(1868) The Indian Fairy Book: From the Original Legends

c

^

5Z'^'^

CONTENTS. PA8I

\

^^

'

L n.

m. IV.

—

•

^1^-

V.

16

Strong Desire and the Red Sorcerer

22

—^The "Wonderful Exploits ^The

Two

X XL *^«XIL

op Grasshopper

Jeebi

the Son of the Evening Star his Five Brothers.

Toad-Woman.

X7.

74 83

90

The Origin of the Robin

98

^White Feather and the Six Giants

102

Sheem, the Forsaken Boy.

115

The Magio Bundle

135

Xni.—The Red Swan

V Xrv.

34 68

Gray Eagle and

VnL—The r IX.

7

The Bot who Set a Snaee fob the Sux.

VL—OSSEO,

*>VIL "**fc

^Thb Celestial Sisters

The Man with

138 his

^The Little Spirit

Leg Tied Up oe Boy-Man

XVL'-Ths Enchanted Mocoasins

170 179

190

CONTENTS.

Yl

man XVII. XYTTT.

He

207

of the Little Shell

Manabozho, the Mischibf-Makeu

(xiX.4-LEELmATT, THE LOST DAUGHTER

y

XX. XXI.

The Winter

XXIIL—The

252 261

^^

and the Bone-Dwarf

288

299

Bird Lover.

^Bokwewa the Httmpback

315

Crane that Crossed the River

324

^WuNZH, the Father of Indian Corn

330

r XXV.—The XXVI.

xam his Visitor

The Fiee-Plume

XXIL—'Weendigoes

XXIV.

Spirit

215

4

»

ILLUSTEATIONS. Frontispiece.—The Celestlo, Sisters

11

The Bear Servants

^^

The Man with

his

Leg tied

itp

The Morning Star and Her Brother.

l'^^

2U

THE CELESTIAL SISTERS.

WAUPEE, mote abounded.

with a large ful

or the

part

of

White Hawk, the

lived in a re-

where

forest,

spoil, for

he was one of the most

and lucky hunters of

like the cedar;

the

fire

and no track made by bird

skill-

His form was

his tribe.

of youth

beamed from

eye; there was no forest too gloomy for trate,

animals

Every day he returned from the chase

him

his

to pene-

or beast of

any

kind which he could not readily follow.

One day he had gone beyond any had ever before

visited.

He

point which he

traveled through an

open wood, which enabled him to see a great tance.

At length he beheld a

the foliage of the distant trees, which that he

dis-

light breaking through

was on the borders of a

made him

prairie.

It

sure

was a

wide plain, covered with long blue grass, and enameled with flowers of a thousand lovely tints.

After walking for some time without a path, musing upon the open country, and enjoying the fra-

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

8

grant breeze, he suddenly came to a ring worn

among tlie grass and the flowers, as if it had been made by footsteps moving lightly round and round. But it was strange so strange as to cause the White Hawk to pause and gaze long and fixedly

—

upon the ground

—there

Avas

no path which led to

There was not even a crushed

this flowery circle.

leaf nor a broken twig, nor the least trace of a footstep,

approaching

or retiring, to

discover,

if

he

could,

what

He

be found.

thought he would hide himself and

lie

in wait to

strange

this

circle

meant. Presently he heard the faint sounds of music in the air.

He

looked up in the direction they came from,

and as the magic notes died away he saw a small object, like a little

summer cloud

the earth, floating

down from

was very small, and seemed blown away by the it

first

ear.

and

At

first

it

it

could have been

breeze that

came along; but

rapidly grew as he gazed

every

that approaches

above.

as if

upon

it,

and the music

moment came clearer and more sweetly to his As it neared the earth it appeared as a basket, it

was

filled

lovely forms

As soon

with twelve

sisters,

of the most

and enchanting beauty.

as the basket touched the ground they

leaped out, and began straightway to dance, in the

most joyous manner, around the magic as they did so, a shining ball,

ring, striking,

which uttered the

THE CELESTIAL SISTEBS. most

9

melodies, and kept time as

ravisliing

they

danced,

White Hawk, from

Tlie

tranced, gazed

ments.

He

upon

admired them

ble to

embrace her, to

remain longer a

and endeavored to

ness of

bii'ds,

longed to he at her

her his own; and una-

call

silent admirer,

he rushed out

seize this twelfth

beauty who so

But

enchanted him.

the

sisters,

moment they

the

en-

and move-

but he was most

all,

He

pleased with the youngest. side, to

concealment,

his

their graceful forms

with the quick-

descried the form

of a man, leaped back into the basket, and were

drawn up into the

Lamenting upon the

sky.

^7^

his ill-luck,

Waupee gazed

fairy basket as it ascended

lovely sisters from his view. said,

He

'^

They

longingly

and bore the are gone,"

he

" and I shall see them no more." retm-ned to his soHtary lodge, but he found no

rehef to his mind. at the sky,

He

walked abroad, but to look

which had withdrawn from

his sight the

only being he had ever loved, was painful to him

now.

The next

day, selecting the

Hawk went back

same hour, the White

to the prairie,

and took

his station

near the ring; in order to deceive the

sisters,

assumed the form of an opossum, and

sat

the grass as the cud.

if

he

among

he were there engaged in chewing

He had

not waited long

when he saw the

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

10

cloudy basket descend, and heard

He

music falling as before.

tlie

same sweet

crept slowly toward

tbe ring; but the instant the sisters caught sight of

him they were

startled,

It rose a short distance

and sprang

when one

into

their car.

of the elder sisters

Bpolre:

" Perhaps," she the

"

game

Oh

said,

" it

come

is

show us how

to

played by mortals."

is

no," the youngest replied; " quick, let ua

ascend."

And

all

joining in a chant, they rose out of

Waupee,

casting off his disguise, walked sorrow-

sight.

fully

back to his lodge

very long to lonely

was

filled

—

^but ah,

the night seemed

White Hawk!

His whole soul

with the thCQght of the beautiful

sister.

Betimes, the next day, he returned to the haunted spot,

hoping and fearing, and sighing as though

his very soul

He

would leave

his

upon the plan he should

reflected

cure success.

He had

much

follow to se-

Near by he found an

number

of mice,

who

stopped there on a pilgrimage to some relatives

on the other

was

anguish.

covered with moss, and just then

in use as the residence of a

had

its

already failed twice; to fail a

third time would be fatal.

old stump,

body in

side of the prairie.

The White Hawk

so pleased with their tidy little forms that

thought he,

too,

would be a mouse,

he

especially as they

THE CELESTIAL SISTERS. Bpraiig forward.

some a tails or off;

tail,

Some

15

chose a foot, some a wing,

and some a claw.

Those who selectea

claws were changed into animals, and ran

the others assumed the form of birds, and flew

away.

Waupee

chose a white hawk's feather.

wife and son followed his example,

came a white hawk.

He

His

and each one be-

spread his wings, and,

fol-

lowed by his wife and son, descended with the other birds to the earth, where he

is still

to be found, with

the brightness of the starry plains in his eye, an^ the freedom of the heavenly breezes in his wings.

11.

THE BOY WHO SET A SNAEE FOR THE SUH.

AT

time wlien

tlie

eartli,

and her fear, in

tlie

they liad killed

little

brother,

place.

;

but the

girl increased

wholly upon her.

little

that no mishap might befall

him

leave alone.

disposition,

"My

A

;

little

for

he was too

big bird, of a mischievous

arrows,

and said

She

him one

to

you behind

where I have been gathering the wood

;

you must

will soon see the snow-birds

come and pick the worms out of the have piled up.

for

brother with her

brother, I will leave

hide yourself, and you

a

shelter fell

might have flown away with him.

made him a bow and day,

size of

She went out daily to get wood

the lodge-fire, and she took her

little to

per-

with her years,

and

so that the task of providing food

girl

living in

The boy was a

pigmy, and never grew beyond the

mere infant

tlie

people but a

and these two were

an out-of-the-way

fect little

animals reigned in all tlie

logs

Shoot one of them and bring

which I

it

home."

— THE BOY WHO SET A SNARE. 1 e

obeyed her, and tried his best to

ho earce home unsuccessful. that

h>d

must not

His

kill

17 one, but

sister told

him

but try again the next

desj)air,

day.

She accordingly

left

him

at the gathering-place of

vhe wood, and returned to the lodge. fall

she iicard his

little

Toward night-

footsteps crackling thi'ough

the snow, »jad he hunied in and threw down, with an air of triuLuph,

"

My

one of the birds which he had killed.

sister," said he,

stretch the akin,

"I wish you

and when

I

to skin

it,

and

have killed more, I will

have a coat made out of them." " But what fthall we do with the body ?" said she for

;

they had always up to that time lived upon

greens and berries.

" Cut

it

he answered, " and season our

in two,"

pottage with one half of It

was their

first

it

at a time."

dish of game, and they relished

it

greatly.

The boy kept on

in his efforts,

of time he killed ten birds his sister

made him a

and

—out of the

little

coat

:

in the course

skins of

which

being very small, he

had a very pretty coat, and a bird skin to spare, " Sister," said he, one day, as he paraded up and

down

before the lodge, enjoying his

new

coat,

and

fancifying himself the greatest little fellow in the

world

"

My

—as he was, for there was no other beside him sister,

are

we

really alone in the world, or are

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

18

we playing And,

tell

at

for

a

little

boy and

unKke a harmless

they were,

who

that

there were

;

girl

many

and boy, such

as

lived in a certain other quarter of the

who had

killed off all of their kinsfolk

he would

if

girl like yoii i

folks very

life,

living ?

?"

She told him, by no means

earth,

else

great broad earth and thia

all this

huge big sky made

and me

nobody

Is there

it ?

me, was

;

and

blameless and not endanger his

live

he must never go where they were.

served to inflame the boy's curiosity

This only

and he soon

;

bow and arrows and went

in that

after took

his

direction.

After walking a long time and meeting

no one, he became

tired,

and stretched himself upon

a high green knoll where the day's warmth had

melted

off the snow.

It was a charming place to

asleep

it

and shrunk and tightened

boy's body, as to

When

he

felt

chief its fiery

proud

of,

how

wake him

it

it

upon the

up.

the sun had seared and the mis-

beams had played with the coat he was

he flew into a great passion, and berated

the sun in a terrible

way

for a Kttle

than a man's knee, and he vowed against

fell

not only singed his bird-skin coat, but

so shrivelled

BO

upon, and he

and, while sleeping, the sun beat so hot upon

;

him that little

lie

boy no higher fearful things

it.

" Do not think you are too high," said he

;

"1

Bliall

THE BOY WHO SET A SNARE.

19

have

joii for

revenge myself.

Oli,

sun

!

I will

a j)laytliing yet."

On coming home tune to his

sister,

new

of his

coat.

a single berry. did he

and bitterly bewailed the spoiling

—not

He would not eat He lay down as one

move nor change though

full days,

to

he gave an account of his misfor-

At

rise.

that fasts

manner of lying

his

his sister strove to prevail

on him

full ten

days on the other

side.

He

bade his

sister

make a

snare, for,

informed her, that he meant to catch the sun.

had nothing

;

She

left,

which she soon made into a string suitable

The moment

quite wroth,

she showed

it

and told her that would not

—nothing at

the bird-sldn that was

made; and the

little

this she

At

all.

left

over

wrought into a

do,

thought of

the coat was

string.

With

boy was more vexed than before.

sun has had enough of something to herself, "

else."

and

She said she

last she

when

and

for a

him he was

to

directed her to find something else.

had nothing

he

but after awhile she brought

forward a deer's sinew which the father had

noose.

nor

;

for ten

he got up he was very pale, but very reso-

lute too.

said she

as

the end of ten days he turned over, and

then he lay

When

much

so

my bird-skins," he

said

;

this

" The " find

She went out of the lodge saying

Was there ever so

obstinate a boy ?"

She

did not dare to answer this time that she had nothing.

Luckily she thought of her own beautiful hair,

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

20

and pulling some of quickly braided

handed upon

it

from among

to herJbrotlaer..^

his eye fell

" This

and he immediately began

;

;

and

as he

said again, "

He

The moment

this jet black braid,Jia-wa^~c[enghied.

back and forth through

could

lier loots, slie

into a cord, and, returning, slie

it

will dOj'^he said it

it

drew

it

his

he tried

forth,

this will

do

to

run

hands as swiftly as he

;"

its

strength.

and winding

it

in

a

glossy coil about his shoulders, he set out a little after

His object was to catch the sun

midnight.

He

before he rose.

just where the sun

above the earth sun, so that

it

fixed his snare firmly on a spot

must

strike the land as it rose

and sure enough, he caught the

;

was held

fast in the cord

and did not

rise.

The animals who

ruled the earth were immediately

put into great commotion. they ran to and

fro, calling

They had no

;

and

out to each other, and in-

quiring what had happened. council to debate

light

They summoned a

upon the matter, and an old dor-

mouse, suspecting where the trouble

lay,

proposed

that some one should be appointed to go and cut

the cord.

This was a bold thing to undertake, as

the rays of the sun could not

fail to

burn whoever

should venture so near to them.

At it,

last the venerable

for the very

dormouse himself undertook

good reason that no one

else

would.

At this time the dormouse was the largest animal

in

;

THE BOY WHO SET A SNARE.

When

the world.

moimtain.

made

It

and as

lay ensnared,

lie

stood

up

lie

21

looked like a

haste to the place where the sun it

came nearer and

nearer, its

back began to smoke and burn with the heat, and the whole top of his huge bulk was turned in a very short time

enormous heaps of ashes.

to

ceeded, however, in cutting the cord with

and

freeing the sun,

and beautiful the dormouse

which

rolled

why it

teeth

again, as round

But

as ever, into the wide blue sky.

— or

blind

woman

shrunk away to a very small reason

up

suc-

It its

is

now one

as

size

;

it is

called

and that

—was is

of the tiniest creatures

the

upon

the earth.

The

little

boy returned home when he discovered

that the sun had escaped his snare,

himself entirely to hunting.

my

and devoted " If the beautiful hair

would not hold the sun fast, nothing " He was not born, a in the world could," he said. of

little

sister

fellow like himself, to look after the sun.

It

required one greater and wiser than he was to regu-

And he went

late that."

sno"w-birds

;.

out and shot ten more

for in this business

he was very expert

and he had a new bird-skin coat made, which waa prettier

than the one he had worn before.

III.

STRONG DESIRE, AND THE RED SORCERER

THEEE

was a

man

Odsliedoph,

called

or

tlie

Child of Strong Desires, wlio had a wife and

He had withdrawn

one son. village,

from the

his family

where they had spent the winter, to the

neighborhood abounded.

of

a

distant

forest,

game

where

This wood was a day's travel from his

winter home, and under

its

fixed the lodge, while the

ample shadow the wife

husband went out

to hunt.

Early in the evening he retm-ned with a deer, and, being weary and athirst, he asked his son,

whom

called Strong Desire, to go to the river for

water.

;

afraid.

The

son replied that

His father

still

it

he

some

was dark, and he was

urged him, saying that his

and the

mother, as well as himself, was

tired,

tance to the water very short.

But no persuasion

could overcome the young man's reluctance.

dis-

He

refused to go.

" Ah,

my

son/' said the father, at last,

"

if

you

,

THE BED SORCERER. are afraid to go to the river,

you

23

will never kill the

Ked Head." The stripling was deeply vexed by this observaHe tion; it seemed to touch him to the very quick. mused in silence. He refused to eat, and made no reply

when spoken

He

to.

sat

by the lodge door

the night through, looking up at the stars, and

all

sighing like one sorely distressed.

The next day he asked his mother to^ dress- the skin of the deer, and to make it into moccasins for" him, while he busied himself in preparing a bow and

arrows.

As

v^,

<

T;

soon as these were in readiness, he

left

the

lodge one^aomiag,^ at sunrise, without saying a word

As he passed

to his father or mother.

one of his arrows into the

He

air,

which

along, he fired fell

westward.

took that course, and coming to the spot where

the arrow had fallen, he was rejoiced to find

ing the heart of a deer.

He

it

pierc-

refreshed himself with

a meal of the venison, and the next morning he fifed

Following

another arrow.

its

traveling all day he found that he

another deer.

In

this

manner he

course,

after

had transfixed

fired four arrows,

and every evening he discovered that he had

killed

a deer.

By

a strange oversight, he left the arrows sticking

in the carcasses,

them

Having

and passed on without withdrawing in this

way no arrow

for the fifth

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

24

day, he was in great distress at niglit for the wan^

of food^r; ^j6J>'

^^

At

'y ^

last lie

threw himself

spair, concluding that

\^s go further.

ujtMA^ &^^fM ovH (Ltn4

QjcMA.^

(J/

\\

the earth in de-

he might as well perish ther<

But he had not

^neard a hollow rumbling I

iip.on

lain long before h«

noise, in the

ground beneath

him, like that of an earthquake moving slowly along.

He

sprang up, and discovered at a distance the

figure of a

human

being, walking with a stick.i-He

looked attentively, and saw that the figure was walk^ ing in a wide beaten path in a prairie, leading from

a dusky lodge to a lake, whose waters were black and turbid.

To

which had not been in

his surprise, this lodge,

view when he cast himself upon the ground, was

now near

at hand.

He

approached a

and concealed himself; and

in a

little

moment he

nearer,

discov-

ered that the figure was no other than that of the terrible witch, the little old

Her path and the by the

woman who makes

was perfectly smooth and

noise Strong Desire

toes

war.

solid,

had heard was caused

striking of her walking staff

The top tlie

to the lake

upon the ground.

of this staff was decorated with a string of

and

bills

of birds of every kind, who, at

every stroke of the stick, fluttered and sung their various notes in concert.

She entered her lodge and

\

laid off her mantle,

which was entirely composed of the scalps of women.

THE BED SORCERER. Before folding

it,

she shook

it

25

several times,

and at

every shake the scalps uttered loud shouts of laughin

ter,

The

which the old hag joined.

boy,

who

was greatly alarmed, but he

lingered at the door,

uttered no cry.

After laying by the cloak, she came directly to

Looking at him

him.

that she had

steadily, she

known him from

his father's lodge,

the time he had left

and had watched

She told him not to fear or despair, his protector

lodge,

and

He

him

his

movements.

for she

would be

She invited him into her

friend.

and gave him a supper.

she questioned

informed him

During the repast,

as to his motives for visiting her.

related his history, stated the

he had been disgraced, and the

manner

difficulties

in

which

he labored

under.

"

Now

tell

me

truly," said the little old

woman

who makes war, " you were afraid to go to the water in the dark."

\

" I was," Strong Desire answered, promptly.

As he birds set »

rej^lied,

the hag waved her

up a clamorous

cry,

staff.

The

and the mantle shook

iolently as all the scalps burst into a hideous shout

of laughter.

" And

are you afraid now," she asked again. " I am," again answered Strong Desire, without

hesitation.

" But you are not afraid 2

to speak the truth," re*

THE INDIAN FAIBT BOOK.

26

joined the

man

little

old

woman.

You

"

will be a brave

yet."

She cheered him with the assurance of her friendship,

him.

and began at once

to exercise her

His hair being very

leaden comb, and after drawing several times, they

power upon

short, she took a great

through his locks

it

became of a handsome length

woman.

those of a beautiful young

like

She then pro-

ceeded to dress him as a female, furnishing him with the necessary garments, and tinting his face with colors of the

most charming dye.

bowl of shining metal.

She gave him,

She directed him

his girdle a blade of scented sword-grass,

too, a

to

put in

and

to pro-

ceed the next morning to the banks of th^ lake,

which was no other than that over which the Red

Head

reigned.

Now Hah-Undo-Tah,

Head, was a most powerful

or

sorcerer, living

the

island in the centre of his realm of water,

was the

terror of all the country.

that there would be

many

Red

upon an and he

She informed him

Indians upon the island,

who, as soon as they saw him use the shining bowl to drink with, would come and wife, oifers

and

to take

him

solicit

to be their

over to the island.

Thesa

he was to refuse, and to say that he had come

a great distance to be the wife of the that

him

if

Red Head, and

the chief could not seek her for himself,

she would return to her village. as soon as the

Red Head heard

She

said,

that

of this he would

,

THE RED SORCERER. come

for lier in his

own

27

canoe, in wHcli she must

i

embark.

I

" On reaching the shore/' added the

man, " you must consent

to he his wife

little ;

wo-

old

and

/

in the

i

evening you are to induce him to take a walk out of the village, and

:

when you have reached a lonesome

spot, use the first opportunity to cut off his

head

with the blade of grass."

She

gave Strong Desire general advice how

also

he was to conduct himself to sustain his assumed character of a

woman.

His fear would scarcely per-

mit him to consent to engage in an adventure attended with so his

father's

much danger

looks

but the recollection of

;

and reproaches of the want of

courage, decided him. [

Early in the morning he

old

woman

left

wJia.-inakes-wa,r,-

heavy brackish

made

he turned to look back for

little

which was clouded in a

fog, so thick

that he with difiiculty

the lodge of the

and heavy to breathe, his

it, it

way

forth.

When

was gone.

the hard beaten path to the banks of the >^/->R® took lake, and made for the water at a point directly op-

Eed Head's lodge. Where he now stood it was

posite the

heavens w^re

clear,

to Strong ''Desire as

had put

on the

forth his little

father^^lodge."

beautiful day.

The

and the sun shone out as brightly

He had

first

morning when he

head from the door of

his

not been long there, saunter-

;

'

THE INDIAN FAIRT BOOK.

28

ing along the

"beach,,

when he displayed the

ing bowl by dipping water from the lake.

glitter-

Very soon

a number of canoes came off from the island.

men admired

his dress,

and were charmed with

beauty, and almost with one voice they all posals of marriage.

The

made

hia

pro-

Thes^e,"Stfolig l)e"§iT^- prpnaptly_

declined^

When his royal

this

was reported to Eed Head, he ordered

bark to be launched by his chosen

the oar, and

of

wonderful

girl.

the shore. Strong Desire

saw

crosseji over to see this

As they approached

men

that the ribs of the sorcerer's canoe were formed of living rattlesnakes,

whose heads pointed outward to

guard him from his enemies.

had no sooner gan

to hiss

great fright

stepj^ed into the canoe,

and ;

Being invited, he

which put him in a

rattle furiously,

but the magician spoke to them, when

they became pacified and quiet.

were at the landing upon the took place ieamediately

;

As they were

Shortly after they

island.

The marriage

and the bride made pres-

ents of various valuables which

her by the old witch "

than they be-

had been furnished

who inhabited

the cloudy lodge.

sitting in the lodge,

surrounded by

the friends and relatives, the mother of the

Head regarded for

the face of her

Eed

new daughter-in-law

a long time with fixed attention.

From

this

scrutiny she was convinced that this singular and

hasty marriage boded no good to her son.

She drew

THE EED SORCERER. him

29

and disclosed to him her

aside,

This can he no female, said she

;

suspicions.

she ha& the

ure and manners, the countenance, and more

heyond a douht those of a man.

ciallj the eyes, are

Her husband

rejected her suspicions,

and rebuked

her severely for ei^tertaining such notions of her

She

daughter-in-law. so vexed the

in her face,

still

called her

own

urged her doubts, which

husband that he broke

and

fig-

esj)e-

his pipe-stem

an owl.

This act astonished the company, who sought an explanation

mock

and

;

was no sooner given, than the

it

bride, rising with

an ah of offended dignity,

informed the Eed Head that after receiving so gross

an

affront

from

his relatives she could not think of

remaining with him as his wife, but should forthwith return to her

With

own

friends.

a toss of the head, like that of an angry

female. Strong

Deshe

left

the lodge, followed by

Eed

Head, and walked away until he came to the beach of the island, near the spot where they had landed.

Eed Head

every motive, and

promises

—none

impression.

entreated

making

him

to remain, urging

all sorts

of magnificent

make the least Eed Head thought, was

of which seemed to

Strong Desire,

very hard-hearted.

During these appeals they had

seated themselves upon the ground, and

Eed Head,

upon

his fancied

in great affliction, recHned his head

wife

1

first

s lap.

Strong Desire now changed his manner,

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

80

was very kind and

sootliing,

most winning accent that

if

and suggested in the

Ked Head would

sleep

soundly for awhile he might possibly dream himself out of

Ked Head,

all his troubles.

happy a

prospect, said that he

delighted at so

would

im-

fall asleep

mediately.

" You have

Red Head,"

killed a

good

many men

said Strong Desire,

in your time,

by way of suggest-

ing an agreeable train of ideas to the sorcerer.

" Hundreds," answered Red Head; "and what better,

now

that I

happy marriage,

am

fairly settled in life

I shall be able to give

by

is

this

my whole

at-

tention to massacre."

"And

you

will kill

hundreds more," interposed

Strong Desire, in the most insinuating

manner im-

aginable.

" Just

my

so,

dear,"

great leer; " thousands. delicious murders.

Red Head

replied,

with a

be no end to

my

I love dearly to kill people.

I

There

will

would you if my wife." " There, there," said Strong Desire, with the coaxlike to kill

ing air of a

little

you were not

coquette,

"go

to sleep; that's

a

good Red Head."

No chief,

other subject of conversation occurring to the

now that he had exhausted

the delightful topic

of wholesale murder, he straightway

fell into

a deep

sleep.

The chance

so anxiously sought for

had come;

ar'"*

THE RED SORCERER.

31

Strong Desire, with a smiling eye, drawing his blade of grass with, lightning swiftness once across

the

neck of the Bed Head, severed the huge and wicked

from the body.

liead

;

In a moment, stripping underneath which he had

off his

all

woman's

dress,

along worn his male

Strong Desire seized the bleeding trophy,

attire,

plunged into the lake, and swam safely over to the

main

He had

shore.

scarcely reached

it,

when, look-

ins back, he saw amid the darkness the torches of persons come out in

He

couple. less

search of the

listened until they

new married

had found the head-

body, and he heard their piercing shrieks of rage

and sorrow as he took

his

way

to the lodge of his

kind adviser.

The

little

old

woman who makes war was

in

an

excellent humor, and she received Strong Desire with

She admired

rejoicing.

his prudence,

his bravery should never

ing

and assured him

be questioned again.

Lift-

up the head, which she gazed upon with vast

delight, she said

Cutting

off a

he need only have brought the

scalp.

lock of the hair for herself, she told

him he might now return with the head, which would be evidence of an achievement that would

own people to respect him. " In your way home," added the little

cause his

" you

will

meet with but one

difficulty.

eesh, the Spirit of the Earth, requires

old

woman,

Maunkahan

offering

THE INDIAN FAIKT BOOK.

32

or sacrifice from all of her sons "who perform extraor*

As you walk

dinary deeds. will

along in a prairie there

be an earthquake; the earth will open and di-

Take

vide the prairie in the middle.

and throw over

it."

With many thanks had

this partridge

and instantly spring

into the opening,

it

to the little old witch,

so faithfully befriended

leave of her,

and having, by the course pointed

safely passed the earthquake, village.

On

He

who

him, Strong Desire took out,

he arrived near his own

secretly hid his precious trophy.

entering the village, he found that his parents

had returned from the place

of their spring

encamp?

jment by the wood-side, and that, they were in heavy Borrowing for their son, lost.

One and another

whom

they supposed to be

of the young

men had

pre-

sented themselves to the disconsolate parents, and said,

" Look up, I

am

your son

;"

but when they

looked up, they beheld not the famiHar face of

Strong Desire.

Having been often deceived their

own son

in this manner,

when

in truth presented himself they sat

with their heads down, and with their eyes nearly blinded with weeping.

could be prevailed

him.

him

It

was

still

as their son

from the

It

was some time before they

upon to bestow a glance upon

longer before they could recognize

who had

refused to draw water

river, at night, for fear, for his

countenan

THE RED SORCERER. was no longer that of a timid

man who

of a

who has

it

was that

still.

he recounted his adventures they believed

The young men laughed

him mad. Strong

stripling;

has seen and done great things, and

the heart to do greater

When

33

Desii'e

—who

at

him

— him,

feared to walk to the river at

night-time.

He

the lodge, and ere their laughter had

left

ceased, returned with

the head of the leer

Eed

which lighted

it

his

trophy.

He

held aloft

Sorcerer, with the great ghastly

up before

his last sleej), at pros-

pect of a thousand future murders, fresh upon It

was

had

easily recognized,

of sight.

the terrible

He was

conquered

All doubts of the truth of

were dispelled.

greeted with joy, and placed

warriors of the nation.

chief,

shrunk into the cor-

Strong Desire had

Eed Head!

his adventures

first

and the young men who

scoffed at Strong Desire

ners out

it.

He

finally

among the became a

and his family were ever after respected and

esteemed.

2*

IV.

THE WONDERFUL EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER.

A "

MAN,

of small stature, found himself standing

alone on a prairie.

How came

earth but myself ?

walk tiU

He

thought to himself,

Are there no beings on

I here ? I

must

I find the abodes of

travel

and

see.

him from

set out,

little

he

He was

whither, in search of habitations.

a resolute

must

men."

So soon as his mind was made up, he

knew not

I

this

feUow, and no difficulties could turn

his purpose

nor storms, had the

:

neither prairies, rivers, woods

effect to

daunt his courage or

turn him back.

After traveling a long time, he

came

which he saw decayed stumps of

to a wood, in

trees, as if

they had been cut in ancient times, but no

other trace of men.

Pursuing his journey, he found

more recent marks of the same kind

came upon footsteps,

heaps.

fresh traces of

human

;

after this,

beings

and then the wood they had

;

first

felled,

he

their

lying in

Pushing on, he emerged toward dusk from

EXPLOITS OF GKASSHOPPER. the forest,

and beheld at a distance a large

35

village of

high lodges standing on rising ground.

"I

"

am

tired of this dog-trot," he said to himself

on a run."

I will arrive there

He the

aU

started off with

first

his speed.

any

lodge, without

jumped over

it,

especial exertion,

he

Those within saw something

side.

pass over the opening in the roof it

to

and found himself standing by the

door on the other

the shadow

On coming

cast that

;

they thought from

must have been some huge

it

—

and then they heard a thump upon the ground. " What is that ?" they all said and several ran out

bird

to -see.

They

him

invited

pany with an

in,

and he found himself

old chief

and several men who were

Meat was

seated in the lodge.

com-

in

set before

him

after

;

which the old chief asked him whither he was going,

and what was in

his

He

name.

search of adventures,

answered that he was

and that

his

name was

" Grasshopper."

They

all

opened their eyes upon the stranger with

a broad stare.

" G-rasshopper

!"

whispered one to another

;

and a

general titter went round.

They

invited

inclined to do

;

him

to stay with them,

for it

was a pleasant

which he was

village,

but so

small as to constantly embarrass Grasshopper.

was

in perpetual trouble

;

He

whenever he shook hands

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

36

a stranger, to wliom

wifcli

was

sucli

meaning Once

might be introducedj

lie

abundance of

tlie

bis

he wrung his arm

it,

mere

or twice, in

strength, without

off at

the shoulder.

he cuffed the boys,

sport,

about the lodge, by the side of the head, and they flew out of sight as though they

a bow

had been shot from

nor could they ever be found again, though

;

they were searched for in

the country round, far

all

and wide.

If Grasshopper proposed to himself a

short

in the

stroll

out of town.

pened

for a

morning, he was at once miles

When

he entered a lodge,

moment

he hap-

if

to forget himself, he

walked

straight through the leathern, or wooden, or earthen

he had been merely passing through a

walls, as if

At

bush.

dishes, set

his

meals he broke in pieces

putting a leg out of bed when he rose,

common

all

them down as lightly as he would it

;

the

and

was a

thing for him to push off the top of the

lodge.

He wanted more stay, in which,

strength, he

and

filled it

tery,

by

elbow-room

and

had nearly

whole place,

with demolished lodges and broken pot-

taking with him a young

formed a strong attachment

him

after a short

laid waste the

and one-armed men, he made up

further,

serve

;

the accidentally letting go of his

as his pipe-bearer

for ;

his

mind

to

go

man who had

him, and who might

for

Grasshopper was a

huge smoker, and vast clouds followed him wherever

EXPLOITS OF GKASSHOPPER. he went

coming

;

!"

They

" Grasshopper

so tliat people could say,

by the mighty smoke he

set out together,

37 is

raised.

and when

companion

his

was fatigued with walking, Grrasshopper would put

him forward on his journey a mile or two by giving him a cast in the air, and lighting him in a soft place among the trees, or in a cool spot in a water-pond,

among

At

the sedges and water-lilies.

would lighten the way by showing

lie

such as leaping over leg

trees,

he made the dust

till

other times

few

off a

and turning round on one fly

;

at

which the pipe-

bearer was mightily pleased, although

sometimes

it

happened that the character of these gambols ened him. hint

fright-

For Grrasshopper would, without the

of such an intention,

ahead, and

tricks,

it

would

jump

into

least

the air far

cost the little pipe-bearer half a

come up with him

day's hard travel to

;

and then

the dust Grrasshopper raised was often so thick and

heavy as to completely bury the poor bearer,

and compel Grasshopper

they

were

some time in a

fit

well

(in the

alive.

to a very large village,

received.

course

After of

and

to dig diligently

with might and main to get him out

One day they came

pipe-

little

staying

where in

it

which Grasshopper,

of abstraction, walked straight through the

sides of three lodges without

stopping to look for

the door), they were informed of a number of wicked epirits,

who

lived at a distance,

and who made

it

a

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

,58

came

practice to kill all wlio

to their lodge.

At-

tempts had been made to destroy them, hut they

had always proved more than a match

for

such as

had come out against them. Grasshopper determined to pay them a

visit, al-

though he was strongly advised not to do

so.

The

warned him of the great danger

chief of the village

he would incur, but finding Grasshopper resolved, he

said:

" Well,

if

you

will go,

being

my

guest, I will send

twenty warriors to serve you." ,

Grasshopper thanked him for the

offer,

although

he suggested that he thought he could get along them,

without

at

which

the

little

pipe-bearer

grinned, for his master had never shown in that village

what he could

Grasshopper, being

do,

and the chief thought that

little

himself,

need twenty warriors, at the wicked

spirits

would be

least, to

likely to

encounter the

Twenty

with any chance of success.

young men made

They

their appearance.

set for-

ward, and after about a day's journey they descried the lodge of the Manitoes.

Grasshopper placed his friend, the pipe-bearer,

and the

warriors, near

enough to see

all

that passed,

while he went alone to the lodge.

As he ing

entered. Grasshopper

saw

five horrid-look-

Manitoes in the act of eating.

father

and

his four sons.

They were

It

was the

really hideous

EXPLOITS OF GKASSHOPPEE.

Their eyes were swimming low in

to look upon. their heads,

and they glared about as

They

half starved. to

eat,

39

which he

offered

if

they were

Grasshopper something

politely refused, for

had

he

a

it was the thigh-bone of a man. " What have you come for.?" said the old one. " Nothing," answered Grrasshopper ; " where is

strong suspicion that

your uncle.?"

They

all stared at him, and answered: " We ate him, yesterday. What do you want?" " Nothing," said Grasshopper " where is your ;

grandfather.?'

They "

We

answered, with another broad stare:

all

ate

him a week

ago.

Do you

not wish to

wrestle?"

" Yes/' replied Grasshopper,

''

I don't

mind

if I

do take a turn; but you must be easy with me, for

you

see I

am

very

Pipe-bearer,

little."

who

stood near enough to overhear

the conversation, grinned from ear to ear

The Manitoes answered:

caught this remark.

"

Oh yes, we will And as they said and

be easy with you."

they looked at each other,

this

rolled their eyes about in a dreadful

A hideous

smile

came over

pered among themselves

" It 's a pity he the eldest brother.

when he

's

manner.

their faces as they whis-

:

so thin.

You

go," they said to

4

THE INDIAN PAIRT BOOK.

40

The two

—and

—the Manito and

got ready

they were soon clinched in each other's arms

Grasshopper knew their object

for a deadly throw.

—

death; they wanted a taste of his

his

it,

delicate

and he was determined they should

body,

little

have

Grrasshopper

perhaps in a different sense from that they

intended.

"Haw! haw!"

they cried, and soon the dust and

dry leaves flew about as

The Manito was

strong, but Grasshopper thought

could master him; and trip, as

driven by a strong wind.

if

all at

he

once giving him a sly

the wicked spirit was trying to finish his

breakfast with a piece out of his shoulder, he sent

the Manito head-foremost against a stone; and, calling aloud to the three others, he bade

them come and

take the body away.

The

brothers

now stepped

forth in quick succession,

but Grasshopper having got his blood up, and limbered himself by exercise, soon dispatched the three

—sending one straight

down It

up

this

way, another that, and the third

into the air, so high that he never

again.

was time

for

the old Manito to be frightened,

and dreadfully frightened he life,

came

got,

and ran

for his

which was the very worst thing he could have

done; for Grasshopper, of

was most noted ito set

off,

and

for his

for

all his gifts of strength,

speed of

mere

foot.

The

sport's sake,

old

Man-

Grasshopper

EXPLOITS OF GEASSnOPPEE. Sometimes

pursued him.

old spiiit, sometimes he

lie

was before the wicked

was

flying over his head,

and then he would keep along at a steady at his heels,

he had blown

till

41

all

trot just

the breath out o{

the old knave's body.

Meantime

his

friend,

and the

the pipe-bearer,

twenty young warriors, cried out: "

Ha, ha, ah! ha, ha, ah!

him before him!" The Manito only turned look back. sport, to

At

length,

Grasshopper

his

is

driving

head now and then to

when he was

tired

of the

be rid of him, Grasshopper, with a gentle

application of his foot, sent the wicked old Manito

whirhng away through the great

number

world,

till

that he

fell

air,

in

which he made a

of the most curious turn-overs in the

he came to alight, when astride of

a distant pasture, at a long gallop,

it

so

happened

an old bull-buffalo, grazing in

who straightway

set off

with him

and the old Manito has not been

heard of to this day.

The set to

warriors

and the pipe-bearer and Grasshopper

work and burned down the lodge of the wicked

spirits,

and then when they came

to look about,

saw that the ground was strewn on

human

bones bleaching in the sun

unhappy victims of the Manitoes.

;

all sides

they with

these were the

Grasshopper then

took three arrows from his girdle, and after having

performed a ceremony to the Great

Spirit,

he shot

THEINDIANFAIRTBOOK.

42

one into the

air,

crying, "

up, or you will be

The bones

You

are lying

down

moved

all

to one place.

He

bone drew toward

who had been

fellow-bone

its

shot the

when each

second arrow, repeating the same words,

brought forth to

rise

;

hit \"

the third arrow

;

the whole multitude of people

life

by the Manitoes.

killed

Grasshopper

conducted the crowd to the chief of the village, who

had proved

The

chief

his friend,

and gave them into

his hands.

his counselors, to

whom he

more worthy," said the chief

to Grass-

was there with

spoke apart.

"

Who

is

hopper, "to rule than you.

You

alone can defend

them."

Grasshopper thanked him, and told him that he

was

in search of

some things," fully,

more adventures.

"I have done

said little Grasshopper, rather boast-

" and I think I can do some more."

The

chief

still

urged him, but he was eager to go,

and naming pipe-bearer

to tarry

he set out again on his

travels,

and take

promising that he

other come back and

would some time or " Ho ho ho !" they !

!

again and see us

would

;

!"

and then

set

He

all cried.

renewed

his place,

"

see them.

Come back

his promise that

he

out alone.

After traveling some time he came to a great lake,

and on looking about he discovered a very large OD an

island.

He

otter

thought to himself, " His skin

will

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER. make me a up

And

fine poucli."

at long shots,

He waded

lie

immediately drew

and drove an arrow into

into the lake,

his side.

and with some

dragged him ashore, and up a

4S

hill

difficulty

overlooking the

lake.

As soon

as Grasshopper got the otter into the sun-

shine where

it

was warm, he skinned him, and threw

the carcass some distance

off,

thinking the war-eagle

would come, and that he should have a chance to secure his feathers as ornaments for the head

;

for

Grasshopper began to be proud, and was disposed to display himself.

He

soon heard a rushing noise as of a loud wind, Presently a large eagle drop-

but could see nothing. ped, as

if

from the

upon the

air,

otter's carcass.

Grasshopper drew his bow, and the arrow passed

through under both of his wings.

The

bird

made a

convulsive flight upward, with such force that the

cumbrous body was borne up several ground

;

but with

otter brought the

its

feet

from the

claws deeply fixed, the heavy

eagle back to the earth.

Grass-

hopper possessed himself of a handful of the prime feathers,

crowned his head with the trophy, and

high

off in

spirits

on the look

oiit for

set

something new.

After walking awhile, he came to a body of water

which lake

flooded

made by

raised

the

trees

beavers.

dam where

"^he

on

its

banks

—

it

was a

Taking his station on the

stream escaped, he watched to

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

44

see wlietlier

see

any of the beavers would show them-

A head presently peeped out of

Belves.

who

" My

it

was that disturbed them.

me

into a beaver

me

please

most per-

friend/' said Grasshopper, in his

suasive manner, " could you not obhge

ing

the water to

so

much

can assure you

know how

;"

turn-

yourself.

make your

acquaintance, I

hke

as to

me by

Nothing would

for Grrasshopper

was curious to

these watery creatures lived, and

what

kind of notions they had. " I do not know," replied the beaver, who was rather short-nosed and surly. others.

Meanwhile

" I will go and ask the

stay where

you

are,

if

you

please."

" To be sure,"

down

answered Grasshopper,

stealing

the bank several paces as soon as the beaver's

back was turned. Presently there was a great splashing of the water,

and

all

the beavers showed their heads, and looked

warily to where he stood, to see

but he had knowingly

left his

if

he was armed

bow and arrows

;

in a

hollow tree at a short distance.

After a long conversation, which they conducted in a whisper so that Grasshopper could not catch a

word, strain his ears as he would, they in a

all

body toward the spot where he stood

approaching the nearest, and out of the water.

lifting his

;

advanced the chief

head highest

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER.

45

" Can you not/' said Grasshojiper, noticing tliat they waited for liim to speak first, " turn me into a beaver

I wish to live

?

" Yes," answered

among

tlieir

chief

you." ;

"

And

down."

lie

Grasshopper in a moment found himself a heaver,

and was ghding seemed to

strike

the lake.

"I

am

very small," he said, to the beaver,

in a soiTowful tone.

he said

for

;

"

You must make me

person in every com-

first

" Larger than any of you

pany.

it's

large,"

Grasshopper was terribly ambitious, and

wanted always to be the

size

when a thought

the water,

into

him, and he paused at the edge of

my

hardly worth

;

while

in

to

my

present

go into the

water."

" Yes, yes

!"

get into the lodge

They

all

"

said they. it

By and

by,

when we

shall be done."

dived into the lake, and in passing great

heaps of Kmbs and logs at the bottom, he asked the use of

them

;

they answered, "It

is

for our winter's

provisions."

When

they

all

got into the lodge their

The lodge was

was about one hundred.

number

large

and

warm. " tJiat

Now we win make

you

large," said they.

" Will

do ?"

" Yes," he answered

;

for

he found that he was

ten times the size of the largest.

" You need not go out," said the others

;

" we

— THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

46

you food into

will bring

tlie

lodge,

and you

be

will

our chief."

" Very well/' Grasshopper answered.

"I

will stay here

But, soon

after,

crying out, "

and grow

thought,

fat at their expense/'

one ran into the lodge, out of breath

We

by the Indians

are visited

All huddled together in great

gan

He

to lower, for the hunters

I"

The water be-

fear.

had broken down the

dam, and they soon heard them on the roof of the lodge, breaking

it

Out jumped

up.

all

the beavers

into the water, and so escaped.

Grrasshopper tried to follow

them

;

nately, to gratify his ambition, they

but, unfortu-

had made him

so large that he could not creep out at the hole. tried to call

them back, but

or would not attend to

much

He

either they did noj; hear

him

;

he worried himself so

in searching for a door to let

him

out, that

he

looked like a great bladder, swollen and blistering in the sun, and the sweat stood out upon his forehead in knobs

aud huge bubbles.

Although he heard and understood every word that

eussested terrible

—and some of their expressions ideas —he could not turn himself

back into a man.

He had

the hunters spoke

a beaver he must be. little

man, with a

chosen to be a beaver, and

One

single lock dangling over one eye

this inquisitive little fellow

top of the lodge.

of the hunters, a prying

" Ty-au

put his head in at the

!" cried he.

" Tut ty-au!

:

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER. Me-sliau-mik

—

Whereupon hunters began upon him with

^king of beavers is in."

the whole crowd of their clubs^

47

and knocked

his scull

about until

was

it

no harder than a morass in the middle of summer. Grasshopper thought as well as ever he did, although he was a beaver

;

and he

felt

that he was in a rather

foolish scrape, inhabiting the carcass of a beaver.

Presently" seven or eight of the hunters hoisted his

body upon long

poles,

and marched away home with

As they went, he reflected in this manner " What will become of me ? My ghost or shadow*

him.

will not die after they get

me

to their lodges."

Invitations were immediately sent out for a grand feast

;

but as soon as his body got

cold,

his soul

being uncomfortable in a house without heat, flew off.

Having reassumed

his mortal shape, G-rasshopper

found himself standing near a

prairie.

After walk-

ing a distance, he saw a herd of elk feeding.

admired their apparent ease and enjoyment of

and thought there could be nothing more

He life,

pleas-

ant than the liberty of running about and feeding on the prairies.

He had been

a water animal and

now he

wished to become a land animal, to learn what passed in if

an

elk's

head as he roved about.

He

asked them

they could not turn him into one of themselves.

" Yes," they answered, after a pause.

on your hands and

feet.*'

" Get down

TflE

48

He

INDIAN FAIKY BOOK.

obeyed their directions, and forthwitli found

himself to be an

"I want

elk.

big horns, big feet," said he;

be very large;" for

all

"I wish

to

the conceit and vain-glory had,

not been knocked out of Grasshopper, even by the sturdy thwacks of the hunters' clubs.

" Yes, yes," they answered. " There," exerting their power, " are you big enough.?" " That

will do,"

he replied;

take hard by. Grasshopper large.

They

ning to and

sjDent their

for,

looking into a

saw that he was very

time in grazing and run-

but what astonished Grasshopper,

fro;

although he often

lifted

up

head and directed his

his

eyes that way, he could never see the stars, which he

had

so

admired as a human being.

Being rather

cold, one day.

Grasshopper went into

a thick wood for shelter, whither he was followed by

most of the herd.

when some

elks

They had not been long

from behind passed the others

there like

a

strong wind, calling out:

" The hunters are after us!" All took the alarm, and off they ran, Grasshopper

with the

rest.

" Keep out on the plains," they too late to profit

by

got entangled in the thick woods. scented the hunters, trai]

for

they had

said.

this advice, for they

who were left

all

But

it

was

had already

Grasshopper soon

closely following his

the others and were

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER. laaking after

him

in full cry.

He jumped

made

the harder for

it

him

furiously,

broke down

dashed through the underwood, and

whoJe groves of saplings in his

But

flight.

49

this only

to get on, such a

huge

and lusty elk was he by his own request. Presently, as he dashed past an open space, he

an arrow in

felt

miss

it,

his

side.

They could not

he presented so wide a mark to the

He bounded

well shot.

over trees under the smart, but the

shafts

clattered thicker

and at

last

and thicker

one entered his heart.

at

He

his

fell

ribs,

to the

ground, and heard the whoop of triumph sounded by the hunters.

On coming

cass with astonishment,

up, they looked on the car-

and with their hands up to

their mouths, exclaimed:

'"'Ty-aiil

ty-au!"

There were about sixty in the party, who had

come out on a

special hunt, as one of their

number

had, the day before, obsei-ved his large tracks on the plains. cold,

When

and

body,

his

for

spirit

took

its

flight

from the dead

and Grasshopper found himself in human

shape, with a

But

they had skinned him his flesh grew

bow and

arrows.

his passion for adventure

was not yet cooled;

on coming to a large lake with a sandy beach,

he saw a large flock of brant, and speaking to them in the brant language, he req^uested

brant of him. 8

them

to

make a

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

60

" Yes/' they

replied, at once;

for the brant is a

bird of a very obliging disposition.

"But

I

want

There

to be very large/' be said.

was no end to the ambition of little Grasshopper. " Yery well/' they answered; and he soon found himself a large brant,

the others standing gazing

all

in astonishment at his gi-eat size.

"

You must

fly

as leader/' they said.

" No/' answered Grasshopper; " I will

fly

behind."

"Very well/' rejoined the brant; " one thing more we have had

told

flying,

to say to you, brother Grasshopper " (for

them

his

You must

be careful, in

for

something

may happen

name).

not to look down,

he

"

to you."

"Well,

up

it is

and soon the

so," said he;

into the air, for they were

flew very fast

—he

bound

One

behind.

flock rose

north.

They

day, while going

with a strong wind, and as swift as their wings could flap, as

they passed over

a-

large village the Indians

raised a great shout on seeing them, particularly

on

Grasshopper's account, for his wings were broader

than two large mats.

The

village people

made such

a frightful noise that he forgot what had been told

him about looking down.

They were now scudding

along as swift as arrows; and as soon as he brought his

neck in and stretched

Bhouters, his

huge

tail

it

down

to look at tlie

was caught by the wind, and

over and over he was blown.

He

tried to rlirht

him*

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER. self,

but without success, for

lie

had no sooner got

out of one heavy air-current than he other,

51

fell

into an-

which treated him even more rudely than that

he had escaped from.

Down, down he went, making

more turns than he wished

for,

from a height of sev-

eral miles.

The

first

moment he had

to look about him, Grass-

hopper, in the shape of a big brant, was aware that

he was jammed into a large hollow

backward

or forward

tree.

To

get

was out of the question, and

there, in spite of himself,

was Grasshopper forced

his brant life

was ended by starvation,

to tarry

till

when, his a

human As he

tures.

spirit

being at liberty, he was once more

being.

journeyed on in search of further adven-

Grasshopper came to a lodge in which were

two old men, with heads white from extreme

They were very

fine old

men

to look at.

age.

There was

such sweetness and innocence in their features that

Grasshopper would have enjoyed himself very at their lodge, if he

much

had had no other entertainment

than such as the gazing upon the serene and happy faces of the

two innocent old men with heads white

from extreme age afibrded.

They

treated

him

well,

and he made known

them that he was going back friends

old

to

to

his village, his

and people, whereupon the two white-headed

men

very heartily wished

him a good journey

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

52

and abundance of comfort in seeing his frienda

They even

once more.

arose, old

and infirm as

they were, and tottering with exceeding difficulty to the door, were at great pains to point out to

him

the exact course he should take; and they called his attention shorter

and more

direct

Ah what

himself.

old

the circumstance that

to

was much

than he would have taken

merry deceivers were these two

!

men

it

with very white heads.

GrassTiopper, with blessings showered on til

he was

He

heart.

thought he heard loud laughter resound-

him

ing after

the direction of the lodge of the

in

two old men; but

men,

He

him un-

of sight, set forth with good

fairly out

it

could not have been the two old

for they were, certainly, too old to laugh.

walked briskly

all

day, and at night he

had

the satisfaction of reaching a lodge in all respects

which he had

like that

were two

fine

old

left in

men, and

every particular the same, even blessing

went

the morning.

There

his treatment

was in

down

to the parting

and the laughter that followed him as he

his way.

After walking the third day, and coming to a lodge ihe same as before, he was satisfied from the bearings of the course he had taken that he had been

journeying in a

circle,

and by a notch which he had

cut in the door-post that these were the same two old men, all along; and that, despite their innocent

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER. faces

and their very

ing him a sorry

" so.^

Who

wliite heads,

they had been play-

trick.

are you," said Grasshopper,

Come

53

^'

to treat

me

forth, I say."

They were compelled

to obey his

summons,

in his anger, he should take their lives;

lest,

and they

appeared on the outside of the lodge.

"

We must have

a

of speed, now," said

little trial

Grasshopper.

"A

race.?"

"We

they asked.

are very old;

we

can not run." " set

We

wiU

see," said Grasshopper;

them out upon the

whereupon he

and then he gave them

road,

a gentle push, which put them in motion. again—

pushed them under

fine

—harder—until they got

^harder

head-way, when he gave each of them an

astounding shock with his

a great

Then he

rate,

and

foot,

foot of Grasshopper,

that no object once set agoing by sibility stop; so that, for

it

could by any pos-

aught we know to the con-

two innocent, white-headed, merry old

men, are trotting with around the

they flew at

round and round the course; and such

was the magic virtue of the

trary, the

off

circle in

all

their

might and main

which they beguiled Grasshop-

per, to this day.

Continuing his

his

journey.

Grasshopper,

head was warm and buzzing with

gchemes, did not

know

exactly

what

to

although

all sorts

of

do until he

THE INDIAN FAIEY BOOK.

54.

came and

He mounted

to a big lake.

see to the other side,

made

—a

transparent

abounded with

fish

then

blue

very-

—and

he

saw that

a rare and delicate

of

it

com-

This circumstance inspired him with a wish

plexion.

to return to his village, live

He

The water was

but he could not.

a canoe, and sailed forth.

clear

a high hill to try

and to bring

his people to

near this beautiful lake.

Toward evening, coming camped and

to a

ate the fish he

woody

island,

he en-

had speared, and they

proved to be as comforting to the stomach as they

were pleasing to the eye.

The next day Grasshop-

per returned to the main land, and as he wandered along the shore he espied at a distance the celebrat-

ed giant, Manabozho, who

is

enemy

a bitter

of

Grasshopper, and loses no opportunity to stop him

on

his journeyings

At

fii'st it

and

to thwart his plans.

occurred to Grasshopper to have a trial

of wits with the giant, but, on second thoughts, he said to himself, " I

him another

With no

am

in a

hurry now

;

I will see

time."

further mischief than raising a great

whirlwind of dust, which caused Manabozho to rub his eyes severely. Grasshopper quietly slipped out of

and he made good speed

much

the

way

less

time than you could count half the stars in the

;

withal, for in

sky of a winter night, he had reached home.

His return was welcomed with a great hubbub of

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER. feasting

and songs

;

and he had scarcely

55

set foot in the

village before he

had

diiferent lodges,

which would have lasted him the

rest of his

natural

invitations to take pot-luck at

Pipe-bearer,

life.

time before given up the cares of a

back upon

his native place, fairly

who had some

ruler,

and

fallen

danced with joy at

the sight of Grrasshopper, who, not to be outdone,

dandled hirn affectionately in his arms, by casting

him up and down tle

in the air half a mile or so,

Pipe-bearer had no breath

left in his

that he was happy to see Grasshopper

Grasshopper gave the village folks a

body

home

Kt-

to say

again.

lively

when he came

of his adventures, and

till

account

to the blue

he dwelt upon their

lake and the abundant

fish,

charms with such

that they agreed, with one

must be a

voice, that it

and

if

shift

settle there at once.

not only showed them the way, but bringing

his wonderful strength less

glorious place to live in,

he would show them the way they would

camp and

He

effect

and speed of

foot to bear, in

than half a day he had transported the whole

village,

with

ments of war,

its

children,

to the

new

women,

tents,

and imple-

water-side.

Here, for a time. Grasshopper appeared to be content, until one

day a message came

for

him

in the

shape of a bear, who said that their king wished to see

him immediately

at his village.

was ready in an instant

;

Grasshopper

and mounting upon the

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

66

messenger's back, off he ran.

Toward evening they

climbed a high mountain, and came to a cave where

He was

the bear-king lived.

and puffing with tance, he

fat

a very large person

and a sense of

his

;

own impor-

made Grasshopper welcome by inviting him

in to his lodge.

As

soon as

was proper, he spoke, and said that

it

for him on hearing that he was the chief who was moving a large party toward his hunting-

he had sent

grounds.

"

You must know,"

rible

said the bear-king with a ter-

growl, "that you have no right there,

and I

wish you would leave the country with your party, or else the strongest force will take possession.

Take

notice."

"Very

well," replied Grasshopper, going toward

the door, for he suspected that the king of the bears

was preparing

He for he

to give

him a hug.

"So be

it,"

wished to gain time, and to consult his people

had seen

as he

;

came along that the bears were

gathering in great force on the side of the mountain.

He

also

made known

to the bear-king that he

would

go back that night that his people might be put in

immediate possession of

The bear-king

his royal behest.

replied that Grasshopper

as he pleased, but that one of his his

command

;

might do

young men was at

and, jumping nimbly on his back,

Grasshopper rode home.

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER. He head

assembled the people, and ordered the bear's to be

off,

might

see

hung

outside of the village, that the

who were lurking

bear-spies,

it

in the neighborhood,

and carry the news

to their chief.

The next morning, by break had

57

all

of his

of day, Grasshopper

young warriors under arms and ready

About the middle of the afternoon the bear war-party came in sight, led on by the pursy

for a fight.

and making a tremendous

king,

noise.

They ad-

vanced on their hind-legs, and made a very imposing display of their teeth and eyeballs.

The

bear-chief himself

came forward, and with a

majestic waive of his right hand, said that he did not

wish to shed the blood of the young warriors

who appeared

that if Grasshopper,

to be the

but

;

head

of the war-party, consented, they two would have a race,

and the winner should

kill

the losing chief, and

young men should be servants

all his

Grasshopper agreed, of course

who

bearer,

terms

!

—and

company

At

who

little

Pipe-

they came

to

stood in a circle looking on.

;

for

shaggy

ears,

Grasshopper

although he kept crowd-

ing the great fat bear-king his

as

there was a prospect that

would be badly beaten

from

—how

they started to run before the whole

of warriors

first

grinned

stood by,

to the other.

till

the sweat trickled

he never seemed to be able to

push past him. By and by. Grasshopper, going through a number of the most extraordinary maneuvers in

THE INDIAN FAIEY BOOK.

58

the world, raised about

great fat bear-king such

tlie

and whirlwinds with the sand, and

eddies

so

danced

about, before and after him, that he at last got fairly bewildered, and cried out for

him

Out of

off.

goal,

them

sight before

come and take

to

him

in reaching the

Grasshopper only waited for the bear-king to

come up, when he drove an arrow

straight through

him, and ordered them to take the body away and

make

He

ready for supper

it

then directed

and help

all

;

he was getting hungry.

as

of the other bears to

|)repare the feast

;

for in fulfillment of the

With many

agreement they had become servants.

wry

faces the bears, although

in their

new

bound

to act becomingly

character, according to the forfeit, served

up the body of this they

fall t(r

fell,

their late royal

either

by accident

master

;

and in doing

or design, into

many

curious mistakes.

When

the feast came to be served up, and they

were summoned to be in attendance, one of them, a sprightly

young

fellow of

an inquisitive turn of

mind, was found upon the roof of the lodge, with his

head half way down the smoke-hole, with a view

to learn what they were to have for dinner.

Another,

a middle-aged bear with very long arms, who was put in charge of the children in the character of nurse, squeezed three or four of the most promising

young papooses

to

death, while the mothers were

outside to look after the preparations

;

and another,

THE BEAR SERVANTS.

Page

59.

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER. wlien

lie

should have been waiting at

69

back of

tlie

master, bad climbed a shady tree and was in-

liis

And when,

dulging in his afternoon nap.

at last,

the dinner was ready to bo served, they came tumbling in with the dishes, heels over head, one after

the other, so that one half of the feast was spread

upon the ground, and the other half deposited out of doors, on the other side of the lodge.

After a while, however, by

strict

and

discipline,

threatening to cut off their provisions, the bear-servants were brought into tolerable control.

Yet Grasshopper, with

his ever restless disposition,

was uneasy; and, having done things, he resolved

form in

all

upon a

many

so

strict

and thorough

re-

To prevent

fu-

the affairs of the village.

ture difficulty, he determined to adopt tions

wonderful

new

With

this view,

he issued an edict that hencefor-

ward the bears should eat

at the

first table,

the Indians were to wait upon them; that in lic

regula-

between the bears and their masters.

and that all

pub-

processions of an honorable character the bears

should go

first;

and that when any fighting was

to

be done, the Indians should have the privilege reserved of receiving the tion

first shots.

A special exemp-

was made in behalf of Grasshopper's

confidential adviser, the Pipe-bearer

who was

to be allowed to

sit

and

(who had been

very busy in private, recommending the things),

favorite

new

order of

at the head of

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

60

the feast, and to stay at liome witli the old

women

in the event of battle.

Having seen

his orders strictly enforced,

and the

rights of the hears over the Indians fahly established.

Grasshopper fixed his mind upon further ad-

He

ventures.

determined to go abroad

and having an old he

set out

famous

score to settle with

for a time,

Manabozho,

with a hope of soon falling in with that

Grasshopper was a blood relation of

giant.

Dais Imid, or

He

of the Little Shell, and had heard

of what had passed between that giant and his kins-

man. After wandering a long time he came to the lodge

who was

of Manabozho,

must play him a

trick;

He

absent.

and

so

thought he

he turned every thing

in the lodge upside down, and

killed his birds, of

which there was an extraordinary attendance,

for

and

this

Manabozho

is

master of the fowls of the

was the appointed morning for

Among

their court to him.

them

the

air,

to call

and pay

number was a

raven,

accounted the meanest of birds, which Grasshopper killed

He

and hung up by the neck, to then went on

till

insult him.

he came to a very high point

of rocks running out into the lake, from the top of

which he could

see the country,

eye could reach.

While

back as far as the

sitting there,

Manabozho's

mountain chickens flew around and past him numbers.

Out

in great

of mere spite to their master. Grass-

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPFEE. by

liop]3er sliot tliem

tlie

score, for

arrows were

liis

very sure and the birds very plenty, and

himself by throwing the birds

61

lie

down the

amused

rocks.

At

length a wary bird cried out:

" GrrasshojDper

A way

is

killing us; go

and

tell

our father."

sped a delegation of the birds which were

made

the quickest of wing, and Manabozho soon

appearance on the

when he

made had

is

j)lain

in the wi'oug,

his escape

Grasshopper, who,

no match for Manabozho,

on the other

two or three

in

below. is

his

strides

Manabozho, who

side.

reached the top of the

mountain, cried out:

" You are a rogue.

The earth

is

not so large but

I can get up to you."

Off ran G-rasshopper and Manabozho after him.

The

race was sharp

they made

;

Over

!

and such leaps and

hills

and

prairies,

strides as

with

all

his

speed, went Grasshopper, and Manabozho hard upon

Grasshopper had some mischievous notions

him.

still left

him.

head which he thought might befriend

in his

He knew

restore

Manabozho was under a

spell to

whatever he. Grasshopper, destroyed.

Forth-

that

with he stopped and climbed a large pine-tree, strip-

ped

joff its

beautiful green foliage, threw

it

to the

winds, and then went on.

When Manabozho dressed give

him

my life

:

reached the spot, the tree ad-

" Great chief," said the

again ?

tree,

" will yon

Grasshopper has killed me.*'

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

62

" Yes/' replied Manabozlio, who, as qnicldy as he

and branches,

could, gathered the scattered leaves

renewed

beauty with his breath, and

its

Although Grrasshopper

Manabozho

And

other trees, the giant did

when Grasshopper happened

to see

an

asking him, for old acquaintance' sake, to

him on

take

many

but pushing briskly forward, was fast over-

falter,

taking him, elk.

same way compelled

to lose time in re23airing the hemlock, the

sycamore, cedar, and

not

in the

off.

se+-

his back, the

elk did so,

time he made good headway, but

still

and

some

for

Manabozho was

in sight.

He was

fast gaining uj)on

threw himself

off the

elk's

him, wlien Grrasshopper

back

;

and

striking

great sandstone rock near the path, he broke pieces,

and scattered the grains

tions

for this

;

Manabozho was

was nearly so close

in a

his last

upon him

he had almost caught him

;

it

a

into

thousand direc-

hope of escape.

at this place that

but the foundation of

the rock cried out,

"

Haye

!

Ne-me-sho, Grasshopper has spoiled me.

Will you not restore

me

to life ?"

" Yes," replied Manabozho. rock in

He

He

re-established the

all its strength.

then pushed on in pursuit, and had got so

near to Grasshopper as to put out his arm to seize

him

;

but Grasshopper dodged him, and, as his last

chance, ho immediately raised such a dust and com-

EXPLOITS OF GR A.ssnorPER. motion by whirlwinds, as made

tlie trees

the sand and leaves dance in the

63

break and

Again and

air.

again Manabozho stretched his arm, but he escaped

him

at every turn,

and kept up such a tumult of

dust that he dashed into a hollow tree which had

been blown down, changed himself into a snake, and crept out at the roots just in time to save his hfe for at that

moment Manabozho, who had

of lightning, struck

it,

and

it

;

the power

was strewn about in

little pieces.

Again Grasshopper was

in

Manabozho was pressing him saw a very high and he ran and

opened

At a

hard.

distance he

for the foot of the precipice

great

his

shape, and

bluif of rocks jutting out into a lake,

abrupt and elevated. prise

human

As he came

relief,

the

which was

near, to his sur-

Manito of the

rock

door and told Grasshopper to come

The door was no sooner

closed

than

in.

Manabozho

knocked.

" Open

it !"

he

cried,

with a loud voice.

The

Manito was afraid of him but he said to Grasshopper, " Since I have taken you as my guest, I would ;

sooner die with you than open the door."

" Open

it \"

Manabozho again

cried, in

a louder

voice than before.

The Manito kept silent. Manabozho, however, made no attempt to open it by force. He waited a few moments.

THEINDIANFAIRYBOOK.

64

" Very well,"

h.e

said

" I give you

;

till

morning

to

live."

Grasshopper trembled, for he thought his

had come

;

last

houi

but the Manito bade him to be of good

cheer.

When

the night came on the clouds were thick

and black, and lightning,

as

they were

torn

heard as bellowed

The

forth.

clouds advanced slowly

and wrapped the earth about with as in a l\uge cloak. ered,

and above

all

You have

shadows

and the thunder

flashed,

Manabozho

could be heard

muttering vengeance upon poor

"

their vast

All night long the clouds gath-

and the lightning

roared,

open by the

such discharges of thunder were never

little

Grasshopper.

led a very foolish kind of

life,

Grass-

hopper," said his friend the Manito.

—

" I know it I know it !" Grasshopper answered. " You had great gifts of strength awarded to you/' said the Manito.

"I

am

aware of

it," replied

" Instead of employing for the

it

Grasshopper.

for useful purposes,

and

good of your fellow-creatures, you have done

nothing since you became a

man

winds on the highways, leap over ever you

met

in pieces,

but

raise whirl-

trees,

break what-

and perform a thousand

idle

pranks."

Grasshopper, with great penitence, confessed that his friend the

Manito spoke but too truly

;

and at

:

EXPLOITS OF GKASSHOPPER. last his entertainer,

with a

more

still

65

manner,

serious

said

" Grasshopper, Dedicate

it

have your

yoii still

gift of strength.

Lay

to the good of mankind.

of

all

these wanton and vain-glorious notions out of your

In a word, be as good as you are strong."

head.

" I will," answered Grasshopper.

changed; I see the error of

Black and stormy as

it

my

"

My

heart

ways."

had been

when

all night,

morning came the sun was shining, the

was

air

and sweet as the summer down and the blown and

afar off

upon the

is

side of a

mountain

soft

rose;

Mana-

sat

bozho, his head upon his knees, languid and cast

down

in spirit.

His power was gone,

hopper was in the

right,

for

now Grass-

and he could touch him no

more.

With many

thanks, Grasshopper left the good

Manito, taking the nearest way

home

to his

own

people.

As he passed

on, he fell in with

an old

man who

was wandering about the country in search of some place

which he could

not

find.

As soon

as

he

learned his difficulty. Grasshopper, placing the old

man upon

his back, hurried

Lout's dispatch of foot set

kindred, of

whom

away, and in a short

him down among

his

own

he had been in quest.

Loosing no time, Grasshopper next came to an

open plain, where a small number of

men

stood at

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

66

bay, and on

tlie

armed

warriors, fierce of as-

When

pect and of prodigious strength.

saw

this

Grasshopper

unequal struggle, rushing forward he seized

a long bare force,

down by

very point of being borne

great odds, in a force of

pole, and, wielding it

he drove the

fierce warriors

with his whole

back; and, laying

about him on every hand, he soon sent them a thou-

sand ways in great haste, and in a very sore plight.

Without tarrying

whom

to receive the thanks of those to

he had brought this timely

utmost speed, and by the

had come surprise

in sight of his

and

he made his

he

close of the afternoon

own

horror, as he

relief,

village.

What

were his

approached nearer, to

cover the bears in excellent case

dis-

and flesh, seated at

lazy leisure in the trees, looking idly on while his

brother Indians, for their pastime, were dancing a fantastic

and wearisome dance,

in the course of wliich

they were frequently compelled to go upon

all fours

and bow their heads in profound obeisance to their bear-masters in the

As he drew see

how

trees.

nearer, his heart

starved,

sunk within him to

and hollow-eyed, and woe-begone

they were; and his horror was at he entered his

own

friend, the Pipe-bearer, also fclie

floor

its

height when, as

lodge, he beheld his favorite

with the palms

on

of his

all fours,

and

smoothing

hands to make

it

a

comfortable sitting-place for the bears on their re-

turn from the dance.

EXPLOITS OF GRASSHOPPER.

67

It did not take Grrasstiopper a long time to resolve

what

lie

He

should do.

in the village,

bestowed a sound cudgeling upon the

and sent them

bears,

among

their

the people

immediately resumed power

own

off to live in

the mountains,

people, as bears should; restored to

all their rights;

and drink; exerting

gave them plenty to eat

his great strength in hunting, in

rebuilding their lodges, keeping in check their enemies,

and doing

all

the good he could to every body.

Peace and plenty soon shone and showered upon the spot; and, never once thinking of

wanton

and sincerely prayed that

might be held

name

it will.

Little Pipe-bearer stood

and admired

had taken

his

all

honor for a thousand years to

in

come, as no doubt

course,

vdld and

the people blessed Grasshopper for

frolics,

his kindness,

all his

his

by Grasshopper

in all his

ways as much now that he

to being orderly

and

useful, as in the old

in

when he was walking a mile a minute, and mere wantonness bringing home whole forests in

his

arms

times,

It

for fire-wood, in

was a great old age

midsummer. to

which Grasshopper

lived,

and when

at last

eye in

that part of the v/orld where he spent his

a,ll

latter days.

he came to

die, there

was not a dry^

V.

THE TWO JEEBI.

THEKE wife

who had a

lived a hunter in the North,

and one

child.

His lodge stood far

off in

the forest, several days' journey from any other.

He

spent his days in hunting, and his evenings in relat-

ing to his wife the incidents that had befallen him.

As game was very abundant, he found no difficulty much as they wanted. Just in all his

in killing as acts,

he lived a peaceful and happy

One evening during the winter

life.

season,

it

chanced

that he remained out longer than usual, and his wife

began

to fear that

some accident had befallen him.

was aheady dark.

It

She listened attentively, and

at last heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

Not doubting

that

it

was her husband, she went

to the door and beheld two strange females.

bade them

enter,

and invited them

to remain.

She Slie

observed that they were total strangers in the coun-

There was something so peculiar in their looks,

try.

air

and manner, that she was disturbed by

ence.

They would not come near

to the

their pres-

fire.

They

THETWOJEEBI. Bat in a

69

remote part of the lodge, shy and taciturn,

and drew their garments about them ner as nearly to hide their

So

fa'ces.

in such a

man-

far as she could

judge, they were pale, hollow-eyed, and long-visaged,

very thin and emaciated.

There was but was low, and

little light

its

fitful

in the lodge, as the fire

flashes,

by

disclosing their

white faces and then drojiping them in sudden darkness,

rather to increase than to dispel her

served

fears.

" Merciful Spirit!" cried a voice from the opposite part of the lodge; "there are two corpses clothed

with garments!"

The

hunter's wife turned around, but seeing no-

body save her

little

his blanket, she

child, staring across

said to herself, "

from under

The boy can not

speak; the sounds were but the gusts of wind."

She

trembled, and was ready to sink to the earth.

Her husband

at this

moment

entered,

He

measure relieved her alarm.

and

in

some

threw down the car-

cass of a large fat deer.

"Behold what a

fine

and

fat

animal!" cried the

mysterious females; and they immediately ran and pulled off pieces of the whitest ily

fat,

which they greed-

devoured.

The hunter and

his wife

ment, but remained their guests

looked on with astonish-

silent.

They supposed

that

mi^ht have been stricken with famine.

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

70

The next

same

day, however, the

The

was repeated.

conduct

strange females again tore off

the fat and devoured

it

with eagerness.

day, the hunter thought that their

Tiniisual

Tha

third

he would anticipate

wants by tying up a share of the hunt, and

placing

cepted

apart

it it,

but

for

still

to the wife's portion

The hunter and

express use.

their

appeared

and tore his wife

dissatisfied,

They

ac-

and went

off more.

were surprised at such

rude and unaccountable conduct, but they remained Slent, for they respected their guests,

and had ob-

served that they had been attended with marked

good luck during the sojourn of these mysterious visitors in their lodge.

In other

was

strictly unexceptionable.

distant,

and

ing the day.

silent.

At

They were modest,

They never uttered a word dur-

night they would occupy themselves

in procuring wood,

and

deportment of the females

respects, the

which they carried to the lodge,

then, restoring the implements exactly where

they had found them, resume their places without speaking.

They were never known

daylight.

They never laughed

to stay out until

or jested.

The winter was nearly passed away, when, one evening, the hunter was

abroad later than usual.

The moment hd came

and

in

laid

down

his day's

hunt, as was his custom, before his wife, the two fe-

males seized upon the deer and began to tear

off the

THETWOJEEBI. fat in so

unceremonious a way that

excited.

Slie constrained lierself,

71 lier

anger was

however, in a good

degree, but she could not conceal her feehngs, though

she said hut

The

little.

strange guests observed the state of her rniad,

and they became uneasy, and withdrew further remote gloom of the lodge.

the

into

still

The good

hunter saw the eclipse that was darkening the quiet of his lodge, and carefully inquired of his wife denied

its

cause; but

having used any words of complain-

ing or reproach.

They retned

to their couches,

and the hunter

tried

to compose himself to sleep, but could not, for the

sighs

He

and sobs of the two females were incessant.

arose on his couch

and addressed them as

"Tell me," said he, "what

is

it

follows:

that gives you

pain of mind and causes you to bemoan your pres-

Has

ence here.

my

wife given you offense, or tres-

passed upon the rights of hospitahty.?"

They treated for

replied in the

negative.

by you with kindness and

"

We

affection.

have been It

any shght we have received that we weep.

mission

is

not to you only.

We

is

not

Our

come from the other

land to test mankind, and to try the sincerity of the living.

Often we have heard the bereaved by death

say that

if

the lost could be restored, they would de-

vote their Kves to

moved by the

make them happy.

bitter lamentations

We have been

which have reached

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

72

the place of the departed, and have come to

proof of the sincerity of those

We

two dead

are your

who have

lost friends.

Three moons were

sisters.

by the Master of Life

allotted us

make

make

to

the

trial.

I'e

than half the time had been successfully passed,

when

the angry feelings of your wife indicated the

M(

Lrksomeuess you

felt at

our presence, and has

made

us resolve on our departure."

They continued

to talk to the hunter

gave them instructions as to a future

and

his wife,

and pro-

life,

nounced a blessing upon them. " There

is

one point/' they added, " of which

You have

wish to speak. strange

and rude

choicest parts of your hunt.

put you

trial selected to

You

privilege.

Tliat It

to.

love your wife.

wdiat belongs to her,

ourselves

possessing

in

we

thought our conduct very

we know

is

of the

was the point of

the wife's peculiar

For another

to usurp

to be the severest test

of her goodness of heart, and consequently of your

temper and

feelings.

customs, but

we came

We

to prove you, not

vdth but by violating them. agents of

Farewell

When No

him who

knew your manners and

sent us.

by complying

Pardon us." Peace

to

We

are the

your dwelling.

!"

they ceased, total darkness

object

could be seen.

filled

the lodge.

The inmates heard the

lodge-door open and shut, but they never saw more of the

Two

Spirits.

THETWOJEEBI. The hunter found ised.

He became

wanted

for

the lodge, a led

long

them life

the success which they

had prom-

celebrated in the chase,

and nevei

any thing.

whom grew up

to

78

He had many

manhood

little cliild,

;

children, all of

and he who had

lain in

while the Jeebi dwelt there,

in all good deeds,

and health, peace, and

were the rewards of the hunter's hospitality. 4

—

VI.

OSSEO, THE SON OF THE EVENING STAR. fT\

HEKE

-L

once lived an Indian in the north who had

ten daughters,

all

of

whom grew up

to

woman-

They were noted for their beauty, esj)ecially Oweenee, the youngest, who was very independent in

hood.

her

way

of thinking.

She was a great admirer of

romantic places, and spent

much

of her time with

the flowers and winds and clouds in the open

Th*ugh

the flower were homely, if

though the wind were rough,

though the cloud were dark, ful rain,

knew how,

she

was fragrant

it

was healthful

—and

embosomed the

fruit-

if it

if it

air.

in spite of appearances, to

acknowledge the good qualities concealed from the eye.

She paid very

little

attention to the

young men who came

many handsome

to her father's lodge for the pur-

pose of seeing her.

Her

elder sisters were all sought in marriage,

and

one after the other they went off to dwell in

tlie

lodges of their husbands all proposals

of the kind.

;

but Oweenee was deaf

At

last she married

to

an old

SON OF THE EVENING STAR. man

called Osseo,

who was

who was too poor

to

75

scarcely able to walk,

and

The

have things like others.

only proj)erty he owned in the world was the walkingstaff

which he carried in

Though thus poor

his hand.

man

and homely, Osseo was a devout and good faithful in all his duties, to

Good

the

and obedient in

Of

Spirit.

laughed at Oweenee on

course

all sides,

they jeered

see in the

They made a

special

and

but she seemed to

be quite happy, and said to them, " It

and you will

;

things

all

is

my

choice

end who has acted the wisest."

mock

of the walking-staff, and

an hour in the day passed that they had not

scarcely

some disparaging reference

to

it.

Among

themselves

they spoke of Osseo of the walking-staff, in derision, as the

owner of the big woods, or the great timber-

man. " True " but as

it

said

Oweenee, " it

is

supports the steps of

more precious

me

to

than

all

but a simple stick

my

husband,

it

;

ia

the forests of the

north."

A time and

came when the

sisters,

and

their husbands,

their parents were all invited to a feast.

distance

was

considerable,

Osseo, so aged and

take the journey

;

feeble,

As the

they doubted whether

would be able to under-

but in spite of their friendly

doubts, he joined them, and set out with a good heart.

As they walked along the path they could not

THE INDIAN FAIKY BOOK.

76

who

help pitying their young and handsome sister

had such an unsuitable mate.

She, however, smiled

upon Osseo, and kept with him by the way the same

as

if

he had been the comeliest bridegroom

in all the comj)any.

upward

Osseo often stopped and gazed

but they could perceive nothing in the

;

rection in

which he looked, unless

glimmering of the evening

star.

it

was the

di-

faint

They heard him

muttering to himself as they went along, and one of the elder sisters caught the words, " Pity me, father

my

!"

" Poor old man," said she

What

father.

a pity

" he

is

talking to his

that he would not

it is

break his neck, that our

;

sister

fall

and

might have a young

husband." Presently as they came to a great rock where Osseo

had been used

to breathe his

morning and

his even-

ing prayer, the star emitted a brighter ray, which

shone directly in his face.

Osseo, with a sharp cry,

trembling to the earth, where the others would

fell

have

left

him, but his good wife raised him up, and

he sprang forward on the path, and with steps light as the reindeer he led the party, no longer decrepid

and

infirm,

around

but a beautiful young man.

to look for his wife, behold she

On

turning

had become

changed, at the same moment, into an aged and feeble

woman, bent almost

the staff which he

had

double, and walking with

cast aside.

SON OF THE EVENING STAR.

77

Osseo immediately joined her, and witli looks of fondness and the tenderest regard, bestowed on her everj endearing attention, and constantly addressed

her by the term of ne-ne-moosh-a, or

As they walked

along,

my sweetheart.

whenever they were not

gazing fondly in each other's face, they bent their looks on heaven, and a light, as if of far-off stars,

was

in their eyes.

On

arriving at the lodge of the hunter with

whom

they were to feast, they found the banquet ready,

and as soon

as

harangue

which he told them

—

^in

had

their entertainer

honor of the Evening or

finished his

his feasting

was

in

—they began

Woman's

Star

to partake of the portion dealt out, according to age

and character, to each one of the was very Osseo,

delicious,

who looked

ward, as

and they were at his wife,

voices

he was looking into the substance of the

if

in

plainer,

all

and then gazed up-

Sounds were soon heard, as

sky.

The food happy but

guests.

the

till

air,

and

if

from

far-off

they became plainer and

he could clearly distinguish some of the

words.

"

My son, my son," said

afflictions,

away from a scene that tears.

the voice;

and pity your wants.

The

earth

is

is

T

"I have seen your come

to call

you

stained with blood and

full of sorrows.

Wicked

the enemies of mankind, walk abroad, and to ensnare the children of the sky.

lie

spirits,

in wait

Every night they

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

78

are lifting their voices to

Power of

tlie

and every

Evil,

day they make themselves busy in casting mischief in

You

the hunter's path.

but you

have long been their victim,

evil genius is overcome.

my

superior strength, and it

I have cast

him down by

is this

cend,

now

strength I

my

son;

you

spell

Your

is

broken.

The

no more.

shall be their victim

were under

As-

exert for your happiness.

ascend into the skies, and partake of

the feast I have prepared for you in the stars, and

bring with you those you love.

" The food set before you

Fear not

to partake of it.

is

enchanted and blessed.

endowed with magic

It is

power to give immortality to mortals, and to change

men

to

Your bowls and

spirits.

longer be wood and earth. ver,

and the other pure

and

glisten like the

male

shall also

longer be

ghall sing,

shall

no

become

sil-

kettles shall

.

shall shine like fire,

Every

scarlet.

fe-

change her state and looks, and no

doomed

air.

They

most beautiful

to laborious tasks.

on the beauty of the bird of the

gold.

The one

She

and not

star-light,

She

shall

put

and become a shining

shall dance,

and not work.

She

cry.

" My beams," continued the voice, "

sliine faintly

on your lodge, but they have power to transform

the colors of the clovids.

dwell no longer on earth.

and decorate

it

it

with

son,

and

Think strongly on

my

into the lightness of the skies,

Come, Osseo,

words, and look steadfastly at

my

my

beams.

My

power

SON OF THE EVENING STAR. is

now

at its lieight.

Doubt

not, delay not.

79 It

is tli«

you away to

voice of the Spirit of the Stars that calls

happiness and celestial rest."

The words were

intelligible to Osseo,

them some

panions thought

far-off

or birds singing in the woods.

but his com-

sounds of music,

"Very soon the lodge

began to shake and tremble, and they felt into the

It

air.

was too

late to

it

rising

run out, for they were Osseo looked

already as high as the tops of the trees.

around him as the lodge passed through the topmost

and

boughs,

behold

their

!

wooden

were

dishes

changed into shells of a scarlet color, the poles of the lodge to glittering rods of

covered

them

and

who hopped

sisters,

about,

his wife,

jays,

some parbirds,

displaying their many-colored

Oweenee,

all

and

were transformed into birds

Some were

and singing songs of cheerful

and exhibited

He

and

and pigeons, and others gay singing

feathers,

But

his brothers

friends,

of various plumage. tridges

and the bark that

into the gorgeous wings of insects.

A moment more and their parents

silver,

still

note.

kept her earthly garb,

the indications of extreme old age.

again cast his eyes in the direction of the clouds,

and uttered the pecuhar cry which had given him the victory at the rock.

In a moment the youth and

beauty of his wife returned; her dingy garments as-

sumed the shining appearance of green Btaff

was changed into a

silver feather

silk,

and her

THE INDIAN FAIEY BOOK.

80

The lodge again shook and trembled, now passing through the uj3permost

for

clouds,

they were

and

tliey

immediately after found themselves in the Evening Star, the residence of Osseo's father.

"

My son,"

birds

man, " hang that cage of

said the old

which you have brought along in your hand at

why you and youi

the door, and I will inform you wife have been sent for."

Osseo obeyed, and then took his seat in the lodge.

" Pity was shown to you," resumed the King of the Star, " on account of the contempt of your wife's

who laughed

sister,

you

wliile

spirit

lives in the

my

left

fortune,

ill

and ridiculed

you were under the power of that wicked

whom

on the

at her

you overcame at the

rock.

That

spirit

next lodge, being the small star you see of mine, and he has always felt envious of

we had greater power, and eswe had committed to us the care of the

family because

pecially that

female world.

He

failed in

many attempts

to destroy

your brothers and sisters-in-law, but succeeded at last in transforming yourself

You must

crepid old persons. let the light of his

beams

here, for therein lies the

A

ray of light

is

and your wife into de-

the

fall

be careful and not

on you, while you are

power of

his enchantment.

bow and arrow he

uses."

Osseo lived happy and contented in the parental lodge,

and

in

due time

his wife presented

him with

a son, who grew up rapidly, and in the very likeness

SON OF THE EVENING STAR. He was

of Osseo himself.

81

very quick and ready in

learning every thing that was done in his grandfather's dominions;

but he wished also to learn the art

of hunting, for he had heard that this was a favorite

To

pursuit below.

him

a

bow and

gratify him, his father

arrows,

and he then

let

made

the birds out

of the cage that he might practice in shooting.

In

this

pastime he soon became expert, and the very

first

day he brought down a bird; but when he went

to pick

it

up, to his

amazement

it

was a beautiful

young woman, with the arrow sticking was one of

It

his

in her breast.

younger aunts.

The moment her blood

fell

upon the

surface of

that pure and spotless planet, the charm was dis-

The boy immediately found himself

solved.

sinking,

although he was partly upheld by something like wings until he passed through the lower clouds, and

he then suddenly dropped upon a high, breezy

and

in a large lake.

He was

isl-

pleased, on looking

up, to see all his aunts and uncles following

him

in

the form of birds, and he soon discovered the silver lodge, with his father its

waving

tassels

all

fluttering like so

many

It rested on the loftiest

insect?'

cliffs

of the

and there they fixed their residence.

They

gilded wings. island,

and mother, descending, with

resumed their natural shapes, but they were

minished to the

homage

to the

size of fairies;

King of the Evening 4*

di-

and as a mark of Star, they never

THE INDIAN FAIKT BOOK.

82 failed

on every pleasant evening during

season to join hands and dance upon rocks.

tlie

tlie

Bummei

top of

tlie

These rocks were quickly observed by the In-

dians to be covered, in moonlight evenings, with a larger sort of Ininees, or little

men, and were called

Mish-in-e-mok-in-ok-ong, or Little Spirits, and the island

is

named from them

to this day.

Their shining lodge can be seen in the summer evenings,

when

the

moon beams

strongly on the pin-

nacles of the rocks; and the fishermen

those high of the

cliffs

happy

at night,

little

who go near

have even heard the voices

dancers.

And

Osseo and his wife,

as fondly attached to each other as ever, always lead

the dance.

VII.

GRAY EAGLE

THEEE were whom were

Ai\D HIS

HVE

BROTHERS.

six falcons living in a nest, five of still

too young to

fly,

when

so

it

hap-

pened that both the parent birds were shot in one day.

The young brood waited anxiously

return

;

but night came, and they were

for their

left

without

parents and without food.

Gray Eagle, the feathers

eldest,

had become

stout

and the only one whose

enough

to enable

him

to

leave the nest, took his place at the head of the family,

and assumed the duty of

and providing

the

which he was very

little

stifling their cries

household with food, in

successful.

But, after a short

time had passed, by an unlucky mischance, while out on a

foraging excursion,

wings broken.

he got one

of his

This was the more to be regretted, as

the season had arrived

when they were soon to go

to a

southern country to pass the winter, and the chil-

dren were only waiting to become a

more expert on the wing to

set out

little

stronger and

on the journey.

THE INDIAN FAIKT BOOK.

84

Finding that their elder brother did not return, they resolved to go in search of him.

up and down the country whole day, they at

and unable to

fly,

last

After beating

for the better part

of a

found him, sorely wounded

lodged in the upper branches of a

sycamore-tree.

" Brothers," said Gray Eagle, as soon as they were gathered around, and questioned him as to the extent of his injuries,

but

not

let

Winter

climate.

is

can not remain here. die,

than

"No,

for

you

no,"

will

accident has befallen me,

It is better that I alone should

on

my

account."

"We

they replied, with one voice.

We will share

your sufferings

;

abandon our journey, and take care of you as

you did of us before we were able

Do you

erly care,

to take care of

If the chill climate kills you,

ourselves. us.

and you

rapidly approaching,

all to suffer

will not forsake you.

we

"an

prevent your going to a warmer

tliis

think

we can

will live or die

father's,

Whether you

shall kill

your broth-

so soon forget

which has equaled a

mother's kindness ?

it

and even a or die,

live

we

with you,"

They sought out

a hollow tree to winter in, and

contrived to carry their

and before the

wounded nest-mate

rigor of the season

had

tliither

set in,

;

they

had, by diligence and economy, stored up food enough to carry

them through the winter months.

To make

the provisions they had laid in

ls>.st

the

GKAT EAGLE AND HIS FIVE BROTHERS. better^ it

was agreed among them

number should go south watch

The

over, feed,

travelers

their

forth, sorry to

first

two of their

leaving the other thiee to

and protect

set

resolved that the

;

tliat

85

wounded

brother.

leave home, but

promise of spring should bring

them back again. At the close of day, the three brothers who remained, mounting to the very peak of the tree, and bearing Gray Eagle in their arms,

watched them, as they vanished away southward, their forms blended with the air

till

and were wholly

lost to sight.

Their next business was to set the household in order,

Eagle,

and

this,

with the judicious direction of Gray

who was propped up

in a

snug

fork,

with soft

cushions of dry moss, they speedily accomplished.

One

of the sisters, for there were two of these, took

upon herself the charge of nursing Gray Eagle, preparing his food, bringing him water, and changing his pillows

when he grew

also looked to

it

tidy condition,

with food.

tired of one position.

She

that the house itself was kept in a

and that the pantry was supplied

The second brother was assigned the

duty of physician, and he was to prescribe such herbs

and other medicines

Gray Eagle seemed er

as the state of the health of

to require.

had no other invalid on

As

the second broth-

his visiting-list,

he de-

voted the time not given to the cure of his patient, to the killing of

game wherewith

to stock the house-

LUX ET VERITAS, INDIANA UNl'&tfj^W.^f keeper

s

larder

;

so

mat, whatever

always busy in the line

On

or curing.

carried with

him

young

foolish

his

of the world,

was

did, lie

lie

of professional duty—

^killing

hunting excursions, Doctor Falcon

his youngest brother, who, being a

fellow, it

"''"' Y BOOK.

and inexperienced

was not thought

ways

in the

safe to trust alone.

In due time, what with good nursing, and good feeding,

and good

air,

Gray Eagle recovered from

wound, and he repaid the kindness of

them such advice and

giving

his

his brothers

by

instruction in the art of

hunting as his age and experience qualified him to impart.

As

for the

means of replenishing

spring advanced, they began to look about

supplies were running low;

their store-house,

and they were

whose quite

all

successful in their quest except the youngest, whose

name was

Peepi, or the Pigeon-Hawk, and

of late begun to set

and

foolish,

up

Being small

for himself.

and feather-headed,

yonder without any set purpose,

who had

flying hither

it

so

and

happened that

Peepi always came home, so to phrase

it,

empty game-bag, and

rumpled.

At

last

his pinions terribly

Gray Eagle spoke

to him,

with an

and demanded

the cause of his ill-luck.

" It

is

not

my

smallness nor weakness of body,'*

Peepi answered, " that prevents provender as well as ,,1,^

my

my

brothers.

time on the wing, hither and thither.

and other birds every time

I

bringing I

am

home

all

the

I kill ducks

go out; but just as I

GRAY EAGLE AND HIS FIVE BROTHERS.

my way

87

am met by a large ko-ko-lio, who robs me of my prey; and/ added Peepi, with great energy, "it's my settled get to the woods, on

opinion that the villain

lies

home,

I

in wait for the very pur-

pose of doing so."

" I have no doubt you are rejoined

name

is

right,

Brother Peepi,"

—

"I know this phate his White Owl; and now that I feel my strength Gray Eagle.

fully recovered, I will go

and help you look

out with you to-morrow

after this greedy bush-ranger."

The next day they went

forth in comjpany,

and

ar-

Gray Eagle seated

rived at a fine fresh-water lake.

himself hard by, while Peepi started out, and soon

pounced upon a duck.

"Well

done!" thought his brother,

success; but just as little Peepi

who saw

his

was getting to land

with his prize, up sailed a large white owl from a tree

where he,

claim to

it.

too,

had been watching, and

He was on

laid

the point of wresting

from Peepi, when Gray Eagle, calling out to the

it

in-

truder to desist, rushed up, and, fixing his talons in

both sides of the owl, without further introduction or ceremony, flew

The

little

duck under that he

away with him.

Pigeon-Hawk followed nis wing, rejoiced

had something

closely,

with the

and happy

to think

to carry

home

at last.

He

was natm'ally much vexed with the owl, and had no sooner delivered over the duck to his sister, the

— THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

88

housekeeper, than he flew in the owl's face, and,

venting an abundance of reproachful terms, would, in his passion, have torn the very eyes out of the

White Owl's head. "

Gray Eagle, stepping

Softly, Peepi," said the

"between them.

" Don't be in such a

brother, nor exhibit

so

revengeful a

in

my

little

temper.

Do

huff,

you not know that we are to forgive our enemies

White Owl, you may

?

go; but let this be a lesson to

you, not to play the tyrant over those

who may

chance to be weaker than yourself."

much more good

So, after adding to this

and

telling

advice,

of herbs would cure his

him what kin^

wounds, Gray Eagle dismissed White Owl, and the four brothers

and

sisters sat

down

to

suppen

The next day, betimes, in the morning, before the household had fairly rubbed the cobwebs out of the corners of their eyes, there came a knock at the front door

—which was

a dry branch that lay

down

before the hollow of the tree in which they lodged

and being

called to

come

in,

who should make

their

appearance but the two nest-mates, who had just '

re-

turned from the South, where they had been wintering.

There was great rejoicing over their return,

and now that they were

all

happily re-united, each

one soon chose a mate and began to keep house in the woods for himself.

Spring had

now

revisited the North.

The

cold

GRAY EAGLE AND HIS FIVE BROTHERS. winds had

all

blown themselves away, the

89

had

ice

melted, the streams were open, and smiled as they

looked at the blue sky once more; and the foiests, far

and wide,

in their green mantle, echoed every

cheerful sound.

But

it

is

in vain that spring returns,

the heart of Nature

is

opened in bounty,

not thankful to the Master of Life,

and that if

we

are

who has preserved

us through the winter.

Nor does that man answer

the end for which he was

made who does not show a

kind and charitable feeling to

all

who

are in

want

or sickness, especially to his blood relations.

The

love

and harmony of Gray Eagle and

brothers continued.

They never

his

forgot each other.

Every week, on the fourth afternoon of the week (for that

was the time when they had found their

wounded

elder brother), they

had a meeting

hollow of the old sycamore-tree,

when they

in the

talked

over family matters, and advised with each other, as brothers should, about their

aflairs.

VIII.

THE TOAD-WOMAN. f^

REAT

^

man

good luck once happened to a young wo-

wlio

was living

nobody near her but her

all

little

alone in the woods with

dog;

for, to

her surprise,

she found fresh meat every morning at her door.

was very curious her,

know who

to

it

She

was that supplied

and watching one morning, just as the sun had

risen, she

saw a handsome young

into the forest.

Having seen

man

her,

gliding

away

he became her

husband, and she had a son by him.

One

day, not long after this, he did not return at

evening, as usual, from hunting. at night, but he

She waited

till

late

came no more.

The

next day, she

swung her

child to sleep in its

cradle,

and then said

to her dog,

" Take care of your

brother while I for

am

gone, and

when he

cries, halloo

me."

The all its

cradle

was made of the

finest

wampum, and

bandages and ornaments were of the same

precious

stuff.

,

THE TOAD-WOMAN. After a short time, dog, and running

woman

tlie

home

91

lieard tlie cry of the

as fast as she could, she

found her child gone, and the dog

On

too.

looking

around, she saw scattered upon the ground pieces of the

-wampum

knew

of her child's cradle, and she

that the dog had been faithful, and had striven his best to save her child from

being carried

he had been, by an old woman, from country, called

Mukakee Mindemoea,

a

off,

as

distant

or the

Toad-

Woman. The mother hurried and

off at full

speed in pursuit,

she flew along, she came, from time to time,

as

to lodges inhabited

what time the

by old women, who

child-thief

told her at

had passed

they also

;

gave her shoes that she might follow on. a number of these old

There was

women who seemed

as if they

were prophetesses, and knew what was to come long beforehand.

Each of them would say

when she had

arrived at the next lodge, she

to her

that

must

set

the toes of the moccasins they had given her pointing homeward, and that they would return of themselves.

back in

The young woman was very careful to send this manner all the shoes she borrowed.

She thus followed in the pursuit, from valley to valley,

and stream

years

when

;

she

to stream, for

came

last of the friendly old

called,

who gave her

many months and

at length to the lodge of the

grandmothers, as they were

the last instructions

how to

pro-

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

92

She told

ceed.

her son was

to

build a lodge

lier tliat

she was near the place where

be found

and she directed her to

;

hard hj the old

cedar-boughs,

of

Toad- Woman's lodge, and to make a

and

dish,

to

fill it

" Then," she

little

bark

with the juice of the wild grap6.

said,

" your

first

child

(meaning the

dog) will come and find you out."

These directions the young

woman

followed just as

they had been given to her, and in a short time she

heard her son, now grown up, going out to hunt,

with his dog, calling out to him, " Peewaubik

—

Iron— Twee Twee \" The dog soon came into the lodge, and before him the dish of grape-juice.

Spirit-

!

" See,

my

she set

child," she said, addressing him, " the

pretty drink your mother gives you." Spirit-Iron took a long draught, left

and immediately

the lodge with his eyes wide open

the drink which teaches one

He

things as they are.

rose

to

;

for it

was

see the truth

up when he got

of

into the

open air, stood upon his hind-legs, and looked about. " I see how it is," he said and marching off, erect ;

like a

man, he sought out

his

young master.

Approaching him in great confidence, he bent

down and whispered

in his ear (having first looked

cautiously around to see that no one was listening), *'

This old

yours.

I

woman

here in the lodge

is

no mother of

have found your real mother, and she

is

THE TOAD-WOMAN. When we

worth looking

at.

day's sport,

prove

I'll

They went out

it

93

come back from qui

to you."

into the woods,

and at the

close of

the afternoon they brought back a great spoil of

meat of had

all

The young man,

kinds.

laid aside his

man, " Send some of the best of stranger

I

who has

The young man would not be

Toad-Woman

and throw "

this

My

down

it

to the

Mukakee Mindemoea,

Why should

!

refused

and at

;

last

consented to take something

She called out,

at the door.

son gives you this."

that the young

meat

arrived lately."

The Toad-Woman answered, " No send to her, the poor widow !"

the old

as soon as he

weapons, said to the old Toad- Wo-

it

woman

But, being bewitched by

was

so bitter

and

immediately cast

distasteful,

it

out of the

lodge after her.

man

paid the stranger a

her lodge of cedar-boughs.

She then told him

In the evening the young visit at

that she was his real mother, and that he had been stolen

away from her by the

old Toad- Woman,

was a child-thief and a witch.

As

the young

who

man

appeared to doubt, she added, " Feign yourself sick

when you go home

Woman

asks

your cradle

;

to her lodge;

what for

ails

and when the Toad-

you, say that you wish to see

your cradle was of

wampum, and

your faithful brother the dog, in striving tore off these Dieces

which

I

show you."

to save jaxij

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

94

They were and beautiful his

real ;

bosom, set

wampum,

wliite

and

blue, shining

and the young man, placing them

in

but as he did not seem quite

off;

steady in his belief of the strange woman's story, the

dog

Spu'it-Iron,

taking his

they went along.

as

gether

;

arm,

kept

by

close

and gave him many words of encouragement

his side,

They entered

the lodge

to-

and the old Toad- Woman saw, from some-

thing in the dog's eye, that trouble was coming.

" Mother," said the young man, placing his hand to his head,

and leaning heavily upon

as if a sudden faintness

am

I

so different

Spirit-Iron,

had come upon him, " why

in looks

from the

rest of

your

children ?"

" Oh," she answered, " it was a very bright, clear

when you were

blue sky

He seemed

born; that

to be so very

at length asked

ill

is

the reason."

that the Toad- Woman

what she could do

for him.

He

said

nothing could do him good but the sight of his cradle.

She ran immediately and brought a cedar

cradle; but he said:

" That

is

not

my

cradle."

She went and got another of her own children's cradles, of

which there were four; but he turned

his

head, and said:

" That

is

When

she had shown the four, and they had been

all

not mine; I

am

rejected, she at last

as sick as ever."

produced the real

cradle^

THE TOAD-WOMAN. The young man saw as the

wampum

tliat it

95

was of the same

which he had in

stuff

He

his bosom.

could even see the marks of the teeth of Spirit-Iron left

upon the edges, where he had taken hold,

ing to hold

was

back.

it

He had

striv-

no doubt, now, which

his mother.

To

get free of the old Toad-AYoman,

sary that the young

man

should

being directed by Spirit-Iron,

kill

it

was neces-

a fat bear; and,

who was

very wise in

such a matter, he secured the fattest in

all

that

country; and having stripped a tall pine of all

its

bark and branches, he perched the carcass in the top, with its

head to the east and

its tail

due west.

Keturning to the lodge, he informed the old Toad-

Woman

that the fat bear was ready for her, but that

she would have to go very earth, to get

" It

is

far,

even to the end of the

She answered:

it.

not so far but that I can get it;" for of all

things in the world, a fat bear was the delight of

the old Toad- Woman.

She at once

set forth;

of sight than the

and she was no sooner out

young man and

liis

dog, Spirit-

Iron, blowing a strong breath in the face of the

Woman's

Toad-

four children (who were all bad spirits, or

bear-fiends), they

them up by the

put out their

life.

They then

set

side of the door, having first thrust

a piece of the white fat in each of their mouths.

The Toad-Woman spent

a long time in finding

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

96

the bear wliicli

made

at least five

was able tlu'ee

slie

had been sent

after,

and she

and twenty attempts before she She slipped down

to climb to the carcass.

"When she

times where she went up once.

re-

turned with the great bear on her back, as she drew near her lodge she was astonished to see the four chil-

dren standing up by the door-posts with the fat in

She was angry with them, and called

their mouths.

out:

"

Why

do you thus insult the pomatum of your

brother,?"

She was

still

more angry when they made no an-

swer to her complaint; but when she found that they

were stark dead, and placed in this way to her, her fury

was very great indeed.

man and

the tracks of the young

his

mother

as she could; so fast, indeed, that she

very point of overtaking them, Iron,

him

coming

close

up

— " Snakeberry!"

when the

ries

as fast

was on the dog, Spirit-

to his master, whispered to

" Let the snakeberry spring up to detain cried out the

mock

She ran after

young man

spread like scarlet

;

her!'*

and immediately the ber-

all

over the path, for a long

distance; and the old Toad- Woman,

who was almost

as fond of these berries as she was of fat bears, could

not avoid stooping

The

old

down

to pick

and

eat.

Toad- Woman was very anxious to get

for-

ward, but the snakeberry-vines kept spreading out

THE TOAD-WOMAN. on every

sidej

and they

still

spread and spread; and to

Toad-Woman will never

is

groTv

tliis

day

busy picking the

97

and grow, and tlie

wicked old

berries,

and she

be able to get beyond to the other

disturb the happiness of the young hunter

mother, who

still live,

side, to

and

his

with their faithful dog, in the

shadow of the beautiful wood-side where they were

bom.

6

IX.

THE ORIGIN OF THE ROBIN. named man had an only ANhad come thought that age which

to he

most proper to make the long and

which

son,

old

to

ladilla,

is

final fast

who

to secure through life a guardian genius or spirit.

is

The all

est

father was ambitious that his son should surpass

others in whatever was

among

thought fast a

deemed

wisest

To accomplish

necessa.ry that the

it

much

for their

He

his people.

young

and great-

his wish,

he

ladilla should

longer time than any of those renowned

power or wisdom, whose fame he coveted.

therefore directed his son to prepare with great

ceremony

for the

After he had

important event.

been several times in the sweating-lodge and bath,

which were to prepare and purify him with his good a clean

him. dure

mat

He

spirit,

he ordered him to

for

communion

lie

down upon

in a little lodge expressly provided for

enjoined upon

him

at the

same time

a man, and promised that

to en-

at

tlie

expiration of twelve days he should receive food

and

his fast like

the blessing of his father.

THE OEIGIN OF THE KOBIN. The

lad carefully observed the

99

command, and

lay

with his face covered, calmly awaiting the approach of the spirit which was to decide his good or evil for-

tune for

the days of his

all

life.

Every morning his father came to the door of the little

lodge and encouraged

him

to persevere, dwell-

ing at length on the vast honor and renown that

must ever attend him, should he accomplish the fuU term of

To

trial allotted to

him.

these glowing words of promise

and glory the

boy never replied, but he lay without the least sign of discontent or

murmuring

when he addressed "

My

make

a

The "

father,

my

break

new

the ninth day,

my

dreams forbode

May

evil.

fast.^"

son, all

you know not what you

ask.

your glory will depart.

Wait

little longer.

.your

term

your

own

You have but

will be completed.

If you get patiently

three days more, and

You know

it

is

Shall not your aged father Hve to see you a

The son closely,

for

good, and I encourage you to persevere.

among the

chieftains

star

and the beloved of battle?"

assented;

and covering himself more

that he might shut out the light which

prompted him to complain, he lay day,

I

now, and at a more favorable time

father answered:

My

up now, a

fast

until

his father as follows:

-vs'hen

he repeated his request.

till

the eleventh

:

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

100

The

lie

had the day be-

and promised that he would himself prepare

fore, first

father addressed ladilla as

meal, and bring

it

him by

to

the

dawn

his

of the

morning.

The son moaned, and

the father added:

" Will you bring shame upon your father when Bun

is

"I dilla;

falling in the will not

could only

west?"

my

shame you,

and he lay

know

his

so

still

father," replied la-

and motionless that you

that he was living by the gentle

heaving of his breast.

At

the spring of day, the next morning, the father,

delighted at having gained his end, prepared a repast for his son,

coming

and hastened to

his ear to listen, and, looldng ing,

was sur-

He

prised to hear his son talldng to himself.

On

him.

set it before

to the door of the little lodge, he

stooped

through a small open-

he was yet more astonished when he beheld his

son painted with vermilion over in the act of finishing his

all

his breast,

and

work by laying on the

paint as far back on his shoulders as he could reach

with his hands, saying at the same time, to himself

"

My father

has destroyed

my

fortune as a man.

He would not listen to my requests. He has urged me beyond my tender strength. He will be the loser. I shall be forever

happy

been obedient to

my

Bufierer,

for

my

in

my new

parent.

guardian

He sjDirit

state, for I

have

alone will be the is

a

just

one

THE OKIGIN OF THE ROBIN. Tliough. not propitious to Bired, lie lias

me

given

At "

moment

son!

my

the old

now

man

I pray

son!

manner

in the

way

in another

another shape; and

this

My

me

shown me pity

must

I

broke

101

in,

go."

exclaiming:

me

you leave

not!"

But the young man, with the quickness of a had flown self

to the top of the lodge

his father with pity

dressed

and perched him-

him

K egret

He

beaming

looked

down upon

in his eyes,

not,

my father, the change you my present state than

have been as a man.

men, and

keej) near their dwellings.

your wishes as a warrior,

make you amends

and

I will cheer

joy.

behold. I could

I shall always be the friend of

happy and contented; and although ify

and ad-

as follows:

I shall be happier in

to

bird,

on the highest pole, having been changed into a

beautiful robin red-breast.

"

I de-

—he haa

it

will

I shall ever be I could not grat-

be

my

daily

aim

for it as a harbinger of peace

you by

my

songs,

and

strive to

insphe in others the joy and lightsomeness of heart I feel in

my

sation to

present state.

you

This will be some compen-

for the loss of glory

you expected.

I

am now free from the cares and pains of human life. My food is spontaneously furnished by the mountains and fields, and my pathway of life is in the bright air." Then

stretching himself on his toes, as if delighted

with the

gift of

wings, ladilla caroled one of his

sweetest songs, and flew

away into a neighboring wood.

X.

WHITE FEATHER AND THE SIX GIANTS.

THEKE was

man

when

quite

an

by

whom

infant.

parents, brothers, or sisters

stroyed

living in tlie

with his grandson,

forest,

charge

an old

six large giants,

;

depth of a

he had taken in

The

had no

child

they had

all

been de-

and he had been informed

that he had no other relative living beside his grand-

The band

father.

up

to

whom

their children on a

he had belonged had put

wager in a race against those

of the giants, and had thus lost them.

There was an

old tradition in the tribe, that, one day,

produce feather,

a great man,

his

and bravery.

grandfather, as soon as the child could play

about, gave with.

would

and who would astonish every one by

feats of skill

The

it

who would wear a white

him

He went

a

bow and arrows

to

amuse himself

into the edge of the woods one day,

and saw a rabbit

;

but not knowing what

ran

home and

described

told

him what

it

it

was, that

it

was, he

to his grandfather. its flesh

was good to

He eat,

WHITE FEATHER AND THE and

tliat if

SIX GIANTS.

103

he would shoot one of his arrows into it.

brought home the

little

grandfather to

boil,

humored the boy

its

The boy went out again and

body he would Mil

animal, which he asked his

that they might feast on

in this,

He

it.

and he encouraged him to

go on in acqumng the knowledge of hunting, until he could

kill

deer and the larger kinds of

game

;

and

he became, as he grew up, an expert hunter.

As they

lived alone,

and away from other Indians,

the curiosity of the stripling was excited to

what was passing

know

One day he came

in the world.

to

the edge of a prairie, where he saw ashes like those at his grandfather's lodge,

He

and lodge-poles

left

standing.

returned, and inquired whether his grandfather

had put up the poles and made the swered. No.

Nor did he

thing of the kind.

He must

have

He was

fire.

believe that he

an-

had seen any

lost his senses to

be talking of such things.

Another day the young

man went

out to see what

there was, within a day's hunt, that was curious

;

and

on entering the woods he heard a voice calling out to him, " Come here, you destined wearer of the White Feather.

You do

worthy of

it.

You

will

When

it,

yet,

but you are

Keturn home and take a short nap.

dream of hearing a

to rise and smoke. pipe, a

not wear

You

voice,

which

will tell

will see in your

you

dream a

smoking-sack, and a large white feather.

you awake you

will find these articles.

Put

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

104

the feather on your head, and you will become a great hunter, a great warrior, and a great man, able to do

any

come

to pass,

As a proof that these things shall when you smoke, the smoke will turn

thing.

into pigeons."

The voice then informed the young man who he was, and made known the character of

his grandfather,

who was imposing upon him to serve his own The voice-spirit then caused a vine to be

ends. laid at

and told him that he was now of an age to avenge the wrongs of his kindred. " When you meet your enemy," the spirit added, " you will run a race his side,

with him.

He

enchanted. it

will not see the vine, because it is

While you

are running, you will throw

over his head and entangle him, so that you will

win the

race."

Long

man had

before

speech was ended the young

this

turned to the quarter from which the voice

proceeded, and he was astonished to behold a for as yet he

man

;

had never seen any human being be-

side his grandfather.

As he

looked more keenly, he saw that this man,

who had the breast

looks of great age,

was wood from the

downward, and that he appeared to be fixed

As

in the earth.

his eye dwelt

upon

this strange

being, the countenance by degrees faded away, and

when he advanced dressed him,

it

to the spot

was gone.

whence

it

had ad-

"WHITE

He

FEATHER AND THE

returned

;

slept

;

;

air,

wakened and found the promised

when

grandfather,

heard the gifts.

was called

his attention

105

midst of his

in the

from the hollow of the

slumbers, as voice

home

SIX GIANTS.

His

to his

awakening, was greatly surprised to find the youth

with a white feather on his forehead, and to see flocks

He

of pigeons flying out of his lodge.

then remem-

hered the old tradition, and knowing that

day when he should

now the

lose control of his charge

had

begun, he bitterly bewailed the hour. Possessed of his three magic

gifts,

the young

man

departed the next morning, to seek his enemies, and to

demand

The

revenge.

six giants lived in a very

middle of a wood. till

He

high lodge in the

traveled on, in good heart,

he reached this lodge, where he found that his

coming had been made known by the

who

carry the news.

The

little spirits

giants hastened out,

and

gave a cry of joy as they saw him drawing near.

When he

approached within

sport of him, saying,

hail,

they began to make

"Here comes the

with the white feather, who

is

to achieve

little

man

such wonder-

ful wonders."

When,

however, he had arrived

spoke him

fair,

among them, they

saying he was a brave

would do brave things.

man and

Their object was to encour-

age him, so that he would be bold to engage in some fool-hardy trial of strength.

5*

THE INDIAN FAIET BOOK.

106

Witliout paying mucli heed to their fine speeches,

White Feather went

fearlessly into their lodge

;

and

without waiting for invitation, he challenged them tc

They agreed

a foot-match.

way

;

and, as they said, by

of being easy with him, they told

him

to begin

the race with the smallest of their number. Tlie point to

which they were to run was a peeled

toward the rising sun, and then back to the

tree

starting-place,

ever

won

which was a war-club of

this stake,

was empowered

patching the defeated champion. should overcome the second,

and

with him. the

first

so on, until they

By a

first race,

If

giant, he

had

all

iron.

to use

it

Whoin dis-

White Feather was

to try the

measured speed

dexterous use of the vine, he gained

struck

down

his competitor,

and cut

off

his head.

The next morning he ran with the second

giant,

whom he also outran, killed and beheaded. He went on in this way for the five mornings, ways conquering by the aid of ofi"

his vine,

al-

and lopping

the heads of the vanquished giants.

The last of the him acknowledged to deceive him.

giants

who was

his power,

By way

yet to run with

but prepared secretly

of parley, he proposed that

White Feather should leave the heads with him, and that he would give him a handsome start for odds. This White Feather declined, as he preferred to keep the heads as trophies of his victory.

WHITE FEATHER AND THE Before going to

tlie

SIX GIANTS.

giant's lodge,

107

on the sixth

morning, he met his old counselor in the woods, standing rooted in the earth, as before.

White Feather

He

told

that he was about to be deceived;

known any other sex but his own, he went on his way to the lodge he would

that h3 had never

but that as

meet the most beautiful woman

must pay no attention

He

in the world.

but as soon as he

to her,

caught her eye he must wish himself changed into an

The change would take place immediately, and

elk.

he must go to feeding and not look at her again.

White Feather thanked

his kind adviser,

and when

he turned to take his leave he was gone as before.

He

proceeded toward the lodge, met the female as

had been

foretold to him,

reproached

man

him

and became an

She

elk.

that he had cast aside the form of a

that he might avoid her.

" I have traveled a great distance," she added,

"to

see

you and to become your wife;

for I

have

heard of your gTeat achievements, and admire you very much."

Now sumed

this

woman was

the sixth giant,

this disguise to entrap

Without a

who had

as-

White Feather.

suspicion of her real character, her re-

proaches and her beauty affected him so deeply that

he wished himself a

sumed

man

his natural shape.

and he began to

caress

again,

and he at once

They

sat

down

and to make love

re-

together,

to her.

THE INDIAN FAIKT BOOK.

108

Soothed by her smiles and her gracious manners,

head on her

he ventured

to lay his

while he

into a deep slumber.

Even

fell

and in a

lap,

then, such was her fear of

little

White Feather,

ghe doubted whether his sleep might not be feigned.

To

assure herself she pushed his head aside,

and

see-

ing that he remained unconscious, she quickly as-

sumed her own form plume from the brow

as the sixth giant, took the

of

White Feather and placed

own head, and with a sudden blow of his it war-club changed him into a dog, in which degraded form he followed his enemy to the lodge. upon

his

While these things were

passing, there were living

some distance, two

in an Indian village at

the daughters of a chief,

who were

rivals,

sisters,

and they

were at that very time fasting to acquire power, for the purpose of enticing the wearer of the white feather to visit their lodge. to engage his affections,

and each had

in the border of the village

The

They each

secretly

built

hoped

a lodge

encampment.

giant knowing this, and having become pos-

sessed of the magic plume, went immediately to visit

them.

As he approached,

the

sisters,

who were on

the look-out at their lodge-doors, espied and recognized the feather.

The

eldest sister

show, and

all

had prepared her lodge with great

the finery she could

command,

so as to

WHITE FEATHER AND THE attract the eye.

her lodge, but

The

him

eldest

He

in.

109

The youngest touched nothing

left it in its

went out

to

in

ordinary state.

meet the

giant,

and invited

made her

accepted her invitation, and

The youngest

his wife.

SIX GIANTS.

sister invited

the enchanted

dog into her lodge, prepared him a good supper and

much

a neat bed, and treated him with

The

giant, supposing that

white feather possessed also

upon the

game

to

prairie

all its virtues,

went out

hunt, hallooing aloud to the

to

come and be

attention.

whoever possessed the

killed;

but the great hubbub

he kept up scared them away, and he returned at night with nothing but himself; for he had shouted so lustily all

to leave the

day long that he had been even obliged

mighty

halloo, with

which he had

set

out, behind.

The dog went out the same day hunting upon the banks of a

river.

He

along to the spot,

stole quietly

and stepping into the water he drew out a which instantly became a beaver.

The next day the

giant followed the dog, and hid-

ing behind a tree, he watched the

the dog hunted in the river

manner

And

in

which

when he drew out a

stone, which at once turned into a beaver. " Ah, ha!" said the giant to himself, " I

some beaver

stone,

•

will catch

for myself,"

as soon as the

dog had

left

the place, the

giant went to the river, and, imitating the dog, he

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

110

drew out a as

it

stone,

and was

deliglited to see

touched the land, change into a

Tying

it

to his belt

it,

as soon

fine fat beaver.

he hastened home, shouting a

good deal, and brandishing the white feather about, as if he were prepared

now

when he once

could do

home he threw

it

to

When

tried.

down, as

is

show them what he he reached

the custom, at the door

of the lodge before he entered.

After being seated a short time, he gave a dry cough, and bade his wife bring in his hunting girdle.

She made dispatch to obey him, and presently turned with the girdle, with nothing tied to

it

re-

but a

stone.

The next

day, the dog finding that his

method of

catching beavers had been discovered, went to a

wood

at

some distance, and broke

from a burned

The

giant,

tree,

limb

off a charred

which instantly became a bear.

who appeared

to

have

lost faith in his

huUa-balooing, had again watched him, did exactly as the

dog had done, and carried a bear home

his wife,

when

she came to go out for

it,

;

but

found noth-

ing but a black stick tied to his belt.

And

so it

happened with every

the dog undertook, prospered

attempted,

failed.

;

thing.

Whatever

whatever the giant

Eveiy day the youngest

sister

had reason to be more proud of the poor dog she had asked into her lodge, and every day the eldest

was made

sister

more aware, that though she had married

"WHITE

FEATHER AND THE

SIX GIANTS.

Ill

the white feather, the virtues of the magic phime

were not the j^ersonal property of the noisy giant.

At

last the giant's wife

determined that she would

go to her father and make known to him what a valu-

husband she had, and how he furnished her

ahle

lodge with a great abundance of sticks and stones,

which he would pass upon her for bear and beaver. So,

when her husband, whose brave

halloo had

now

died away to a feeble chirp, had started for the hunt, she set out.

As

soon as these two had gone away from the

neighborhood, the dog

sweat

him

after

the

made signs manner of

to his mistress to

the Indians.

He

had always been a good dog, and she was wiUing to She accordingly made a lodge just large

oblige him.

him

enough

for

stones,

and poured water upon them, which raised a

vapor that

warmth

to creep in.

filled

She then put in heated

the lodge and searched with its

to the very heart's core

of the

enchanted

had been kept up

for the

customary

dog.

When

this

time, the enchanted dog was completely sweated

away, and in his stead, as might have been expected, out came a very handsome young man, but, unhappily,

without the power of speech.

the dog,

it

In taking away

appears that the sweating-lodge had also

carried off the voice with

Meantime the

it.

elder sister

had reached her

father's,

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

112

much circumstance and a very long face, liim how that her sister was supporting an

and, with

had

told

and entertaining him

idle dog,

make known

her anxiety to

her

In

as her hushand. sister's affairs

and the

great scandal she was bringing upon the family, the

any thing of the

eldest forgot to say

sticks

which her own husband brought home

The

beaveis.

old

man

and stones

and

for bears

suspecting that there was

magic about her house, sent a deputation of young

men and women come

her.

the deputation reached the lodge, they were

surprised

to

young man all

ask his youngest daughter to

and to bring her dog along with

to him,

When

to

returned

;

find, in

the place of the dog, a fine

and on announcing

to the old chief,

their message, they

who was no

less surprised

at the change.

He

immediately assembled

all

the old and wise

heads of the nation to come and be witnesses to the exploits which

could perform.

it

man

was reported that the young

The

sixth giant, although neither

very old nor very wise, thrust himself in among the relations of the old chief.

When cle,

they were

all

assembled and seated in a

the old chief took his pipe and

passed

it

would happen when they smoked. until

that

it it

came around

to the

should be handed

first

and

filled it,

to the Indians around, to see if

cir-

any thing

They passed

it

on

Dog, who made a sign to the giant, which

was

AND THE

"WHITE FEATHER

And

done.

SIX GIANTS.

113

the giant pujSed with all his might, and

shook the white feather upon his head, and swelled his chest

but nothing came of

;

The Dog then took

deal of smoke.

made

it,

a sign to

them

to

except a great

He

himself.

it

put the white feather upon

This was no sooner done, than he recov-

ids head.

ered his speech, and, beginning to draw upon the pipe

same moment, behold, immense

at the

flocks of white

and blue pigeons rushed from the smoke.

From upon

as

that

moment

the sixth giant was looked

an impostor, and as soon as White Feather

had, at the request of the company, faithfully re-

counted his history, the old

chief,

who was one

of the

best-hearted magicians that ever lived, ordered that

the giant should be transformed into a dog, and

turned into the middle of the village, where the boys should pelt

him

to death with clubs

;

which being

done, the whole six giants were at an end, and never troubled that neighborhood again, forever after.

The

chief then gave out a

quest of

White Feather,

command,

at the re-

that all the young

men

should employ themselves four days in making arrows.

White Feather

also asked for a buffalo robe.

This he cut into thin shreds, and in the night, when

no one knew of

it,

he went and sowed them about

the prairie in every direction.

At

the end of the four days, he invited

gather together

all

them

to

of their arrows, and to accom-

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

114

pany him upon the

When

to a Buffalo hunt.

they found

prairie,

herd of buffaloes.

Of

it

they got out

covered with a great

these they killed as

many

as

they pleased, and, afterward, they had a grand festival in

honor of White Feather's triumph over the

giants.

All this being pleasantly over.

White Feather got

his wife to ask her father's permission to go with

on a

visit to his

grandfather.

to this application, that a

The

him

old chief replied

woman must

follow her

husband into whatever quarter of the world he may choose to go.

Bidding farewell to

all his friends.

White Feather

placed the plume in his frontlet, and taking his warclub in his hand, he led the

lowed by his faithful

wife.

way

into the forest, fol-

XI.

SHEEM, THE FORSAKEI^ BOY.

/^N '-'

a certain afternoon

"West,

tlie

solitary lodge stood

silence

on the banks of a remote

One sound only broke, in the stillness

sun was falling in the

and in the midst of the ruddy

a

lake.

least degree, the forest

—the low breathing of the dying inmate, who

was the head of a poor family.

His wife and

chil-

dren surrounded the buffalo robe on which he

lay.

Of the

children, two were almost

and a son

ter

;

grown up

—a daugh-

the other was a boy, and a mere child

in years.

AU

the

skill

of the household in their simple

medicines was exhausted, and they stood looking on

moved about the lodge with whispered

steps,

As one

of the

or

awaiting the departure of the

the skin door of the lodge had

last acts of kin.dness,

])een

ing.

thrown back

to

admit the fresh

The poor man

strength,

spirit.

felt

and raising himself a

his family

air of the

even-

a momentary return of little,

he addressed

:

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

116

"I it

leave you,"

has required aU

you

and

food,

"in a world of care, in which

lie said,

my

strength and skill to supply

you from the storms and

to protect

cold of a harsh climate."

He

cast his eyes

" For you,

am

because I

me

hind

;

my

upon

and continued

his wife,

partner in

I have less sorrow,

life,

persuaded you wiU not remain long

but you,

my children my

poor and forsak-

!

en children, who have just begun the career of

who

will shelter

you from calamity

be-«

life,

Listen to ray

?

Unkindness, ingratitude, and every wicked-

words.

ness, are in the scene before you.

that years ago I withdrew from tribe to spend

my

It

my

was

for this

kindred and

days in this lonely spot.

I

my

have

contented myself with the company of your mother

and yourselves, during seasons of very frequent ity

and want, while your kindred, feasting

scarc-

in plenty,

have caused the forests to echo with the shouts of successful war.

ment

of peace.

I gave

up these things

I wished to hide

for the enjoy-

you away from the

bad examples which would have spoiled your innocence.

I have seen you, thus far, grow

of heart.

If

we have sometimes

we have escaped pain

of mind.

up

in purity

suffered bodily want,

We

have not been

compelled to look on or to take a part with the red

hand

now I

in scenes of rioting

stops.

wiU shut

and bloodshed.

My path

I have arrived at the brink of the world.

my eyes

in peace if you,

my

children, will

SHEEM, THE FORSAKEN BOY. promise

me

mother

suffer

her

and

;

to cherish each

during the few days that are

command

He

Let not youi

other.

left

to

charge you, on no account, to forsake

I

your yoimger brother. dying

117

Of him

you both

I give

my

to have a tender care."

spoke no more, and as the sun

fell

out of view

The family

the light had gone from his face.

stood

as if they expected to hear something further

still,

;

but when they came to his side and called him by

name,

his spirit did not answer.

It

was in another

world.

The mother and daughter lamented elder son clothed himself in silence, as

aloud, but the

though

it

had

been a mantle, and took his course as though nothing

He

had occurred. his

bow and

exerted himself to supply, with

net, the

wants of the

little

household,

but he never made mention of his father. Five moons had

was near last

its full,

filled

and waned, and the sixth

when the mother

moments she pressed the

also died.

In her

fulfillment of their fa-

ther's wish.

The winter

passed, and the spring, sparkling in the

clear northern air, cheered the spirits of the lonely little

people in the lodge.

The

girl,

being the eldest, directed her brothers,

and she seemed

delicate temper.

and

sisterly affection

slight in

frame and of a

to feel a tender

for the youngest,

who was The

other boy soon began to break

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

118

showed that

fortli witli restless speeches, whicli

was not

sj^irit

ter as follows

"

My

no other

One day he addressed

at ease

hii

his sis-

:

sister,

are

human

we always

to live as if there were

beings in the world ?

Must

prive myself of the pleasure of mingling with

I de-

my own

I have determined this question for myself.

kind ?

I shall seek the villages of men,

and you can not pre-

vent me."

The

sister replied

"I do we

:

not say no,

my

brother, to

what you

desire;

are not forbidden the society of our fellow-mor-

tals,

but we are told to cherish each

other,

nothing that shall not be agreeable to household. fore,

to

and

to do

our

little

all

Neither pleasure nor pain ought, there-

separate us, especially from our younger

brother, who, being but a child, and weakly withal, is

entitled to a double share of our affection.

follow our separate fancies,

neglect him,

whom we

it will

surely

If

bound by vows, both

are

we

make us to

our father and mother, to support."

The young man and

still

ordinary

received this address in silence,

took his course as though nothing out of the

way had

After awhile he seemed

occurred.

to recover his spirits;

and

as they lived in

country, where there were open ers,

at his

playing

invitation, often

ball.

fields,

a large

the two broth-

amused themselves

in

One afternoon he chose the ground

SHEEM, THE FOKSAKEN BOY.

119

near to a beautiful lake, and tliey played and lauglied with great

spirit,

and

tlie

ball

was seldom allowed to

touch the ground.

Now in

this lake there

happened

to harbor a

by name, who looked

old Manito, Mishosha

wicked at

the

brothers as they played, and he was vastly pleased

He

with their nimbleness and beauty.

what

himself,

pany me and

it

It

?

shall I

One

of

shall fall into

thought to

do to get these lads to accom-

them

my

shall hit the ball sideways,

canoe.

happened, and

somehow seemed

as

if

Owasso, the elder brother, had purposely given

it

so

that direction.

When

it

Owasso saw the old man, he

professed to be greatly surprised, as

Sheem by name,

was the

other,

had not noticed the

in truth, for he

old Manito before,

"Bring the ball to us," " Come to the shore."

they both cried out.

" No," answered the old magician.

came near enough him.

your

them

for either of

" Come, come," he

He, however, to

wade out

to

said.

" Come and get

ball."

They

insisted that he should

come

ashore, but he

sturdily declined to oblige them.

" Very well," said Owasso, " I will go and get it." And he ran into the water. " Hand it to me," he said,

when he had approached near enough

ceive

it.

to re-

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

120

"Ha!" answered it

tlie

Manito, "reach over and get

yourself."

when the old him and pushed him into

Owasso was about to grasp the magician suddenly seized

ball,

the boat.

"My little

grandfather," said Owasso, "pray take

my

Alone I can not go with you; he

brother also.

will starve if I leave

him."

Mishosha only laughed at him then uttering the charmed words, " Chemaun Poll !" and giving his ;

canoe a further

slap, it

hel]D,

glided through the water, without

with the swiftness of an arrow.

In a short time they reached the magician's lodge,

which stood upon the further shore, a back from the

lake.

were seated within. eldest, as

little

The two daughters "

My

distance

of Mishosha

daughter," he said to his

"I. have brought

they entered the lodge,

you a husband."

The young woman smiled for Owasso was a The magician told him ;

comely youth to look upon. to take his seat near her,

and by

riage ceremony was completed,

magician's daughter were

this act the

man and

course of time they had born to

mar-

and Owasso and the wife,

them a

and

in the

son.

But no sooner was Owasso in the family than the old Manito wished him out of the way, and he went about in his own wicked fashion to compass

One day he asked

his son-in-law to

it.

go out

a-fish-

SHEEM, THE FORSAKEN BOY. They

ing witli him.

had only

Diagician

They reached a lonely,

started without delay

to speak,

solitary

and

off

Lay in an

and out-of-the-way

121 for the

;

went the canoe.

island, a very dark,

The Manito adcame

place.

vised Owasso to spear a large sturgeon which alongside,

and with

its

great glassy eye turned up,

seenied to recognize the magician.

Owasso

rose in

the boat to dart his spear, and by speaking that

ment

mo-

to his canoe, Mishosha shot forward and hurled

his son-in-law

headlong into the water

where, leav-

;

ing him to struggle for himself, he was soon out of sight.

Owasso, being himself gifted with limited magical powers, spoke to the

fish,

and bade him swim toward

the lodge, while he carried at great speed.

him

along,

which he did

Once he directed the sturgeon

to rise

near the surface of the water, so that he might, possible,

get a view of the magician.

The

if

fish

obeyed, and Owasso saw the wicked old Manito busy

another

in

though

he

direction,

fishing,

had not just

as

lost

a

unconcerned

member

of

as his

family.

On went

the

fish,

and on went Owasso,

till

they

reached the shore, near the magician's lodge, in ad-

vance of him.

He

then spoke kindly to the stur-

for

him he should not be angiy with him having speared him, as he was created to be meat

for

man.

geon, and told

The sturgeon made no

reply, or if

he did,

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

122 it

has not been reported

and Owasso, drawing

;

on shore, went up and told it

By

immediately.

wife to dress

liis

the time

magician had come in

it

was prepared the

sight.

" Your grandfather has arrived," said the to her son

as

you go

;

"

"go and

liiin

and cook

see

what he

brings,

—handing a piece of the

woman

and eat

this

fish.

The boy went, and the magician no sooner saw him with the "

fish

in his hand,

than he asked hun,

What are you eating ? and who brought He replied, " My father brought it." The magician began

it

.?"

to feel uneasy, for he found

that he had been outwitted

;

he, however, put

grave face, and entering the lodge, acted as

if

on a

nothing

unusual had happened.

Some days

after this,

Mishosha again requested his

son-in-law to accompany hesitation, said " Yes

They went

him

;

and Owasso, mthout

!"

out, and, in a rapid passage, they ar-

rived at a solitary island, which

was no more than a

heap of high and craggy rocks.

The magician son, and pick up The

said to Owasso, " all

Go on

shore,

my

the gulls' eggs you can find."

rocks were strewn with eggs, and the air re-

sounded with the cry of the birds as they saw

tlieni

gathered up by Owasso.

The

old magician took the opportunity to speak to

the gulls.

" I have long wished," he

said,

•'

to oifcr

:

SHEEM, THE FORSAKEN BOY. you something.

now

I

you

give

tliis

123

young man

for

food."

He

then uttered the charm to his canoe, and

make

out of sight, leaving Owasso to Lest

way he

The

it

shot

his peace

the

could.

gulls flew in

immense numbers around him, Owasso did not

and were ready to devour him,

lose

mind, but he addressed them and said

his presence of

:

" Gulls, you know you were not formed to eat hu-

man

flesh,

Obey

my

number

nor was

man made

words.

Fly

close

of you, and carry

me

to be the prey of birds.

together,

a

sufficient

on your backs to the

matrician's lod2;e."

They

listened attentively to

what he

said,

and

see-

ing nothing unreasonable in his request, they obeyed

him, and Owasso soon found himself saihng through the air swiftly homeward.

Meanwhile, fallen asleep

it

and allowed

stand-still; for

saw

appears that the old magician had his

canoe to come to a

Owasso, in his flight over the lake,

back in the boat, taking a nap,

liim lying on his

which was quite natural, as the day was very

soft

and

balmy.

As Owasso, with he

his

let fall, directly in

convoy of birds, passed over,

the face of the old magician, a

capful of gulls' eggs, which broke and so besmeared his eyes that

exclaimed

he could barely

see.

He jumped up and

:

THE INDIAN FAIRY BOOK.

124 " It

always so with

is

tliouglitless

tliese

Tliey never consider where they drop their

birds,

e