WHEN the frosts were unlocked from the hillsides there came into one
of the villages of the red men a mild and quiet old man whom none of
them had ever seen before. He stood beside the field where the young
men played at their games, and when some of the fathers approached to
bid him welcome to their village and wigwams they saw that his body was
covered with sores, and they made excuses to turn aside that they might
not meet him. When none went to him and called him brother, he turned to
the village and walked slowly from door to door of the wigwams. The women
saw him and as he approached their doors they covered their children's
faces that they might not see his features, and wished in their hearts
that he would not enter. When the little man read their thoughts, with
saddened eyes and heavy steps he would turn away and seek another
habitation, where he would again see that he was not welcome and turn his
weary footsteps from the door. When he had visited all the wigwams in the
village without finding a welcome in any, he went suddenly to the forest
and they saw him no more.
The next day he appeared in another village, where the same weary round
of the day before brought him no shelter. For many days thereafter he
went from village to village, and, though he spoke to no one, he knew
that their hearts were not open to him and that they shuddered at his
coming.
Finally there remained but two more villages to visit and he feared that
he should find none who would bid him enter their homes that they might
minister to his wants. At last, however, as he approached a humble cabin
his eyes brightened, for he read in the heart of the woman who saw him
coming that she had taken pity on his forlorn condition and that her
hospitality would overcome the dread his appearance caused. Said the
woman:
"Thou art welcome, my brother, for thou art a stranger."
Then said the strange man: "Peace to my sister's house and happiness to
her husband."
Then the woman spread a couch of soft furs at one side of the wigwam and
bade the stranger lie down; and when she had done so she asked him how
she should minister to his wants. Then the strange man said:
"Listen, my sister: Thou of all thy race hast had in thy heart pity and
love for a suffering and friendless creature that have led thee to give
him shelter in thy house. Know then, my sister, that thy name shall
henceforth be great. Many wonders shall be taught thee, and thy sons
will be made chiefs and thy daughters princesses. I am Quarara, and bear
messages from the Great Spirit."
Then Quarara described to the woman a plant which she went forth into the
forest and procured. She returned to the hut and prepared it as he bade
her, and when it was administered to him he recovered from his sickness
and the sores left him.
Quarara remained at the woman's wigwam many moons and brought upon
himself all manner of fevers, plagues and diseases, and for each one he
described the medicine root or herb that would perform its cure. These
the woman found in the forest and brought to him, and he made it plain
how they should be prepared to do the will of the Great Spirit and defeat
the evil spirits and witches that plagued his people.
Then said the strange man, Quarara, to her:
"Thou, Oh! sister, knowest now what the Great Spirit would have thee
teach his children freely. Thou hast been patient and kind and thy heart
is filled with gentleness. The sons that shall be born to thee shall be
called Sagawahs, the healers, and thou and thy family shall be remembered
throughout all generations."
Quarara then brought upon himself the fatal disease, for which there is
no remedy, and returned to his home with the Great Spirit.
_Bits of Folk-Lore_