Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-10-26
N ISC ELLA Ny.
HvsHI VIZ OLA TuI.A.
The sun falls into the waier.n
LEdENn ID LIE AMEnIoAN INpIANs.

4
The forest bloomed, and the tall trees rus
tied their leaves courteously when the gen
tie wind passed along The spring time
when the SHOWS melt away, and the field
looked green, and animals are all busy again
had come, and it was irresistible
Now, it was usual with the chiefs of th,
Choctaw nation 10 assemble to discuss al
matters having interest for the we'll being
Of the people,--to allot the districts of thS
hunting grounds, to make war, and to con.
firm treaties BY the pipe Of peace
And thus it happened, that in the merry
spring time, when friendship is warmest.
truest: irustiest, the old men Of the tribe
met the young men in council, for the
young men proposed changes and reforms
which the old men were willing to discuss
with them.
| All matters having been arranged. the 500.
thing pipe went from baud 10 hand. the
old men thanking the Great Spirit for the
pleasant times Of peace, and the young men
anxiously hoping for many, many years Of
it "The Great Spirit" they thought, i" is
I good and noble. mild and merciful, strong
and unwearying. T His beginning is like that
Of the sun, unknown, aud his end likewise.
Inscrutable both, magnificent all 7
Hence arose tie question whittier does
the sun depart a, the close of the dayf'
Then arose the great doctor. and he
spoke, but his words, like those of many
great doctors, we're vain and doubtful. He
sat down, aad the last echo Of his words died
in the forest Vain were his words but
soundingl
Then arose an aged chief, renowned for
eloquence, but he arose and said that he
knew nothing tiff Aff was the
. W.. but mighty
Then it was asked as there no way by
which the matter might be ascertained =
Could the resting-Iiaee Of the weary sun be
discovered BY long long journey into the
depths Of the dark forest, far, far away from
the haunts of tile beaver far, far beyond
the tribes of the lrationsl Was there any
warrior in the bands Of the people OF the
Choctaws who would depart from the hun
ting lodges. ---would leave the hunting
grounds and peril himself among the
doubtful abodes beyond the lodges Of the
enemy2n
Then arose the pride Of the warriors,--a
youth ia freshness and activity unsurpassed,
patient as the beaver, courageous as an In
| dian. only can be.-ssI will leave my neopieF
| said he /: Z. | will+quit the haunt Of the bea
yer, | will depart from the traces of the buff
falo. will turn away from the we'll beloved
| lodge Of my family but will seek the GO
ing down Of the sun, | will win name
for my people, they will find me, whom
they have benefited and assisted, not IN
mindful of theirsdesire."
Then he babe them farewell; and "Bear
me in remem brance,n said he though am
indeed but weak in comparison with the
task have to perform, yet the Great Spir-
Il shall sustain me, and be will crafty my
thirst for knowledge One day | shall re-
turn, and all win be well"
Well remembered was be Of the nations,
he Of the unfaltering purpose daily was
their conversation Of him. daily with the
sun they. reoollact the thing for which be
had gone forth. Yet be returned not, and
the great doctor,--a man Of many words
was he. but yet ignorant The old chic
died, and the great men Of the nation, bu
the Young warrior came not back again .
The people looked for him, the prophet
! prophesied Of bis coming, but he could no
be seen. Years passed away, and all the IN
fants Of the tribes had become whise-hairei
old men, and had gone away to the hur
ting-felds Of the Great Spirit, but the ga
liant youth never came again. So long az
j had il been, that he was forgotten, and th
: reason Of bis going forth was forgotten, b
name was blotted from the scroll Of th
. memories Of his tribe.
Summers, autumns, winters, springs, la
: passed snd passed again, and the forest-tres
Z bowed again before the gentle breath
Q the wind Merry spring time, the time
light hearts, had again come round.
The nations were assembled, and the PHI
n passed round oncs more The men, the "
= men, and the children Of the tribe we
% there. Mirth was in each eye, gladness
Q each bosom. Pence and plenty were know
y far and wide in the land.
= Then came tottering in an old man.
Z very. very old man, with bent form and
d head Of snow; but an eye Of FIRE beam
Of from the wrinkled brow. II was the eye
Is kno4lcdge.--he had suffered, he had coll.
: be had learnt
in The people rose up and testified tn
Of reverence Cor the old man
slave Je forgotten me, has the you
man who sought the resting place Of the s
died out Of your memoryt
: Then the oldest man Of the assembly
membered the tale which bis father had t
him, that such thing had happened.
ID ABehold." said the traveller, fthe man
L am the youthful warrior. sought
-l- resfingplnce Of the sun amidst the solitn
Of far-distant hunting grounds. I passei
yer rocks, over rivers, over prziries, tbrol
f. = -. :