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

22 THE LEAGUE OF THE IBOQUOIS.
Unfettered grew eacli tender thought,
To it no task -time came to vex ;
Nor Art her robe unseemly wrought
To mar and outward symbol sex.
Yet beauty shines through all disguise
Unconscious of its loveliness ;
And Nature's child is simply wise
Tn Virtue
all untaught of dress.
Not in the garment's fold or braid,
Nor in the outward form or face,
The heart by tender passions swayed
Has rarer gift of charm and grace.
In voice that woke in gentler tone,
In petted wolf- cub sweet caressed,
In nameless winsome ways out shone
The woman in the maiden breast.
Or on each face with sunshine dyed,
When wandering on the dreary fell,
The growing flush of manly pride
Would manhood's eager life foretell ;
As in the instinct of his race
And native health's exuberant glow,
He mimicked wide the hunter- chase,
Or twanged the mimic warrior -bow.