64 NATURAL HISTORY 



Fall and fade and die and wither ; 

 For I breathe, and lo, they are not ! 

 From the waters and the marshes 

 Rise the wild-goose and the heron 

 Fly away to distant regions." 



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" When I shake my flowing ringlets, 

 Said the young man, softly laughing, 

 Showers of rain fall warm and welcome, 

 Plants lift up their heads rejoicing ; 

 Back unto their lakes and marshes 

 Come the wild-goose and the heron, 

 Homeward shoots the arrowy swallow, 

 Sing the blue-bird and the robin. 

 And wher'er my footsteps wander, 

 All the meadows wave with blossoms, 

 All the woodlands ring with music, 

 All the trees are dark with foliage. 



" Then the old man's tongue was speechless, 

 And the air grew warm and pleasant, 

 And upon the wigwam sweetly 

 Sang the blue-bird and the robin ; 

 And the streams began to murmur, 

 And a scent of growing grasses 

 Through the lodge was gently wafted ; 

 And Segwun, the youthful stranger, 



