The Gathering Room

Can you guess how old this costume is?

I was going through my Fall decorations and came across this bag of old childhood things I had saved. This brings special memories to me as it was made by my sister, Helen,for me to wear in a school program over 53 years ago! ( Where has the time gone? )Helen was in Home Economics class and this would be her project to make. she said she had to look up the symbols to embroider on and what they stood for. ( the rising sun, arrows etc..) It was made from cotton and she even made the fringe from cutting cotton. what a nice thing for a sister to do!
My program was a Thanksgiving one and I dressed as an Indian maiden and nervously recited the following (memorized) poem.

The Song of Hiawatha a poem

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

By the shore of Gitchie Gumee,

By the shining Big-Sea-Water,

At the doorway of his wigwam,

In the pleasant Summer morning,

Hiawatha stood and waited.

All the air was full of freshness,

All the earth was bright and joyous,

And before him through the sunshine,

Westward toward the neighboring forest

Passed in golden swarms the Ahmo,

Passed the bees, the honey-makers,

Burning, singing in the sunshine.

Bright above him shown the heavens,

Level spread the lake before him;

From its bosom leaped the sturgeon,

Aparkling, flashing in the sunshine;

On its margin the great forest

Stood reflected in the water,

Every tree-top had its shadow,

Motionless beneath the water.

From the brow of Hiawatha

Gone was every trace of sorrow,

As the fog from off the water,

And the mist from off the meadow.

With a smile of joy and triumph,

With a look of exultation,

As of one who in a vision

Sees what is to be, but is not,

Stood and waited Hiawatha.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow