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

THE FORE-\V01iLT). 21
And who shall say a meaner dower
Had she, the dusky forest - child ?
That on her lowly nuptial hour
Xo sylvan Hymen sweetly smiled ?
To lend for every pain and strife
Love s all-enduring recompense ;
Robe with content her ruder life
And garland
it with innocence.
If all unlearned, not vainly learned :
From primal household ways un weaned,
The woman but the woman yearned,
The maiden to the matron leaned ;
To know the rarest joys that be
For hearts that simple loves suffice ;
In marvelous mother -gift to see
The heaven that is in baby eyes.
With tiny feet along the sand
When summer's balmy breezes blew,
Would childhood roam its fairy land,
With cheeks like autumn's ruddiest hue ,
That in the sunlight ripened free
To maiden charm or manly grace ;
Xor marvel that I fail to see
The fairer in the paler face.