cherished, greatly grew
.
Beloved of all, the old and young,
The little hands the creature fed,
To see it draw its forked tongue
And high erect its shining head.
Delighted still to see it grow
Its ever-growing want supplied,
Until in vain their shaft and bow
The weaker hands industrious plied.
Then portion of their larger game
It day by day the hunters gave ;
Till o'er the wild it went and came,
1
Or fearless tracked the foaming
wave.