Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-07-22
MARTINsBURG, VA, TUESDAY MORNING, JULY %, 1851

came Wit, the broken vine. which had before
been the ladder Of communication between
heaven aud earth.
The nations as they passed by her as she
sat in the midst Of the ruin she had wrought,
pushed her decl.uing head, saying, -Wbah,
Ike nah NAB dab bee mage men di moo va
yiesh." There you sit, you wicked old
witch."
Some kicked her, others dragged her by.
the hair, and thus expressed their disappro-
baton "All who shall live after thee, shall
call the Eque, (woman.)
The news Of this disaster spread rapidly
from village to village. Some numbers of
men. women and children we're singuarly az
feoted. Some complained OF pains and others
Of pains in various parts of their bodies.
Some were Unable to walk. and others equal
y unable to speak.
They thought some Of these fell asleep, for
they knew not what death was. They had
never seen its presence.
A deep solemnity began to reign in all the
villages. There was no more hunting, no
more games, and no song was sung to soothe
the sun to its evening rest.
All, it was then penalty followed trans
gressiop.
Disease was the consequence of the break
| ing of the vine Death followed
One day in the midst of their distress, they
consulted each other to determine what could
be done None know
/ They watched carefully for the descent of
those beings who used to visit them--and at
length they came. Each strive With eager
ness to tell his story. They soon found that
the strangers were silent and sad. They
asked the nations what they wished to tell
the Great Spirit in their distress
The first sent /. netition that the vine might
be replaced between heaycn and earth
The second sent tiiatthc Great Spirit nigh.
cause the disease to leave them.
The third sent petition to have the old
woman killed. since she was the csuse Of so
much distress
| The fourth desired that the Great Spirit
would give them great deal of game.
| The fifth. aud last, that the Great Spirit
would send them that which would calm and
relieve them III distress.
After they had heard these the strangers
left, telling the Indians to wait, and they
should know what the Great Spirit should
say to each Of the petitioners.
| Each day of their absence seemed a month
At length they came. aud gathered near the
eager people They told them that they must
/ die rs the vine that mad connected earth to
heaven was broken; but the Great Spirit has
sent us to release yen and to tell you what
lyon must do hereafter.
The strangers than gathered up all the
! flowers from the plains, river aud lake sides
and after dr. ING them on ti,eii bands blew
the leaves with their breath aud they were
scattered all over the earth: wherever they
fell, they srrang up and became herbs to cure
/ all diseases.
he Indians instituted dance, and with
it mode Of worship. These few there met,
were the first who composed Medicine
Lodge they received their charter from the
Great Spirit. and thus originated the "Mcdi-
cine Worship
The strangers gave them these words, and
! then left:
There is not flower that buds, however
small that is not for some wise purpose.
There is not a blade If grass, however
insignificant, that the Indian does not re-
quire
Learning this. and acting in accordance
with these truths will work out your own
good. and will please the Great Spirit"
The above is universally believed BY the
North west Indians as the origin of disease
and death. aud the foundation Of the Med-
ciac Worship"