ACT II.

HIAWATHA’S CHILDHOOD.

_Scenery_:

_A short scene or acting tableaux, can be given here, the scenery to follow the description in the poem, HIAWATHA, a baby, in an Indian cradle swung between the trees which is being rocked by old NOKOMIS (his grandmother) while she is singing the Lullaby song, Little Owlet._ (_See following description._)

By the shining Big-Sea-Water, Stood the wigwam of Nokomis. Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis. Dark behind it rose the forest, Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees, Rose the firs with cones upon them; Bright before it beat the water, Beat the clear and sunny water, Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water. There the wrinkled, old Nokomis Nursed the little Hiawatha, Rocked him in his linden cradle, Bedded soft in moss and rushes, Safely bound with reindeer sinews; Stilled his fretful wail by saying,

_Nokomis_:

Hush! the Naked Bear will hear thee!

Lulled him into slumber singing,

_Nokomis Song_:

Ewa-yea! my little owlet! Who is this, that lights the wigwam? With his great eyes lights the wigwam? Ewa-yea! my little owlet! Wah-wah-taysee, little fire-fly, Little, flitting, white-fire insect, Little, dancing, white-fire creature, Light us with your little candle, Ere upon your bed I lay you Ere in sleep you close your eyelids!