In the Land of Dakota Part 1

In the Land of Dakota.

by Huldah Lucile Winstead.

IN THE LAND OF DAKOTA

In the East ye struggle for glory And power, and wealth, and fame, And time ye expend, and much labor, To trace down your ancestors' name; But here in the land of Dakota Where the winds sweep over the plains, Is winnowed away much useless "chaff,"

And only true worth remains.

In the East ye crush out the life-blood Of innocent children, grown old By premature toiling and labor To fill up your coffers with gold; But here in the Land of Dakota Our children are happy and free, And over the plains of its limitless mains Re-echo their laughter and glee.

In the East ye build up great mansions And sky-sc.r.a.pers gaunt and high, That shut out the glory and grandeur Of the infinite tender sky; But here in the Land of Dakota Our eyes look up on high And our souls learn wonderful lessons From the white clouds sailing by.

THE SEASONS IN NORTH DAKOTA

Spring--and the wild March wind The snow-covered prairies sweep; From North Dakota's frozen clod The fur-clad Pasque Flowers peep.

Summer--and gentle showers, And soft the zephyrs blow; O'er North Dakota's rolling plains The modest Roses grow.

Autumn--and burnished skies, And parching, sun-scorched sod; And by the wayside still there blooms The stately Goldenrod.

Winter--the flowers are dead And fierce the cold winds blow; Yet 'spite of North Dakota's snow The flowers of Hope still grow.

THE DELUGE (A Berthold Indian Legend)

Long ago, yes, oh, so long since,-- When the world was young and fair, All the animals were friendly; E'en the bison and the bear Aided man with all their cunning, Helped him with their counsels grave, Helped him as the G.o.ds alone can-- Made him wise and strong and brave.

And the flowers on the prairies Blossomed ever, shy and sweet, For the land of the Dakotas Knew not frost, nor killing heat.

But there lived a dread G.o.d, North Wind, Cruel was he, with heart of stone, Feared of all and loved by no one, Living to himself alone In the land of snow and blizzard, In the land of deadening cold, Plotting ever some new mischief, Some new ravage, cruel and bold.

And one day this mighty North Wind Left his throne of ice and snow, In the cold, far distant northland Where the wriggling ice-worms glow; Southward came he, and the flowers Bent their lovely heads in death, For from out his icy nostrils Came an all-destroying breath.-- At the mighty, stately forests Angrily his teeth he gnashed, With one mighty blow he felled them And with chains the rivers lashed; Ceased their laughter and their murmur, Ceased their sweet life-giving flow.-- All the birds and beasts in terror Fled, and knew not where to go; Food they found not, and no shelter, Dying were the mortals all, And a slow relentless snow shroud Draped the earth as with a pall.-- Death supreme reigned; loud the North Wind Roared defiance to the G.o.ds!-- Birds and beasts and man in terror Fled, and, dying, called the G.o.ds To avenge their death and suffering, To unite them one and all In the holy cause of vengeance, To secure the North Wind's fall.-- And the South Wind, fairest maiden Of the G.o.ds, took up their cause; Girded now herself for battle, And after a moment's pause Called unto her loyal brothers, The strong East Wind, and the West, "Help revenge the suffering mortals"-- And they granted her request.

Strong the fight raged in Dakota 'Twixt the North Wind and his foes, Now one side yields, now the other, Fierce and loud the tempest blows;-- Savagely the monster charges Grappling with his unseen foes While a wild, chaotic blizzard, Such as ne'er was seen, arose, Hiding all within its fury, Made the daylight dark as night, For the very G.o.ds were grappling In a last terrific fight.--

Ages long the battle lasted-- Then the maiden fair and lovely, Smiled benignant on her foe, And his very heart was melting (For 'twas made of ice and snow); Loosed the rivers from their bondage, Vanished now the shroud of snow, And o'er North Dakota's prairies Flowers fair began to grow; With the advent of the flowers Came the birds and beasts and man, Built again their homes and wigwams-- And no more they anxious scan The horizon for the North Wind, Knowing that he's met his fate; But the South Wind, fair and lovely Rules now o'er Dakota's state.

Southward now each year the North Wind Wends his way to see her face, To the land of the Dakotas Where the battle once took place; Smiling sweet, the maiden greets him, Warms again his chilly heart; Satisfied, he briefly lingers-- With him, winter's cold, depart.

NORTH DAKOTA SUNSETS

Such beautiful tints in the western skies!

Purples and gold and the deepest rose, Crimson and scarlet the heavens suffuse Where the sun of the prairies sinks to repose;-- s.p.a.ces where lingering daylight plays With the skirts of night in her sombre gown, s.p.a.ces where gathering mists hang low Ere the shadows of night come drooping down.-- Such, North Dakota, thy sunsets are-- Spreading their glory near and far, Flooding the soul with a holier peace That lingers long after the daylight shall cease!

NORTH DAKOTA--PAST AND PRESENT (The Pa.s.sing of the Red Man)

Low-lying hills, "bad lands" and rolling plain, Stretching afar like billows on the main, With winding rivers seeking distant homes, And leagues of virgin prairie Where stately bison roams.

The brave Mandan, the Sheyenne and the Sioux, The Chippewa and the Grosventre too, Along the rivers and the plains did dwell; The land they called Dakota, And methink they named it well.

And here they lived for centuries untold, Watching the secrets of the plains unfold; Their homes they built and smoked the pipe of peace, And vowed by the Great Spirit Their friendship would not cease.

Gone are the braves. The papooses and the squaw No longer wait for winter snows to thaw; The tepee's gone, the peace pipe and the dance, Gone, gone, alas! forever, The Red Man's fighting chance.

For pale face came, and from Dakota's plain The Red Man drove, and claimed his vast domain; No power on earth could stay the Viking's son, For "iron men" are born In the land of midnight sun.

Onward they came, these Northmen, feared of old, Bold pioneers, to wrest the hidden gold From North Dakota's hills and virgin sod; The ploughshare won the land For these "master men" of G.o.d.

Their children now look out on well-tilled fields, And garner wealth, that many a rich mine yields; The argosies of earth their treasures bear-- For empty rank and t.i.tle and sham, They little care.

O boys and girls of North Dakota's Land, Guard, love her well! Pledge her your heart and hand!

Where else on earth are seen such sunset fires-- What other race can boast More fearless dames and sires!

A PRAIRIE SUNRISE

Gray and silent is the morning-- Shadows like some airy lawn Veil the prairies from our vision; Night is breaking into dawn.

Look! Along the eastern heavens Yonder cloud a beacon glows, Touching all with mellow brightness; Gray is turning into rose.

Sombre shadows swiftly vanish-- Gorgeous are the fiery dyes That adorn the far horizons, Flooding earth, and air and skies.