The Laughing Water. - Indian Legends.

The Indian name for the Falls of St. Anthony signifies "Laughing Water," and here tradition says that a young woman of the Dahcotah tribe, the father of her children having taken another wife, unmoored her canoe above the fall, and placing herself and children in it, sang her death-song as she went over the foaming declivity.     The sun went down the west     As a warrior to his grave,     And touched with crimson hue     The "Laughing Water's" wave;     And where the current swept     A quick, convulsive flood,     Serene upon the brink     An Indian mother stood.     With calm and serious gaze     She watched the torrent blue     And then with skilful hand     Unmoored the birch canoe,     Seized the light oar, and placed     Her infants by her side,     And steered the fragile bark     On through the rushing tide.     Then fitfully and wild     In thrilling notes of woe     Swept down the rapid stream     The death-song sad and low;     And gathered on the marge,     From many a forest glen,     With frantic gestures rude,     The red Dahcotah men.     But onward sped the bark     Until it reached the height,     Where mounts the angry spray     And raves the water's might     And whirling eddies swept     Into the gulf below     The smiles of infancy     And youth's maturer glow;     The priestess of the rock     And white-robed surges bore     The wronged and broken heart     To the far off Spirit Shore.     And often when the night     Has drawn her shadowy veil,     And solemn stars look forth     Serenely pure and pale,     A spectre bark and form     May still be seen to glide,     In wondrous silence down     The Laughing Water's tide.     And mingling with the breath     Of low winds sweeping free,     The night-bird's fitful plaint,     And moaning forest tree,     Amid the lulling chime     Of waters falling there,     The death-song floats again     Upon the laden air.