Helped him as the gods 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 god, 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,

[Pg 12]

In the cold, far distant northland

Where the wriggling ice-worms glow;

Southward came he, and the flowers

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