The Messenger 



William Prindle Alexander 



The Seneca Indians had a most beautiful traditional belief, the 

 substance of which is set forth in the following verse. It was 

 believed that the near kin of a maiden might communicate with 

 her after death by taking g, fledgling bird with the hair of the 

 departed, and teaching it the message of love which it was to bear 

 to the girl when liberated ; this was done when the bird first began 

 to sing. The custom was long practiced by this tribe. 



An old Sachem speaks : 



She is dead, brethren dead. 



And her spirit like the roe 



Swift has fled: 



Take her body to its bed 



In the arms of swaying trees 



When the morning makes the breeze 



Sing soft and low: 



When the war-club that is woe 



Made her brothers feel its blow, 



Bent her father's ancient head, 



Left us only power to know 



That her Spirit wings were spread, 



And the maiden straightway fled 



To the rest and peace of Gitche Manito. 



Go! my sisters, make a snare 



Of the maiden's gleaming hair. 



And make captive of some little bird that sings; 



One that never felt its throat 



Swell with wild and wayward note. 



And but late grew bold upon its feathered wings. 



Build a house of bough and reed 



And with mystic shell and bead 



From the maiden's breathless bosom, make it bright, 



Till it sing both loud and well, 



And its voice with yours, in tenderness tmite. 



Nay, your footsteps cannot pass 



Like the sunbeam o'er the grass. 



To the Spirit-land, beyond the distant hill; 



But the sin^ng bird can bear 



Soft and swiftly through the air. 



All your tenderness to her whose voice is still. 



So let your sad heart teach 



Words of love, in gentle speech. 



That our messenger, may weave them in his song; 



He will know the way to go, 



He will know, he will know 



Though the way be dark, and wearisome, andlong. 



74 



