The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-04-21
From Titan.
THE WHITE STONE CANOE.
BY HENRY R. sCHooLcRAFT.

THERE was once very beautiful young
girl who died suddenly on the day she
was to have been married to very hand
some young man. He was also brave,
but his heart was not proof against this
loss. From the hour she was buried,
there was no Joy or peace for him. He
went often to visit the spot where the
women had buried her, and sat musing
there, when it was thought by some of
his friends, he would have done better to
try to amuse himself IN the chase, or by
direrting bis thoughts in the war-rath,
But war and hunting had both lost their
charms for him. His heart was already
dead within him. He pushed aside both
his war-club and his bow and arrows.
He had heard the old people say that
there was path that led to the land Of
souls, and he determined to follow it. He
accordingl y set Out, one morning, after
having completed his preparations for the
journey. At first he hardly knew which
way to go. He was only guided by the
tradition that he must go south. For a
while he could see no change in the face
of the country. Forests, and hills, and
valleys, and streams, had the same looks
which they wore in his native place.
There was snow on the ground when be
set out, and it was sometimes seen to be
piled and matted on the thick trees and
bushes. At length it began to diminish,
ard finally disappeared. The forest ASST
med more cheerful appearance, and the
leaves put forth their buds, and before he
was aware of the completeness of the
change, he found himself surrounded by
spring. He had left behind him the land
Of snow and ice. The air became mild;
the dark clouds of winter had rolled away
from the sky; a pure field of blue was
above him; and. IS he went, he saw flow
ers beside his path, and heard the songs
of birds. By these signs be knew that he
was going the right way, for they agreed
with the traditions of his tribe. At length
he spied path. It led him through a
grove, then up q long and elevated ridge,
on the very top of which he came to q
lodge. At the door stood an old man,
with white hair, whose eyes though deep
ly sunk, had fiery brilliancy. He had
long robo of skins thrown loosely around
his shoulders, and staff in his hands
1t was Chebiabos.
The young Chippewa began to tell his
story; but the venerable chief arrested
him before he had proceeded to speak ten
words. 81 have expected you," he re-
piled, "and had just risen to bid you
welcome to my abode. She whom you
seek passed hero but q few days since,
and, being fatigued with her journey,
rested herself here. Enter my lodge and
be seated. and I viii then satisfy your
inquiries and give you directions for your
Journey from this point" Having done
this, they both issued forth to the lodge
door, "You see yonder gulf" said he,
"and the wide-stretching blue plains be-
vond. 1t is the land of souls. You
stand upon its borders, and my lodge is
the gate Of entrance. But you cannot
take your body along. Leave it here,
with your bow and arrows, your bundle,
and your dog. You will find them safe
on your return" So saying, he re-enter-
ed the lodge, and the free d traveller
bounded forward, as if his feet had sud-
denly been endowed with the power of
wings. But all things retained their ma
tural colors and shapes. The woods and
leaves, the streams and lakes, were only
more bright and comely than he had ever
witnessed. Animals bounded across bis
/ path with freedom and a confidence
which seemed to tell him there was no
| blood shed here. Birds of beautiful plu-
mage inhabited the groves and sported in
| the waters. There was but one thing in
which he saw very unusual effect. He
noticed that his passage was not stopped
by trees or other objects. He appeared
to walk directly through them. They
were. in fact, but the souls or shadows OF
material trees. He became sensible that
he was in land of shadows. When he
had travelled half days journey through
a country which was continually becom-
ing more attractive, he came to the ban ks
of broad lake, in the centre of which
was large and beautiful island. He
found canoe of shining white stone tied
to the shore. He was now sure he had
come the right path, for the aged man
told him of this. There were also shi-
ming paddles. He Immediately entered
the canoe, and took the paddles in bis