Literature and Art 



137 



That shall float upon the 

 river, 



Like a yellow leaf in 

 Autumn, 



Like a yellow water-lily ! 



' ' Lay aside your cloak, 

 O Birch-tree ! 



Lay aside your white- 

 skin wrapper, 



For the Summer-time is 

 coming, 



And the sun is warm in 

 heaven, 



And you need no white- 

 skin wrapper!" 



Thus aloud cried Hia- 

 watha 



In the solitary forest. 



"O Birch-tree, tall and stately" 



By the rushing Taquamenaw, 

 When the birds were singing gayly, 

 In the Moon of Leaves were singing, 

 And the sun, from sleep awaking, 

 Started up and said, " Behold me ! 

 Geezis, the great Sun, behold me !" 



And the tree with all its branches 

 Rustled in the breeze of morning, 



