Western Scenes and Reminiscences Part 49

Cried laughing little Er,[58]

Let us go to yonder broad blue deep, Where the breakers foam and roar.

And on they scampered by valley and wood, By earth and air and sky, Till they came to a steep where the bare rocks stood, In a precipice mountain high.

Inya![59] cried Er, here's a dreadful leap, But we are gone so far, That if we flinch and return in fear, Nos,[60] he will cry ha! ha!

Now each was clad in a vesture light, That floated far behind, With sandals of frozen water drops, And wings of painted wind.

And down they plunged with a merry skip, Like birds that skim the plain; And hey! they cried let us up and try And down the steep again.

And up and down the daughters skipped, Like girls on a holiday, And laughed outright, at the sport and foam They called Niagara.

If ye would see a sight so rare, Where nature's in her glee, Go, view the spot in the wide wild west, The land of the brave and free.

But mark--their shapes are only seen In fancy's deepest play, But she plainly shews their wings and feet In the dancing sunny spray.

FOOTNOTES:

[54] Superior.

[55] Michigan.

[56] Huron.

[57] St. Claro.

[58] Erie.

[59] An exclamation of wonder and surprize.--_Odj. lan._

[60] My father.--_ib._

A PSALM.

OR SUPPLICATION FOR MERCY, AND A CONFESSION OF SIN, ADDRESSED TO THE AUTHOR OF LIFE, IN THE ODJIBWA-ALGONQUIN TONGUE.

BY THE LATE MRS. HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT.

1. Gaitshe minno pimaudizzeyun, Gezha Monedo, gezhigong aibeyun.

2. Keen, maumauwaik.u.mig waozhemigoyun.

3. Keen, kah ozhieeyong, keen gaugegaik.u.mig, kai nuhwaunemeyong, aikoobemaudizzeyong.

4. Keen, kainuhwaubaimeyong, geezhig tibbikuk tibishko.

5. Keen, Keozheahn-geezhik-geezis, dibbik-geezis, aunungug gia.

6. Keen, kegeozhetoan tshe kimmewung, gia tshe annimikeeaug, tshe sai sai yung, tshe sogepoog gia.

7. Keen kau ozheiyong tshe unnewegauboweyaung, kakinnuk kau ozheudjig akeeng.

8. Kee, gemishemin odjechaugwug, wekaukaine bosigoog. Kee gemishemin kebauzhigo kegwiss Jesus Christ, tshe oonjenebood neenowind.

9. Mozhug issuh nemudjee-inaindumin, kagait mozhug nemudjee-eki-domin; nahwudj neminwaindumin tshe mudjee-dodumaung.

10. Kagaitego me kaisoondje izhauyaungebun mudjee Moneto.

11. Showainemis.h.i.+naum, Gezha Monedo.

12. Showainemis.h.i.+naum, Jesus Christ.

13. Maishkoodjetoan ne mudjee-odai-enaunin.

14. Meezhishenaun edush oushke odaiyun.

15. Apaidush nah saugeigsayun, gia dush todumaung kau izhe gugeekwayun.

16. Me ozhissinaum odaiyun tshe minwaindumaung, tshe annahme autogoyun.

17. Showainim neendunahwaitmaugunenaunig unishenaubaig.

18. Showainim kukinnuh menik pemaudizzejig akeeng.

19. Showainemishenaum kaidokoo pemandizzeyong, appe dush neeboyong.

20. Showainemishenaum neen jeechaugonaunig tshe izhowaud keen.

21. Kaugegaik.u.mig edush tshe menawaunegooz eyong ozaum ne mudje-pemaudizzewin auno unnahmeyauyongin.

22. Kauween edush kewee pemaudizzewin, kishpin aitah appainemo yong Kegwiss Jesus Christ.

23. Aipetainemud kegwiss showainemishenaum. Kunnah gai kunnah

TRANSLATION.

1. Great good author of Life, Gezha Monedo, abiding in the heavens.

2. Thou hast made all things.

3. Thou art the giver,--Thou, the everlasting preserver of life.

4. Thou hast guarded me, by day and by night.