The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-01-21
The Legend OF tho White Canoe.

The Legend or tho White Canoe.
In days Of old, long before the deep soil
tudes of the west were dsturbrd-by white
men, it was the custom Of the cIntiian war
riors of the forest to assemble at the great
cataract Of Niagara, and offer = human
sacrifice to the Spirit Of the Falls. The
Offering consisted Of white canoe full OF
ripe fruits and beautiful flowers. which was
padded over the terrible Falls by tho fsir-
est girl who had just arrived at the age OF
womanhood. 1t was counted sin honor BY
the tribe to whose lot it fell TO make the
fearful sacrifice; and even the doomed
maiden deemed it high compliment to bc
selected to guide the white canoe on its
hi'leous crrand. Eu. even in the stoical
which cannot be subdued, aud chords
which snap If strained too tight. ..
The only daughter Of chief oI 'he Sen.
eca Indians was chosen a. a sacrlticlsl offer.
ing to the Spirit Of Niagara. Her snother
had been slain by hostile tribe, and ber
father was the brayest amongst the war-
riors; bis stern brow seldom relaxed save
to his blooming child, who "ss now the sn.
ly joy to which he clung o., earth, When
the lot Of the doomed one fell or his belov
ed daughter not a muscle Of his rigid
countenance moved in The pride Of Indian
endurance he crushed down the fgony
which rent his bosom. A. lengthsthe fatal
day arrives; savage festivities. and rtjoic,
ings are prolonged until the shades of even.
ing close around, and the darkness Of night
falls like pail upon the wild funeral feast
But the pale beams OF the risin; moon
cast a mystic light upon the dark waters;
higher and higher she rises in the still
heavens, and the foam and the inists from
the mighty Falls glcam with a soft and
silvery light. Niagara thunaess ints the
dark abyss, but all besides is in calm re-
pose the Queen of Night stoops to kiss
the laughing waves, and al Nature breathes
of love, and peace, and happiness tho
wild songs and the wilder whoops Of the
rejoicing savages suddenly cease the dread
moment has arrived, and hush-an aw.
full and mysterious hush-s upon the eager,
listening crowd
And now the white canoe clides from the
bank, and is instantly swept into the fierce
rapids From this moment escape is hope
less. But the young girl dreams not Of
escape. Calmly she steers her frail bark
towards the centre of tho stream, willis,
frantic yells and deafeninS shouts Of en-.
couragcment and appreciation burst from
the savages who line the bank. Suddenly
another white canoe leaves the dark shade
of the forest, and shoots forth upon the
stream. A few powerful! strokes from the
paddle Of the Seneca chief, and the canoes
are side by side; the eyes Of father and
child meet in one last look Of love, as to-
gether they plunge over the laundering
cataract into Eternity!
~--------
\ Coco EDrroE.- Many peopl. estimate
the ability OF newspaper and the industry
and talents Of its editor, by the quantity Of
edi orial matter which it contains. 1t is
comparatively an easy task fox u frothy
writer to pour out daily, columns Of words
words, upon any and all subjects. His
ideas may flow in zone weak, washy, ever.
lasting hood," and his command of LAM
guage may enable him to string them to-
gethcr like bunches Of onions, and vet his
paper may be a meagcr concern. But what
is the labor and toll Of such q man, wins
display his leaded matter ever SO largely,
to that imposed on the judiciouS, we'll .rs-
formed editor, who exercises his vocation
with an hourly consciousness Of RESPONSE
bilities, and dcvotes himself to the conduct
Of his paper with the same careful assidui-
ty that a sensible lawyer bcstows on suit,
or humane physician on patient, with
out regard to show or display? Indeed,
the mere writing part Of editing paper ia
bu, q small! portion Of the work. The caro-
is the time employed in selecting for more
important matter, and the fact Of q good
editor is shown by the selections than any
thing else, and that re know is half tho
battle. But, as we have said, an editor
ought to be stimulated, and his labors ua-
derstood and appreciated, by the general
conduct Of his rarer--its tone-its temper
its uni ifofnr, consistent course--its pr!nci-
ples-its aims---ts manliness--its dignity
its prop.iety. ropreserye these AS ;l.ey
should be preserved, is enough to occupy
fully the time and attention Of any man
If to this be added the general supervision
of the newspaper establishment. which,
most editors have to encounter, the wonder
is how they can find time or room to write
at all.-Er