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

NYAH-TAH-WANTA. 81
The greater dole might him upbraid
For largess that brings duller sense ;
For every gain a price is paid,
For every loss some recompense ;
He that with visioned eye may see
The shadow of a darker fate,
Fore-kens the brighter days to be
No less,
and is content to wait.
And many
a suitor bold and free
Had with the summers come and gone ;
She only said "It is not He ;"
Still patient waited for HER OWN
;
Nor somber sat as one forlorn,
Nor gave to pining sorrow loose ;
For what have they of cause to mourn
Whose days are girt with love and use ?
Her hands were quick to gentle deeds,
She tended kind her failing sire ;
She minded all his little needs,
She brought the sticks, she built the fire,
She cooked his meat, she made him warm,
On her his tottering footsteps leant ;
31
For him she braved the raging storm
And sweetened all with meek content.