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

ORIGIN OF THE RED WILLOW. 279
A hungry Wolf
the 0-kwa-ho,
That near, but warily, had crept,
Came seeing Manabo-zho slept ;
"
My Brothers, walking through the snow,
You must," he said,
" to come so far,
Be tired
as indeed you are."
"Yes," said the legs,
"
We came from wide
Beyond the rising sun to-day ;
Brought Manabo-zho a 1 ! the way."
"He sleeps, you watch," the Wolf replied ;
He has a coat of skins to wear,
While you, my Brothers, you are bare."
Then forth he furry leggins drew :
"With hunger I am almost dead ;
Give me the bird, and I," ho said,
Will give you these, so warm and new ;
To Manabo-zho you can say
:
'
It came to life and flew away.' "
The legs, cajoled by flattery,
Did give consent ;
as they were bid,
Behind a log the leggins hid ;
Them they would show another day
To Manabo-zho, and declare
That truly they had found them there.