"Beautiful is the sun, O strangers, When you come so far to see us! 75 All our town in peace awaits you; All our doors stand open for you; You shall enter all our wigwams, For the heart's right hand we give you. "Never bloomed the earth so gayly, 80 Never shone the sun so brightly, As to-day they shine and blossom When you come so far to see us! Never was our lake so tranquil, Nor so free from rocks and sand-bars; 85 For your birch canoe in passing Has removed both rock and sand-bar. "Never before had our tobacco Such a sweet and pleasant flavor, Never the broad leaves of our corn-fields 90 Were so beautiful to look on, As they seem to us this morning, When you come so far to see us!" And the Black-Robe chief made answer, Stammered in his speech a little, 95 Speaking words yet unfamiliar: "Peace be with you, Hiawatha, Peace be with you and your people, Peace of prayer, and peace of pardon, Peace of Christ, and joy of Mary!" 100 Then the generous Hiawatha Led the strangers to his wigwam, Seated them on skins of bison, Seated them on skins of ermine, And the careful old Nokomis 105 Brought them food in bowls of bass-wood, Water brought in birchen dippers, And the calumet, the peace-pipe, Filled and lighted for their smoking. [Illustration: NAVAJO MATRON WEAVING A BLANKET. "_Bring a wife with nimble fingers,_ _Heart and hand that move together._"] [Illustration: Then the joyous Hiawatha Cried aloud and spoke on this wise: * * You shall enter all our wigwams For the heart's right hand we give you"]