His kindred, who were looking on in horror, raised a cry of fear and fled
away in a body to some distant land, whence they have never returned.
The widow’s family left the scene, and when they had all come out into
the open fields, they walked on together until they had reached the
fragrant bank and the evergreen wood, where the daughter had first
encountered her bird lover.
Monedowa, turning to the widow, said:
“My mother, here we must part. Your daughter and myself must now leave
you. The Good Spirit, moved with pity, has allowed me to be your friend.
I have done that for which I was sent. I am permitted to take with me the
one whom I love. I have found your daughter ever kind, gentle and just.
She shall be my companion. The blessing of the Good Spirit be ever with
you. Farewell, my mother—my brother, farewell.”
While the widow woman was still lost in wonder at these words, Monedowa,
and Minda, his wife, changed at the same moment, rose into the air, as
beautiful birds, clothed in shining colors of red and blue.
They caroled together as they flew, and their songs were happy, and
falling, falling, like clear drops. As they rose, and rose, and winged
their way far upward, a delicious peace came into the mind of the poor
widow woman, and she returned to her lodge deeply thankful at heart for
all the goodness that had been shown to her by the Master of Life.
From that day forth she never knew want, and her young son proved a
comfort to her lodge, and the tuneful carol of Monedowa and Minda, as
it fell from heaven, was a music always, go whither she would, sounding
peace and joy in her ear.
WUNZH, THE FATHER OF INDIAN CORN
By Cornelius Mathews
In time past—we cannot tell exactly how many, many years ago—a poor
Indian was living, with his wife and children, in a beautiful part of the
country. He was not only poor, but he was not expert in procuring food
for his family, and his children were too young to give him assistance.
Although of a lowly condition and straitened in his circumstances, he was
a man of kind and contented disposition. He was always thankful to the
Great Spirit for everything he received. He even stood in the door of his
lodge to bless the birds that flew past in the summer evenings; although,
if he had been of a complaining temper, he might have repined that they
were not rather spread upon the table for his evening meal.
The same generous and sweet disposition was inherited by his eldest son,
who had now arrived at the proper age to undertake the ceremony of the
fast, to learn what kind of a spirit would be his guide and guardian
through life.
Wunzh, for this was his name, had been an obedient boy from his
infancy—pensive, thoughtful, and gentle—so that he was beloved by the
whole family.
As soon as the first buds of spring appeared, and the delicious fragrance
of the young year began to sweeten the air, his father, with the help of
his younger brothers, built for Wunzh the customary little lodge, at
a retired spot at some distance from their own, where he would not be
disturbed during the solemn rite.
To prepare himself, Wunzh sought to clear his heart of every evil
thought, and to think of nothing that was not good, and beautiful, and
kindly.
That he might store his mind with pleasant ideas for his dreams, for the
first few days he amused himself by walking in the woods and over the
mountains, examining the early plants and flowers.
As he rambled far and wide, through the wild country, he felt a strong
desire to know how the plants and herbs and berries grew, without any
aid from man, and why it was that some kinds were good to eat, and that
others were possessed of medicinal or poisonous power.
After he had become too languid to walk about, and confined himself
strictly to the lodge, he recalled these thoughts, and turning
them in his mind, he wished he could dream of something that would
prove a benefit to his father and family, and to all others of his
fellow-creatures.
“True,” thought Wunzh, “the Great Spirit made all things, and it is to
him that we owe our lives. Could he not make it easier for us to get our
food, than by hunting animals and taking fish? I must try to find this
out in my visions.”
On the third day Wunzh became weak and faint and kept to his bed.
Suddenly he fancied, as he lay thus, that a bright light came in at the
lodge door, and ere he was aware, he saw a handsome young man, with a
complexion of the softest and purest white, coming down from the sky,
and advancing toward him.
The beautiful stranger was richly and gayly dressed, having on a great
many garments of green and yellow colors, but differing in their deeper
or lighter shades. He had a plume of waving feathers on his head, and
all his motions were graceful, and reminded Wunzh of the deep green of
the summer grass, and the clear amber of the summer sky, and the gentle
blowing of the summer wind. Beautiful as the stranger was, he paused on a
little mound of earth, just before the door of the lodge.
“I am sent to you, my friend,” said his celestial visitor, in a voice
most soft and musical to listen to, “I am sent to you by that Great
Spirit who made all things in the sky, and on the earth. He has seen
and knows your motives in fasting. He sees that it is from a kind and
benevolent wish to do good to your people, and to procure a benefit for
them; that you do not seek for strength in war, or the praise of the men
of the bloody hand. I am sent to instruct you and to show you how you can
do your kindred good.”
He then told the young man to arise, and to prepare to wrestle with him,
as it was only by this means that he could hope to succeed in his wishes.
Wunzh knew how weak he was from fasting, but the voice of the stranger
was cheery, and put such a courage in his heart, that he promptly
sprang up, determined to die rather than fail. Brave Wunzh! if you ever
accomplish anything, it will be through the power of the resolve that
spake within you at that moment.
He began the trial, and after a long-sustained struggle he was almost
overpowered, when the beautiful stranger said:
“My friend, it is enough for once, I will come again to try you”; and
smiling on him, he returned through the air in the same direction in
which he had come.
The next day, although he saw how sweetly the wild-flowers bloomed upon
the slopes, and the birds warbled from the woodland, he longed to see the
celestial visitor, and to hear his voice.
To his great joy he reappeared at the same hour, toward the going down of
the sun, and re-challenged Wunzh to a trial of strength.
The brave Wunzh felt that his strength of body was even less than on the
day before, but the courage of his mind seemed to grow. Observing this,
and how Wunzh put his whole heart in the struggle, the stranger again
spoke to him in the words he used before, adding:
“To-morrow will be your last trial. Be strong, my friend, for this is the
only way in which you can overcome me and obtain the boon you seek.”
The light which shone after him as he left Wunzh was brighter than before.
On the third day he came again and renewed the struggle. Very faint
in body was poor Wunzh, but he was stronger at heart than ever, and
determined to prevail now or perish.
He put forth his utmost powers, and after a contest more severe than
either of the others, the stranger ceased his efforts, and declared
himself conquered.
For the first time he entered Wunzh’s little fasting lodge, and sitting
down beside the youth, he began to deliver his instructions to inform him
in what manner he should proceed to take advantage of his victory.
“You have won your desire of the Great Spirit,” said the beautiful
stranger. “You have wrestled manfully. To-morrow will be the seventh day
of your fasting. Your father will give you food to strengthen you, and as
it is the last day of trial you will prevail. I know this, and now tell
you what you must do to benefit your family and your people. To-morrow,”
he repeated, “I shall meet you and wrestle with you for the last time. As
soon as you have prevailed against me, you will strip off my garments and
throw me down, clean the earth of roots and weeds, make it soft, and bury
me in the spot. When you have done this, leave my body in the earth, and
do not disturb it, but come at times to visit the place, to see whether
I have come to life, and above all be careful to never let the grass or
weeds grow upon my grave. Once a month cover me with fresh earth. If you
follow these my instructions you will accomplish your object of doing
good to your fellow-creatures by teaching them the knowledge I now teach
you.”
He then shook Wunzh by the hand and disappeared, but he was gone so soon
that Wunzh could not tell what direction he took.
In the morning, Wunzh’s father came to his lodge with some slight
refreshments, saying:
“My son, you have fasted long enough. If the Great Spirit will favor you,
he will do it now. It is seven days since you have tasted food, and you
must not sacrifice your life. The Master of Life does not require that.”
“My father,” replied Wunzh, “wait till the sun goes down. I have a
particular reason for extending my fast to that hour.”
“Very well,” said the old man, “I shall wait till the hour arrives, and
you shall be inclined to eat.”
At his usual hour of appearing, the beautiful sky-visitor returned, and
the trial of strength was renewed. Although he had not availed himself
of his father’s offer of food, Wunzh felt that new strength had been
given him. His heart was mighty within him to achieve some great purpose.
Courage was like the eagle that spreads his wings within the treetop for
a great flight, within the bosom of the brave Wunzh.
He grasped his angel challenger with supernatural strength, threw him
down, and, mindful of his own instructions, tore from him his beautiful
garments and plume, and finding him dead, immediately buried him on the
spot, using all the precautions he had been told of, and very confident
was Wunzh, all the time, that his friend would again come to life.
Wunzh now returned to his father’s lodge, where he was warmly welcomed,
for as it had been appointed to him during the days of his fasting to
walk apart with Heaven, he was not permitted to see any human face save
that of his father, the representative to the little household upon
earth of the Good Father who is in Heaven.
Wunzh partook sparingly of the meal that had been prepared for him, and
once more mingled in the cares and sports of the family. But he never
for a moment forgot the grave of his friend. He carefully visited it
throughout the spring, and weeded out the grass, and kept the ground in
a soft and pliant state; and sometimes, when the brave Wunzh thought of
his friend that was gone from his sight, he dropped a tear upon the earth
where he lay.
Watching and tending, and moistening the earth with his tears, it was not
long before Wunzh saw the tops of green plumes coming through the ground;
and the more faithful he was in obeying his instructions in keeping the
ground in order, and in cherishing the memory of his departed friend, the
faster they grew. He was, however, careful to conceal the charge of the
earth which he had from his father.
Days and weeks had passed in this way; the summer was drawing toward a
close, when one day, after a long absence in hunting, Wunzh invited his
father to follow him to the quiet and lonesome spot of his former fast.
The little fasting-lodge had been removed, and the weeds kept from
growing on the circle where it had stood; but in its place rose a tall
and graceful plant, surmounted with nodding plumes and stately leaves,
and golden clusters.
There was in its aspect and bearing the deep green of the summer grass,
the clear amber of the summer sky, and the gentle blowing of the summer
wind.
“It is my friend!” shouted Wunzh, “it is the friend of all mankind. It
is Mondawmin; it is our Indian Corn! We need no longer rely on hunting
alone, for as long as this gift is cherished and taken care of, the
ground itself will give us a living.”
He then pulled an ear.
“See, my father,” said he, “this is what I fasted for. The Great Spirit
has listened to my voice, and sent us something new, and henceforth our
people will not alone depend upon the chase or upon the waters.”
Wunzh then communicated to his father the instructions given to him by
the stranger. He told him that the broad husks must be torn away, as he
had pulled off the garments in his wrestling, and having done this, he
directed him how the ear must be held before the fire till the outer skin
became brown—as the complexion of his angel friend had been tinted by the
sun—while all the milk was retained in the grain.
The whole family, in high spirits, and deeply grateful to the Merciful
Master who gave it, assisted in a feast on the newly-grown ears of corn.
So came that mighty blessing into the world, and we owe all of those
beautiful fields of healthful grain to the dream of the brave boy Wunzh.
WHEN BRER WOLF HAVE HIS CORN SHUCKING
Anonymous
Brer Wolf he make a powerful crop of corn one year, and he turn it over
in his mind how he going to get all that corn shucked, ’cause Brer Wolf
mighty unpopular man with his neighbors, and when Brer Wolf have a corn
shucking the creeters don’t turn out like they do when Sis Coon have a
corn shucking.
But Brer Wolf he have a powerful handsome daughter on the carpet. All the
chaps about the county has had their heads set to step up to Brer Wolf’s
daughter. So Brer Wolf he send out word how the chap what shucks the most
corn at his shucking shall have his handsome daughter.
Well, the chaps they come from the fur end of Columbia County, and some
come from Richmond County, and they set to work, and they make the shucks
fly, and each chap have a pile to hisself. Brer Coon he mighty set on
Brer Wolf’s daughter, and Brer Coon he know hisself are powerful likely
corn shucker, and Brer Coon he ’low to hisself how he have a right smart
chance to get the gal.
Brer Fox his head done plain turned when Miss Wolf role her handsome eyes
at hisself; and so Brer Fox he get a pile to hisself and fall to work.
Now old Brer Rabbit his heart set on the gal, but Brer Rabbit he are a
mighty poor corn shucker. Brer Rabbit he just naterally know he don’t
stand no chance shucking a pile of corn and making time against Brer
Coon.
So Brer Rabbit he don’t waste hisself, Brer Rabbit don’t, but he take his
hat off and he go up to Brer Wolf, and he make his bow, and he ask Brer
Wolf, if he learn his daughter to dance, can he have her? But Brer Wolf
he say, “What I said, I said.”
Well, Brer Rabbit he feel terrible put down, but he fall to, and he
act most survigorous. He sing and he dance, and he dance and he sing,
and he amuse the company most ’greeable like; and he sing before the
gals, and he dance before the gals, and he show them the new step and
the new shuffle, Brer Rabbit do. Brer Coon he just turn his eye on Brer
Rabbit ’casionally, but he don’t pay no attention to his acting and his
frolicking. Brer Coon he just make time with his corn shucking, twell
Brer Coon’s pile it make three times the pile of the other chaps.
When it come time for Brer Wolf to come round and count his piles, Brer
Rabbit he set down ’long side Brer Coon, and he fall to shucking corn to
beat all. When Brer Wolf come ’round, Brer Rabbit he certainly do make
the shucks fly powerful ’cause the old rascal just been cutting up and
acting all the evening, and he ain’t tired like the other chaps.
When Brer Wolf see the great pile so much bigger than what all the other
chaps got, Brer Wolf he say, “What for both you chaps shuck on one pile?”
Brer Coon he ’low that all his pile. He ’low, Brer Coon do, how Brer
Rabbit been cutting up and frolicking all the evening, and he just now
come and set down ’longside his pile.
Brer Rabbit he say he swear and kiss the book, this my pile. Brer Coon he
just been frolicking and going on all the evening to beat all; he make us
laugh nigh ’bout fit to kill ourselves while I done work my hands plum to
the bone. Now he set hisself down here and say it his pile.
Brer Wolf he say he leave it to the company. But the chaps they don’t
want Brer Rabbit to have the gal, and they don’t want Brer Coon to
have the gal, so they won’t take sides; they ’low they been working so
powerful hard, they don’t take noticement of Brer Coon or Brer Rabbit.
Then Brer Wolf he ’low he leave it to the gals.
Now Miss Wolf she been favoring Brer Rabbit all the evening. Brer Rabbit
dancing and singing plum turned Miss Wolf’s head, so Miss Wolf she say,
“It most surely are Brer Rabbit’s pile.” Miss Wolf she say she “plum
’stonished how Brer Coon can story so.”
Brer Rabbit he take the gal and go off home clipity, lipity. Poor old
Brer Coon he take hisself off home, he so tired he can scarcely hold
hisself together.
BRER RABBIT’S COOL AIR SWING
Anonymous
Mr. Man he had a fine garden.
Brer Rabbit he visit Mr. Man’s garden every day to destroy the latest
thing in it, twell Mr. Man plum wore out with old Brer Rabbit, Mr. Man he
set a trap for old Brer Rabbit down ’longside the big road.
One day when Mr. Man going down to the cross-roads, he look in his trap,
and sure ’nough, there old Brer Rabbit.
Mr. Man he say, “Oh, so old man, here you is. Now I’ll have you for my
dinner.”
Mr. Man he takes a cord from his pocket, and tie Brer Rabbit high on a
limb of a sweet gum tree, and he leave Brer Rabbit swinging there twell
he come back from the cross-roads, when he aim to fotch Brer Rabbit home
and cook him for his dinner.
Brer Rabbit he swing this away in the wind and that away, and he swing
this away in the wind and that away in the wind, and he think he time
done come. Poor old Brer Rabbit don’t know where he’s at.
Presently here come Brer Wolf loping down the big road. When Brer Wolf
see old Brer Rabbit swinging this away and that away in the wind, Brer
Wolf he stop short and he say, “Fore the Lord, man! What you doing up
there?” Brer Rabbit he say, “This just my cool air swing. I just taking a
swing this morning.”
But Brer Rabbit he just know Brer Wolf going to make way with him. Brer
Rabbit he just turn it over in his mind which way he going to get to. The
wind it swing poor Brer Rabbit way out this away and way out that away.
While Brer Rabbit swinging, he work his brain, too.
Brer Wolf he say, “Brer Rabbit, I got you fast; now I going eat you up.”
Brer Rabbit he say, “Brer Wolf, open your mouth and shut your eyes, and
I’ll jump plum in your mouth.” So Brer Wolf turn his head up and shut his
eyes. Brer Rabbit he feel in his pocket and take out some pepper, and
Brer Rabbit he throw it plum down Brer Wolf’s throat. Brer Wolf he nigh
’bout ’stracted with the misery. He cough and he roll in the dirt, and he
get up and he strike out for home, coughing to beat all. And Brer Rabbit
he swing this away and that away in the wind.
Presently here come Brer Squirrel. When Brer Squirrel he see the wind
swing Brer Rabbit way out this away and way out that away, Brer Squirrel
he that ’stonished he stop short. Brer Squirrel he say, “Fore the Lord,
Brer Rabbit, what you done done to yourself this yer time?”
Brer Rabbit he say, “This yer my cool swing, Brer Squirrel. I taking
a fine swing this morning.” And the wind it swing Brer Rabbit way out
this away and way back that away. Brer Rabbit he fold his hands and look
mighty restful and happy, like he settin’ back fanning hisself on his
front porch.
Brer Squirrel he say, “Please, sir, Brer Rabbit, let me try your swing
one time.”
Brer Rabbit he say, “Certainly, Brer Squirrel, you do me proud,” and
Brer Rabbit he make like he make haste to turn hisself loose. Presently
Brer Rabbit he say, “Come up here, Brer Squirrel, and give me a hand with
this knot,” and Brer Squirrel he make haste to go and turn Brer Rabbit
loose, and Brer Rabbit he make Brer Squirrel fast to the cord. The wind
it swing Brer Squirrel way out this away and way out that away, and Brer
Squirrel he think it fine.
Brer Rabbit he say, “I go down to the spring to get a fresh drink. You
can swing twell I come back.”
Brer Squirrel he say, “Take your time, Brer Rabbit, take your time.” Brer
Rabbit he take his time, and scratch out for home fast he can go, and he
ain’t caring how long Brer Squirrel swing.
Brer Squirrel he swing this away and he swing that away, and he think it
fine.
Presently here come Mr. Man. When Mr. Man he see Brer Squirrel, he plum
’stonished. He say, “Oh, so old man, I done hear of many and many of
your fine tricks, but I never done hear yourself into a squirrel before.
Powerful kind of you, Brer Rabbit, to give me a fine squirrel dinner.”
Mr. Man he take Brer Squirrel home and cook him for dinner.
THE FOUR SEASONS
By Lillian M. Gask
There was not a prettier cottage on the borders of the forest than that
which was the home of Clare and Laura. A beautiful rose-tree clambered
all over the little house, thrusting its clusters of small pink blossoms
through the open windows, and nodding to Clare as though to say: “You are
as sweet as we are, and the sun shines on us all.”
The roses did not nod their heads at Laura, for she was as ugly and
wicked as Clare was lovely. Her face wore always a heavy frown, which her
mother’s reflected; for Laura was her favorite child, and she could not
bear to see that her second daughter, for whom she had no spark of love,
should be so much the more attractive of the two.
Dame Nature had been very kind to the little Clare. The roses had given
their delicate coloring to her soft cheeks, and her pretty eyes were just
the hue of a purple pansy. The red of the crimson berries that glinted
among the evergreens when winter came was not more vivid than that of her
lips, and her hair had the sheen of yellow corn when the sun is smiling
on it. Laura could not look at her without a pang of envy, and longed to
drive her away from home.
One bitter day in winter, when a waste of snow surrounded the cottage,
and frozen icicles hung from the roof, Laura asked her mother if Clare
might pick some violets in the woods for her.
“‘Violets?’” exclaimed the mother, “at this time of the year? Why, you
must be dreaming, child! There is not a single flower in all the forest!”
But Laura insisted that Clare should be sent to seek for the flowers,
and, loath to refuse her anything, her mother did as she was asked.
“Do not come back without them, or it will be the worse for you,” Laura
called from the doorway, as she watched her little sister go shiveringly
down the pathway that led to the forest. In its depths, she knew, there
lurked gaunt gray wolves, and these were fierce with hunger.
Clare knew this too, and her heart was faint with fear as she passed
through the grove of fir-trees. A cheery little robin hopped down from
one of the branches, and sang a few bars of his winter song as if to
comfort her; she had gone but a few paces further when she saw the red
of his breast repeated in a glimmer of ruddy light in the distance. She
hastened towards it, and found it came from a huge fire, round which were
sitting twelve strange men. The faces of all were kindly, but while three
had long white beards and snowy garments, three had golden beards and
long green garments, three had auburn beards and yellow garments, and yet
another triplet, with long black beards, were dressed in violet. One of
the three whose hair was frosted looked up as she approached.
“May I warm myself at the fire, kind sir?” she asked him timidly, and
making room for her at once, he asked her why she wandered in the forest
in such bitter weather.
“I was sent to pluck violets for my sister,” Clare explained, “and I dare
not go home without them, or she would be very angry.”
At this her questioner turned to one of the three men who were robed in
purple.
“Violets are your concern, Brother May. Cannot you help the poor little
thing?” he asked. “She will be frozen to death otherwise, for to-night
’twill be colder than ever.”
“To be sure I will,” said Brother May, laying a gentle hand on Clare’s
fair hair; and taking the staff from the white-haired man, he poked the
fire.
This was the signal for a most marvellous change in the forest. Ice and
snow disappeared, and the air became soft and balmy. Birds sang in the
branches overhead, and flowers sprang up as if by magic round the path
which Clare had trodden. She filled her hands with fragrant violets, and
thanked the brothers for their help.
“You are welcome, dear child,” they cried; and the old man took back his
staff again, and in his turn poked the fire. Once more it was winter, and
Clare hastened home to the cottage as quickly as she could.