The Star Family
Waupee found a deep-trod circle
In the boundless prairie wide;
In the grassy sea of prairies,
Without trace of path beside.
To or fro, there was no token
Man had ever trod the plain;
And he gazed upon the wonder,
Gazed the wonder to explain.
I will watch the place, quoth Waupee,
And conceal myself awhile;
This strange mystery to unravel,
This new thing to reconcile.
Tracks I know of deer and bison,
Tracks of panther, lynx, or hind,
Beasts and birds of every nature,
But this beaten ring is blind.
Do the spirits here assemble,
War-dance light to trip and sing?
Gather Medas of the prairie,
Here their magic charm to fling?
Waupee crept beneath the hushes,
Near the wondrous magic ring;
Close beneath the shrubs and grasses,
To behold so rare a thing.
Soon he heard, high in the heavens,
Issuing from the feathery clouds—
Sounds of music, quick descending,
As if angels came in crowds.
Louder, sweeter, was the music,
Every moment that he stayed;
Till a basket, with twelve sisters,
Was with all its charms displayed.
Down they came, in air suspended,
As if by thin silver cords;
And within the circle landed,
Gay and bright as beauteous birds.
Out they leaped with nimble gestures,
Dancing softly round and round;
Each a ball of silver chiming,
With the most enchanting sound.
Beauteous were they all—but one so
More than all the other eleven,
Youngest she, he sighed to clasp her
To his ardent, glowing breast.
Up he rose from his concealment,
From his flower-encircled bed;
But, as quick-eyed birds, they spied him,
Stepped into the car and fled.
Fled into the starry heavens,
While with open ear he stood,
Drinking the receding music,
As it left his solitude.
Now, indeed, was he a stranger,
And a fugitive alone;
For the peace that once he cherished,
With the heavenly car had flown.
Touched his heart was by love’s fervors,
He no longer wished to rove;
Lost the charm of war and hunting,
Waupee was transfixed by love.
Ah! ’tis love that wins the savage
From his wanderings, and can teach,
Where the truth could never touch him,
Where the gospel could not reach.
Long he mourned—and lingering, waited
Round the charmed celestial ring;
Day by day he lingered, hoping
Once to hear those angels sing.
To deceive, the quick eyes glancing,
An opossum’s form he tries;
And crouched low, beside the circle,
Stooped, that he might win the prize.
Soon the sounds he heard descending,
Soon they leaped within the ring;
Joining hand in hand in dancing,
Round and round—sweet revelling.
Up he rose, quick disenchanted,
Rose and clasped his female star,
While, as lightning, quick the eleven
Leaped, and rose within their car.
vHome he took her to his wigwam,
Sought each varied way to please;
Gave her flowers and rarest presents,
All to yield her joy and ease.
And a beauteous son rewarded
Love so constant, true, and mild;
Who renewed in every feature,
Nature’s lonely forest child.
But, as thoughts of youth will linger
Long within the heart’s fond core;
So she nursed the pleasing passion,
Her star-home to see once more—
Made an ark of wicker branches,
All by secret arts and care;
Sought the circle with her earth-boy,
Fleeing to her Father star.
There, at length, the boy grew weary,
Weary e’en of heavenly spheres,
Longing for earth’s cares and pleasures,
Hunting, feasting, joys, and tears.
“Call thy husband,” quoth the star chief,
“Take the magic car and go;
But bring with thee some fit emblems,
Of the sounding chase below.
“Claw, or wing, or toe, or feathers,
Scalp of bird or beast to tell;
What he follows in the wood-chase,
Arts the hunter knows so well.”
Waupee searched the deepest forests,
Prairies vast, or valleys low;
All to find out the rarest species,
That he might the star-world show.
Then he sought the ring of magic,
With his forest stores so rare;
And within the starry basket,
Rose with all his emblems fair.
Joys of greeting—joys of seeing—
Hand to hand, and eye to eye;
These o’ercrowned with smiles and laughing,
This lodge-meeting in the sky.
Then a glorious feast was ordered,
To receive the forest guest;
While the sweet reunion lighted,
Joy in every beating breast.
Broad the feasting board was covered,
The high starry group to bind;
When the star chief rose to utter
His congratulations kind.
“List, my guests—the Spirit wills it,
Earth to earth, and sky to sky;
Choose ye each a claw or pinion,
Such as ye may wish to try.”
Wondrous change! by arts’ transformance,
At the typic heavenly feast;
Each who chose a wing a bird was,
Each who chose a claw, a beast.
Off they ran on plains of silver,
Squirrel, rabbit, elk, or deer;
White Hawk chose a wing, descending
Down again to forests here,
Where the Waupees are still noted
For their high essays of wing;
And their noble deeds of bravery,
In the forest, mount, and ring.