Part 4 (2/2)

Down he hewed the boughs of cedar, Shaped them straightway to a framework, Like two bows he formed and shaped them, Like two bended bows together. 5 ”Give me of your roots, O Tamarack!

Of your fibrous roots, O Larch Tree!

My canoe to bind together, So to bind the ends together That the water may not enter, 10 That the river may not wet me!”

And the Larch with all its fibers, s.h.i.+vered in the air of morning, Touched his forehead with its ta.s.sels, Said, with one long sigh of sorrow, 15 ”Take them all, O Hiawatha!”

From the earth he tore the fibers, Tore the tough roots of the Larch Tree, Closely sewed the bark together, Bound it closely to the framework. 20 ”Give me of your balm, O Fir Tree!

Of your balsam and your resin, So to close the seams together That the water may not enter, That the river may not wet me!”

And the Fir Tree, tall and somber, Sobbed through all its robes of darkness, Rattled like a sh.o.r.e with pebbles, 5 Answered wailing, answered weeping, ”Take my balm, O Hiawatha!”

And he took the tears of balsam, Took the resin of the Fir Tree, Seamed therewith each seam and fissure, 10 Made each crevice safe from water.

”Give me of your quills, O Hedgehog!

All your quills, O Kagh, the Hedgehog!

I will make a necklace of them, Make a girdle for my beauty, 15 And two stars to deck her bosom!”

From a hollow tree the Hedgehog With his sleepy eyes looked at him, Shot his s.h.i.+ning quills, like arrows, Saying, with a drowsy murmur, 20 Through the tangle of his whiskers, ”Take my quills, O Hiawatha!”

From the ground the quills he gathered, All the little s.h.i.+ning arrows, Stained them red and blue and yellow, With the juice of roots and berries; Into his canoe he wrought them, Round its waist a s.h.i.+ning girdle, 5 Round its bows a gleaming necklace, On its breast two stars resplendent.

Thus the Birch Canoe was builded, In the valley, by the river, In the bosom of the forest; 10 And the forest's life was in it, All its mystery and its magic, All the lightness of the birch tree, All the toughness of the cedar, All the larch's supple sinews; 15 And it floated on the river Like a yellow leaf in autumn, Like a yellow water lily.

Paddles none had Hiawatha, Paddles none he had or needed, 20 For his thoughts as paddles served him, And his wishes served to guide him; Swift or slow at will he glided, Veered to right or left at pleasure.

SABINE BARING-GOULD

ENGLAND, 1834-

Child's Evening Prayer

Now the day is over, 5 Night is drawing nigh, Shadows of the evening Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers, Stars begin to peep, Birds and beasts and flowers Soon will be asleep.

Through the long night-watches May Thine angels spread 10 Their white wings above me, Watching round my bed.

When the morning wakens, Then may I arise Pure and fresh and sinless 15 In Thy holy eyes.

THIRD YEAR--SECOND HALF

Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean

O, Columbia, the gem of the ocean, The home of the brave and the free, The shrine of each patriot's devotion, A world offers homage to thee; Thy mandates make heroes a.s.semble, 5 When Liberty's form stands in view; Thy banners make tyranny tremble, When borne by the red, white, and blue, When borne by the red, white, and blue, When borne by the red, white, and blue, 10 Thy banners make tyranny tremble, When borne by the red, white, and blue.

When war wing'd its wide desolation, And threaten'd the land to deform, The ark then of freedom's foundation, 15 Columbia rode safe thro' the storm: With the garlands of vict'ry around her, When so proudly she bore her brave crew, With her flag proudly floating before her, The boast of the red, white, and blue, The boast of the red, white, and blue, 5 The boast of the red, white, and blue, With her flag proudly floating before her The boast of the red, white, and blue.

The star-spangled banner bring hither, O'er Columbia's true sons let it wave; 10 May the wreaths they have won never wither, Nor its stars cease to s.h.i.+ne on the brave.

May the service united ne'er sever, But hold to their colors so true; The army and navy forever, 15 Three cheers for the red, white, and blue, Three cheers for the red, white, and blue, Three cheers for the red, white, and blue, The army and navy forever, Three cheers for the red, white, and blue. 20

ROBERT HERRICK

ENGLAND, 1591-1674

Corinna going a-Maying

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