Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

Page 26 text:

What is that beyond the sunlight? What is in the far-off heaven? Will our children live forever? And the prophet gazed in wonder — Gazed into the brilliant west-land, And his voice was low and wondrous. 0 my children! my poor children! Listen to my words, who loves you. I will tell you what I see there. Rises high the Mishka (midday). To the east the lake lies dreaming, And the western forest darkly Waits to greet the sun at evening. Then the women and the children Smiled and clapped their hands, and whispered: ' ' ' Tis our land of Natchi-toches, Tis the Mishka thill of midday) ; There it lies in the hereafter! But the prophet ' s words continued: There I see a mighty dwelling. High it reached up to heaven, And the sun waits there at noontime — Right above the mighty wigwam. Built it is of stones and marbles. Wondrous is the mighty dwelling Of the land that is Hereafter. All about it lie the meadows, Wandering in among the pathways Like the broad, white road in heaven Made of stones brought from the quarries. And there live a glorious nation, Happy, learning, ever learning, Of the things the Spirit teaches, Secrets of the Mighty Master. Then the warriors and the old men Gazed into the west in wonder; And the women and the children Shouted: ' Tis our Natchi-toches! ' Tis the land of our Hereafter! But the ancient prophet answered: 0 my children! my poor children! ' Tis a nation strange and wondrous. Pale the people are as lilies — As the lilies of the prairie! 20

Page 25 text:

N the sweet Magnolia country, In the land of Natchitoches, High above the plains and woodland Rose the Mishka (hill of midday). On the east the lake lay dreaming — Mirror of the light of morning; Darkly to the west the forest Waited for the sun at evening. To the south the river wandered Till it joined the bright Red waters Rushing with a mighty music To the wondrous Mississippi. On the north the rolling prairies Waited for the smile of morning; For the sun came from the lakeland, Stood above the hill at noontime, Stayed to kiss the rustling pine trees With the sweetness of its sunshine. And the people gazed in wonder — Called it Mishka (hill of midday) ; Built the wigwam of their seer Where the morn and evening blended. There, the wigwam of the prophet — He who saw beyond the sunset, He who read the fate of nations — Stood upon the hill of midday. And the prophet called his children, Called his people all together, Smoked the peace-pipe in his wigwam While he gazed beyond the forest — Gazed into that vast forever — Gazed into the land of sunset. And the people said: Jossakwed, 19

Page 27 text:

' Tis a strange and wondrous people, And I see no painted warriors — See no women and no children With the hue of Ish-the-Rainbow, With the color of the autumn. ' Tis the land of Spring, my children! Listen to my words, who loves you: When the Red Man ' s Spirit calls you To the Hunting Grounds forever, There will be this other nation In the land of Natchi-toches, On the Mishka— Hill of Midday! ' Then the people gazed and wondered- Saw the strange pale nations living In their land of Natchi-toches — In the sweet Magnolia country — Happy, learning, ever learning, Of the things the Spirit teaches, Secrets of the Mighty Master — Saw the glory of Hereafter! 21