" Should you ask me, whence these stories? 



"Whence these legends and traditions, 



"With the odors of the forest, 



"With the dew and damp of meadows, 



"With the curling smoke of wigwams, . . 

 I should answer, I should tell you, 

 ' From the forest and the prairies, 



From the great lakes of the Northland, 



From the land of the Ojibways, 



From the land of the Dacotahs, 



I repeat them as I heard them 



From the lips of Nawadaha, 



The musician, the sweet singer. ' 



Should you ask where Nawadaha 



Found these songs, so wild and wayward, 



Found these legends and traditions, 



I should answer, I should tell you, 

 ' In the birds'-nests of the forest. 



In the lodges of the beaver, ' " 



— The Sotig of Hiawatha. 



