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

" Come live with me ;
THE BEAR-WIFE. 283
A pleasant life our life shall be.
Of savory things,
Of fruits of earth the Summer brings,
Fruits good alike for Bears and Men,
We eat our fill ;
Then sleep the winter long, until
Spring comes again."
'
My daughter, too,
I, for a wife, will give to you."
AVhen she came nigh,
And moccasins so warm and dry
Put on his feet ;
while she did lean
All unafraid,
He thought he had no Indian maid
So lovely seen.
And biding there,
He took for wife that Woman-bear ;
They, void of strife,
Lived happily in wedded life.
Two sons erewhile she bore to him ;
A Bear became ;
Like her, one son
an Indian one
In mind and limb.
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