--- title: The Feast of the Virgins., part 6 — Legends of the Northwest · full text with trees · page 2 description: The Feast of the Virgins., part 6, «Legends of the Northwest» by Hanford Lennox Gordon: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: 'Tis midnight. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/13/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Legends of the Northwest](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/) / The Feast of the Virgins., part 6 # The Feast of the Virgins., part 6 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/13/) **2** In the enchanting Cha-quam-e-gon Bay, defended by all the Apostles; \[a\] And thence by the Ké-we-naw, lay his course to the Mission Sainte Marie.[46](../../46/ "tree and pragmatics") \[b\] Now the waves drop their myriad hands, and streams the white hair of the surges; DuLuth at the steady helm stands, and he hums as he bounds o'er the billows:[47](../../47/ "tree and pragmatics") O sweet is the carol of bird, And sweet is the murmur of streams, But sweeter the voice that I heard-- In the night--in the midst of my dreams.[48](../../48/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] The Apostle Islands.[49](../../49/ "tree and pragmatics") \[b\] At the Saut St. Marie.[50](../../50/ "tree and pragmatics") 'Tis the moon of the sere, falling leaves.[51](../../51/ "tree and pragmatics") From the heads of the maples the west-wind Plucks the red-and-gold plumage and grieves on the meads for the rose and the lily; Their brown leaves the moaning oaks strew, and the breezes that roam on the prairies, Low-whistling and wanton pursue the down of the silk weed and thistle.[52](../../52/ "tree and pragmatics") All sere are the prairies and brown, in the glimmer and haze of the Autumn; From the far northern marshes flock down, by thousands, the geese and the mallards.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") From the meadows and wide-prairied plains, for their long southward journey preparing, In croaking flocks gather the cranes, and choose with loud clamor their leaders.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") The breath of the evening is cold, and lurid along the horizon The flames of the prairies are rolled, on the somber skies flashing their torches.[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") At noontide a shimmer of gold, through the haze, pours the sun from his pathway.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") The wild-rice is gathered and ripe, on the moors, lie the scarlet po-pán-ka; \[a\] Michabo \[85\] is smoking his pipe, --'tis the soft, dreamy Indian Summer, When the god of the South as he flies from Wazíya, the god of the Winter, For a time turns his beautiful eyes, and backward looks over his shoulder.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] Cranberries.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") It is noon.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") From his path in the skies the red sun looks down on Kathága, Asleep in the valley it lies, for the swift hunters follow the bison.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") Ta-té-psin, the aged brave, bends as he walks by the side of Winona; Her arm to his left hand she lends, and he feels with his staff for the pathway; On his slow, feeble footsteps attends his gray dog, the watchful Wicháka; \[a\] For blind in his years is the chief of a fever that followed the Summer, And the days of Ta-té-psin are brief.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") Once more by the dark-rolling river Sits the Chief in the warm, dreamy haze of the beautiful Summer in Autumn; And the faithful dog lovingly lays his head at the feet of his master.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") On a dead, withered branch sits a crow, down-peering askance at the old man; On the marge of the river below romp the nut-brown and merry-voiced children, And the dark waters silently flow, broad and deep, to the plunge of the Ha-ha.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] Wee-chah kah--literally "Faithful".[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") By his side sat Winona.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") He laid his thin, shriveled hand on her tresses, "Winona my daughter," he said, "no longer thy father beholds thee; But he feels the long locks of thy hair, and the days that are gone are remembered, When Sisóka \[a\] sat faithful and fair in the lodge of swift footed Ta-té-psin.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") The white years have broken my spear; from my bow they have taken the bow-string; But once on the trail of the deer, like a gray wolf from sunrise till sunset, By woodland and meadow and mere, ran the feet of Ta-té-psin untiring.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") But dim are the days that are gone, and darkly around me they wander, Like the pale, misty face of the moon when she walks through the storm of the winter; And sadly they speak in my ear.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") I have looked on the graves of my kindred.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") The Land of the Spirits is near.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Death walks by my side like a shadow.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Now open thine ear to my voice, and thy heart to the wish of thy father, And long will Winona rejoice that she heeded the words of Ta-té-psin.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") The cold, cruel winter is near, and famine will sit in the teepee.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") What hunter will bring me the deer, or the flesh of the bear or the bison?[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") For my kinsmen before me have gone; they hunt in the land of the shadows.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") In my old age forsaken, alone, must I die in my teepee of hunger?[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Winona, Tamdóka can make my empty lodge laugh with abundance; For thine aged and blind father's sake, to the son of the Chief speak the promise.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") For gladly again to my tee will the bridal gifts come for my daughter.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") A fleet-footed hunter is he, and the good spirits feather his arrows; And the cold, cruel winter will be a feast-time instead of a famine."[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] The Robin--the name of Winona's Mother.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") "My father," she said, and her voice was filial and full of compassion, "Would the heart of Ta-té-psin rejoice at the death of Winona, his daughter?[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") The crafty Tamdóka I hate.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") Must I die in his teepee of sorrow?[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") For I love the White Chief, and I wait his return to the land of Dakotas.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") When the cold winds of winter return, and toss the white robes of the prairies, The fire of the White Chief will burn, in his lodge, at the Meeting-of-Waters.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") Winona's heart followed his feet far away to the land of the morning, And she hears in her slumber his sweet, kindly voice call the name of thy daughter.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") My father, abide, I entreat, the return of the brave to Kathága.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") The wild-rice is gathered, the meat of the bison is stored in the teepee; Till the Coon-Moon \[71\] enough and to spare; and if then the white warrior return not, Winona will follow the bear, and the coon, to their dens in the forest.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") She is strong; she can handle the spear; she can bend the stout bow of the hunter; And swift on the trail of the deer will she run o'er the snow on her snow-shoes.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Let the step-mother sit in the tee, and kindle the fire for my father; And the cold, cruel winter shall be a feast-time instead of a famine." "[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") The White Chief will never return," half angrily muttered Ta-té-psin;[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") "His camp-fire will nevermore burn in the land of the warriors he slaughtered.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") I grieve, for my daughter has said that she loves the false friend of her kindred; For the hands of the White Chief are red with the blood of the trustful Dakotas."[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Then warmly Winona replied, "Tamdóka himself is the traitor, And the white-hearted stranger had died by his treacherous hand in the forest, But thy daughter's voice bade him beware of the sly death that followed his footsteps.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") The words of Tamdóka are fair, but his heart is the den of the serpents.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") When the braves told their tale, like a bird sang the heart of Winona rejoicing, But gladlier still had she heard of the death of the crafty Tamdóka.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") The Chief will return, he is bold, and he carries the fire of Wakínyan; To our people the truth will be told, and Tamdóka will hide like a coward."[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") His thin locks the aged brave shook; to himself half inaudibly muttered; To Winona no answer he spoke --only moaned he "Micunksee\![98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Micunksee\![99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] In my old age forsaken and blind\![100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Yun\![101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") He he\![102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Micúnksee\![103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Micúnksee!"[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") \[b\] And Wicháka, the pitying dog, whined, as he looked on the face of his master.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/13/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/13/) - next →: [The Feast of the Virgins., part 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/14/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the Northwest](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/)