Muddyminded cast about him, How he'd bring this song to light:-- "Take my bait, you Indian Poem!" Cried he down the depths below, Then sat waiting for an answer, For an answer from below. Quiet lay the Indian Story, Nor would listen to his clamour; Turned he to another tale though,-- EUANGLEEN,--six-footed monster, And he bade him take the bait, that Still was dangling to and fro: EUANGLEEN he rose to take it; Muddyminded liked him not, And he shouted through the water, "Pesta! Pesta! shame upon you! You are not a Poem at all, You are one six-footed monster, You are not the song I wanted." Then went downward swift and certain Down the depths of dark oblivion, Disappointed EUANGLEEN. Then the mighty Indian Poem Said to GOLDEN LEG, another, "Take the bait of this great boaster, Break his line, and spoil his trade!" But again did Muddyminded Shout derision as he rose, "Pesta! Pesta! shame upon you! You are but a lame imposture, Fame will never call you Poem, You are not the song I wanted." Then upleapt this Indian Story, Legend rude, but fierce and strong-- High enough he leapt, to show us What he might be could we tame him, Could there but a real Magician Disenchant him, and control. His great jaws he op'ed, and swallowed Both canoe and Muddyminded. Down into that dark oblivion Plunged the hapless Muddyminded,-- As a log on some black river Down the rapids plunges soon, Found himself in utter darkness, Thought he had been there before, Groped about, and groped, and wondered, Wondered, groped, and groped the more. J. W. M. * * * * * In 1856, a small shilling volume of 120 pages was published by George Routledge and Co., as a companion to Longfellow's _Hiawatha_. This was entitled, "_The Song of Drop o' Wather_, a London legend, by Harry Wandsworth Shortfellow," and is now scarce. It commences thus:-- APOLOGY FOR THERE BEING NO PREFACE. AUTHOR (_considering_). "People expect a preface; and this is the place for one. But there is no preface in the great 'Indian Edda' which has occasioned this poem. The author of that work gives his explanation to the public in the Notes and Vocabulary; then, of course, mine also, ought (and is) to be found in the Notes and Vocabulary to 'The Song of Drop o' Wather.'" Then follow the contents, consisting of an Introduction and thirteen chapters, namely:--