In the Land of Dakota A Little Book of Dakota Verse   By: Huldah Lucile Winstead

A Little Book of North Dakota Verse

BY HULDAH LUCILE WINSTED

BOSTON RICHARD G. BADGER THE GORHAM PRESS

COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY HULDAH L. WINSTED All Rights Reserved

Made in the United States of America The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A.

TO MY FRIEND MRS. WILLIAM A. ANDERSON

CONTENTS

PAGE

IN THE LAND OF DAKOTA 9 In the East ye struggle for glory

THE SEASONS IN NORTH DAKOTA 10 Spring and the wild March wind

THE DELUGE A BERTHOLD INDIAN LEGEND 11 Long ago, yes, oh, so long since

NORTH DAKOTA SUNSETS 15 Such beautiful tints in the western skies

NORTH DAKOTA PAST AND PRESENT 16 Low lying hills, "bad lands" and rolling plain

A PRAIRIE SUNRISE 18 Grey and silent is the morning

DAKOTA LAND, DAKOTA LAND 19 Dakota land, Dakota land

NORTH DAKOTA'S MISSION 21 Pioneers of North Dakota

WE WHO HAVE LIVED IN DAKOTA 23 We who have lived in Dakota

MISCELLANEOUS VERSES

GUIDING VOICES 27 Echoes of beloved voices

A PRAYER 28 Make me gentle, Lord, and kind

TO A FRIEND 29 My love for thee, lips cannot tell

A DREAM 30 It was midnight

THE LIGHT 33 The way is long, the night is drear

SISTER DEAR, I LOVE YOU SO 34 Sister dear, I love you so

NIGHT WATCHES 35 In the still watches of night

MEN ARE THREE 36 There are all kinds of people we meet

SMILES AND TEARS 38 Swift run the hours on to days

COLUMBIA TO SHAKESPEARE: AN APPRECIATION 39 We are gathered here

THE ANSWER 41 Writ in the skies above me

THE IMMIGRANT TO THE STARS AND STRIPES 41 O Flag, on all the earth the best

THE PEACE OF THE WOODS 43 Oh, oft when I come to the city

KEEP THE PATH CLEAR 45 Oh, do not trifle with friendship

IN THE LAND OF DAKOTA

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 scrapers 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.