The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-08-04
ORIGIN Of the Human FaCe-A Tradition o.
the Usage Indians.

A snail once lived upon the shore OF a
rapid river, which headed far up among loi-
tv mountains 1t was in the sprlng-tllne
of the year-the SHOWS Of the mountains
melted and swelled the stream till 1t over
flowed the banks and washed the snail
away.
After floating down on the rapid current
many days, clinging to an old log which
occupied prominent place in raft OF DRIFT
wood, the snail found himself, as the RIVER
fell, cast upon muddy and desoate shore.
more dead than alive. The sun came out
with all his power and commenced drying
the mud and slime left by the recedlng wa
ters. and the snail with them. 1t was bad
show for the helpless insect, but being one
of the most persevering of his species, he
did not drown all hope in despair. He knew
that Great Spirit had cleated HIM, and III
that Great Spirit he placed his trust 1uiiy
convinced that the proper disposition "ouid
be made of bis coinely person.
Just as the last spark of vitality was on
the point of quitting the snail, change
came over the spirit OF his dream" through
ont. his system he felt the sudden springlng
up of new vigor. His shell burst asunder
and very soon it became evident that lie
was rapidly increasing In proportions
Larger and larger they grew, until he be-
came quite monster, standing far aooVe
| the muddy deposits OF the river, and aole TO
move farther in one minute than he was, III
his former condition, In whole day--lh
short, lie had become man; and, true TO
the instinct of such creature ne struck out
to explore the country.
| Ere the newly created man had jour
| far he discovered that he was the possessor
of wants he knew not how to supply. Prom
| inent among these was the want OF food.
| There were beasts and birds at every hand
as he walked along, but he had no means
of taking thenl-in fact, he did not know
that they were suitable for food. The food
which sustained him while a snail could not
/ be used by him now, aud, consequently, he
early began to repent the change, for star
walton was wildly staring him in the face,
and ieering him with the assurance that he
had only been shaken out OF the frying
pan into the fire"
But the Great Spirit finally came to his
rescue, and, placing bow and arrow IN hls
! hands, told him how to use them, what TO
use them upon, and how to prepare his food.
Thus the man was sent on his way reloIc-
ing, having first been crowned monarch oil
ali he surveyed, and invested with string
of wampum as an insignia of his Office.
At the time of mans creation the royal
family of the earth was among the beavers.
There was a queen among them ruling over
all the beasts and birds, and to her palace
the newly appointed sovereign bent his way
He was gracefully received by the princess
who entertained him to the best OF her ablii.
ty until he had declared his position, and
exhibited his string of wampum as evidence
At this she was struck speechless and all
ker subjects around were struck speeehiess
also, for the thought Of being ruled by such
a monster as man was blow too powerful
for them to endure.
The suferings of the queen beaver touched
the finer feelings Of the man, and he begged
the Great Spirit either TO do something for
her relief, or to take back the string OF
wampun and restore her once more to pow,
er and speech The Great Spirit heard his
appeal and compromised the matter by
transforming the queen beaver into wo.
man, and placing her with the man joint
ruler Of all created things. The man was
SO delighted with the arrangement that he
thought no more about the subjects, and az
a consequence they have remained speech
less to this day.