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128 "Wed a maiden of your people,"

Warning said the old Nokomis;

"Go not eastward, go not westward,

For a stranger, whom we know not!

Like a fire upon the hearth-stone

Is a neighbor's homely daughter,

Like the starlight or the moonlight

Is the handsomest of strangers!"

Thus dissuading spake Nokomis,

And my Hiawatha answered

Only this: "Dear old Nokomis,

Very pleasant is the firelight,

But I like the starlight better,

Better do I like the moonlight!"

Gravely then said old Nokomis:

"Bring not here an idle maiden,

Bring not here a useless woman,

Hands unskilful, feet unwilling;

Bring a wife with nimble fingers,

Heart and hand that move together,