An Indian hunter went forth to hunt, and as he wandered through the
forest he heard a strain of beautiful music far off among the trees. He
listened, but could not tell whence it came; he knew it could not be by
any human voice, or from any instrument he had ever heard. As it came
near it ceased. The next evening he went forth again, but he heard no
music, and again, but in van.
Then came the Great Spirit to him in a dream and told him to fast, wash
himself till he was purified, then he might go forth and would hear again
the music. So he purified himself and went again among the dark trees of
the forest, and soon his ear caught the sweet strains, as he drew near
they became more beautiful; he listened till he learned them and could
make the same sweet sound, then he knew that it was a plant with a tall
green stem and long tapering leaves. He took his knife and cut the stalk,
but ere he had scarcely finished, it healed and was the same as before;
he cut it again, and again it healed. Then he knew it would heal
diseases, he took it home, dried it by the fire, pulverized it, and
applied a few particles of it to a dangerous wound; no sooner had it
touched the wound than it was healed. Thus the Great Spirit taught the
Indian the nature of medicinal plants, and directed him where they were
to be found, when and how used.