Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-13
Onosoit ; A Tradition Of the Ottowa,
BY W. j. JACKSON.

;, BY w. ]. JACKSON.
The lightning flashed. the angry thun-
er rolled, and as it rumbled through the
heavens, it's sound echoed among the hills
causing it to seem more terrible. The
wind roared wildly, like some angry mon
ster seeking victims the snake stole to
It's hole, the birds flew to their nests, and
the aifrighted beasts were wildly hasten.
ing over the. prairie, seeking q place of
protection from the fury Of the storm
The Great Spirit seemed angry with his
people, the sun that day had hid himself,
and the moon and stars refused to look
upon the red children. Onasoit's spirit
was troubled, and as the storm gathered
Jury his frame seemed to expand and
gather strength, his brow was heavy, his
klndled eye shot forth fire, his breast was
agltated and heaved heavily, as the sea
when the winds blow roughly over it,; he
bad been to battle, and was CONQUERED,
nay, not conquered, but beaten his life
had been saved, he had been put to the
stake to die by torture, the flames rose
rapidly and angrily around him already
had their knives hacked bis flesh, when
ne burst the bands which bound him, and
escaped from his enemies. He arrived at
his lodge alone all who had gone with
him to battle were slain. His people
were grieved when he returned, that he
had been unfortunate, unsuccessful /; they
thought the Great Spirit was displeased,
ana did not welcome him. did not smile
and rejoice that he had. escaped from his
enemies. Naonioli alone placed her hand
upon his burning brow. She alone sought
to calm his troubled breast but be could
not be Gained. His soul was sick the
Hurons had robbed him of his warriors.
Of his fame, of his peace he looked at
the lightning as it played through the
hoauAps,~and hel8-tess1 ~ tbs HUNGER
as it ravsrberated amongst the Hills; End
he SAID 1T was music to his soul. A cloud
more dense and blacker than the rest,
gathered over the spot where be stood /;
he thought he heard a voice issuing from
the cloud it was the Great Spirit, who
spoke in a voice louder than the thunder,
and said, why hath Onosoit yielded him
sell to despair, why is he troubled ? Hath
his arm grown weak, and is his arrows
point blunt? Hath his tomahawk no
edge, and hath his heart grow like a wo-
mans Let him haste to the camp of
the Huron. who hath caused his spirit to
be grieved. who hath done him wrong,
ana revenge his friends and be again On
osolt the pride of his people, and the
terror of his enemies" And the voice
ceased, the cloud disappeared. Onosoit
hastened to his lodge. reached his war
weapons, and having ACQUIRED himself,
ne sought his powerful war-horse, who had
often borne him to victory. and fnaa mo-
ment ne was fleeing swiftly, almost as the
wind, towards the camp of the Huron,
singing his wild war song. The lightning
dances and plays before him, the thunder
roars and crashes over his head, but he
moves onward aud regards it not he ur-
ges his noble horse to the utmost, he is
impatient for blood and revenge, and now
ne has reached the Huron camp, who are
not watchful, for they dream not that a
Toe turks near. Onosoit springs from his
horse, surprises and kills the sentry; then
stealthily enters each lodge and despatch
es and scalps the inmates. Already has
ne counted thirty scalps, (the number of
his warriors that were slain) He enters
now the lodge Of the Huron Chief he
stands beside him, his knife is raised, It's
descending towards the heart of the chief.
-when the lightning plays on its point
and shiyers it to pieces in his hand On
osolt thinks it a warning from the Great
Spirit that enough blood has been split,
and he silently leaves the lodae and starts
towards the camp of his friends.
The storm was hushed, the clouds have
disappeared, and the moon shines forth
in all its splendcr the stars too shine
brightly, and the heavens look bright and
clear the drops of water on the trees
sparkle like diamonds in the moons light
-Onosolts bosom is calm; a smile cross
es his lace as he remembers that he is
again ONosoIT the terror OF his enemies !;
That he IS once more a warrior, and that
the Great Spirit is not angry with him.
Why should | return to my people,"
said he, they have treated me cooiv
when unsuccessful, thew shall not now
welcome me when successful
The moon was sinking calmly to rest,
the birds were w~arbling forth their sweet
songs. The breeze gently famed the
trees and blew back the dark hair from
his brow, he rode towards q cataract,
singing in a wild note his de~ath-song, to
winch the mad roar of the cataract seem
ed to chime a chorus. The torrent of wa
ter teuadered with awful sound. Qnosoit
stopped not at the brink, but urging his
noble horse onward, ~they.sprang together
lar over the p~recipice, Onosoit uttering
as he went, . now die a warrior and a
Chief, while the Great Spirit is pleased
and not angry