3. LIVED THIS PEOPLE WITHOUT SYSTEM.

They dwelt beside the river's flow,

Hunting, toiling through the seasons,

Midst summer heat and winter snow,

Living in the gloomy forest.

Gathered here from many quarters,

Lived this people without system,

On produce scanty of their village,

Small potatoes near the cabins,

Scanty corn between the boulders,

Here and there a stalk of barley,

Beans and squash and hardy melons,

Eked out was it by their hunting,

When they shot or trapped the squirrel,

Or the partridge or the woodchuck,

Woodchuck plump and fat and savory,

Or the fearless woodland pussy,

Walking calmly in the night time,

Fearing not the hunters’ arrows,

Or the hound that followed slowly,

Fearful of the mystic perfume,

Or the fox so sly and cunning,

Or the coon from tree top watching,

While the dogs were bravely hunting,

Running‘ round and‘ round in circles,

Or the rabbit and the chipmunk,

Or by fishing in the river,

Catching trout and eels and suckers,

Where the darkling waters murmured;

Or with fingers deft and nimble,

Out of splints of bending hickory,

Or the heavy strips of white ash,

Wove in fabric strong and useful,

Many ornamental baskets,

Many useful brooms for sweeping,

Which they sold for cash or barter.

On the hill side daily toiling,

Found they roots and herbs for healing,

Ferns to cure the poison ivy,

Soft witch hazel steeped for bruises.

Many medicines they fashioned

For the people of the township,

Selling each for cash or barter.