CORN SONG.

Cereal chorus.Wagemin! wagemin!
Thief in the blade,
Blight of the cornfield
Paimosaid.
Recitative.See you not traces, while pulling the leaf,
See you not traces, while pulling the leaf,
Plainly depicting the TAKER and thief?
See you not signs by the ring and the spot,
How the man crouched as he crept in the lot?
Is it not plain by this mark on the stalk,
That he was heavily bent in his walk?
Old man be nimble! the old should be good,
But thou art a cowardly thief of the wood.
Cereal Chorus.Wagemin! wagemin!
Thief in the blade,
Blight of the cornfield
Paimosaid.
Recitative.Where, little taker of things not your own—
Where is your rattle, your drum, and your bone?
Surely a Walker so nimble of speed,
Surely he must be a Meta[13] indeed.
See how he stoops, as he breaks off the ear,
Nushka![14]he seems for a moment in fear;
Walker, be nimble—oh! walker be brief,
Hooh![15]If it is plain the old man is the thief.
Cereal Chorus.Wagemin! wagemin!
Thief in the blade,
Blight of the cornfield
Paimosaid.
Recitative.Wabuma![16] corn-taker, why do you lag?
None but the stars see you—fill up your bag!
Why do you linger to gaze as you pull,
Tell me, my little man, is it most full?
A-tia![17] see, a red spot on the leaf,
Surely a warrior cannot be a thief!
Ah, little night-thief, be deer your pursuit,
And leave here no print of your dastardly foot.

[13] A Juggler.

[14] A sharp exclamation quickly to behold something striking.

[15] A derogatory exclamation.

[16] Behold thou.

[17] A masculine exclamation, to express surprise.