The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-02-19
AN INDIAN LEGEND.
The Island Of the Blessed-or the
Hunters Dream.
FRoM sCHooLORAFT

.
he enjoyed the praises of the tribe,
!, but his heart was not proof against
this loss. From the hour she was
buried, there was no more joy or
peace for him. He went often to
visit the spot where the women had
buried ner, and sat musiDg there,
when, 1t was thought by some of
his friends, he would have done bet
ter TO try and amuse himself in the
chase, or by diverting his thoughts
in the war path. But war and
hunting had lost their charms for
him. His heart was already. dead
within him. He wholly neglected
both his war club and his bows and
arrows. ftEL- HIS
He had heard the old people say
there was q path that led to the
land Of souls, and he determined to
follow it. He accordingly set out
one morning, after having compIet
ed preparations for the journey. At
fret he hardly knew which way to-
go. He was only guided by the
tradition that he must go south.
For a while be 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 he set out and
it was sometimes seen to be piled
and matted on the thick trees and
bushes. At length it began to di>
minish, and, as he walked on, finally
disappeared. The forest assumed a
more cheerful appearance, the leaves
put forth their buds, and before he
was aware OF the completeness of
the change he found he had left
behind him the land of snow and
ice. The sir became pure and
mild; the dark clouds had rolled
away from the sky; pure field of
blue above him; and ss he went for
ward in his journey, he saw flowers
beside his path, and heard the song
of birds. By these signs he knew
that be was going the right way,
for they agreed with the traditions
of his tribe. At length he spied a
path. 1t took him through grove,
then up long and elevated ridge,
on the very top of which he came
to lodge. At the door stood an
old man with white hair, whose
eyes, though deeply sunk, had a
fiery brilliancy. -....
He had a long robe of skins
thrown loosely around his shoul
,ders, and staff in his hands.
Il The young man began to tell his
story, but the venerable chief ar
rested him before he had spoken
ten words. "I have expected you,"
he replied, sand had lust risen 70
bid you welcome to my abode. She
whom you seek passed here but a
short time since, and being fatigued
with her journey rested herself here.
Enter my lodge and be seated, and
l will then satisfy your inquiries,
and give you directions for your
journey from this point" Having
done this and refreshed himself by
rest, they both issued forth from
the lodge door. "You see yonder
gull" said the old man, "and the
wide stretching plain beyond it 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-entered the lodge, and
the freed traveller bounded forward
as If his feet had suddenly been en-
dowed with the power of wings.
But all things retained their natural
colors and shapes. The woods and
leaves, and streams and lakes were
only more bright and comsly than
he had ever witnessed. Animals
bounded across his path with a free
dom and confidence which seemed
to tell him there was no blood shed
there. Birds of beautiful plumage
Inhabited the groves, and sported
in the waters. There was but one
thing in which he saw a very un
usual effect. He noticed that his
passage was not stopped by trees
or other objects. He appeared to
walk directly through them; they
we're, in fact, but the images or
shadows oil material forms. He be-
came sensible that he was in the
land of souls.
When he travelled half days
journey, through q country which
was continually becoming more at
tractive, he came to the banks of
broad lake, in the center of which
was a large and beautiful island.
He found canoe of white, shining
stone tied to the shore. He was
now sure that he had come to the
right path, for the aged man had
told him Of this. There were also
shining paddles. He Immediately
entered the canoe, and took the
paddles in his hands, when to his
joy and surprise, on turning around
he beheld the object of his search
in another canoe, exactly it's coun-
terpart in everything. 1t seemed to
| be the shadow of his own. She had
exactly initiated his motions, and
they were soon side by side. They
at once pushed out from shore, and
began to cross the lake. Its waves
seemed to be rising, and, at a dis
lance, lOokeQ ready TO swallow
them up; but=just as they entered
the whitened edge of them they
seemed to melt away, as if they
were but the images of waves. But
no sooner was one wreath of foam
passed than another, more threat
ening still, rose up. Thus they
were in perpetual fear; but what
added TO it was the clearness OF the
water, through which they could
see heaps of the bones OF beings
who had perished before.
The master of life had, however,
decreed to let them pass, for the
thoughts and acts of neither of
them had been bad. But they saw
many others struggling IN the
waves. Old men and young men,
males and females, of all agos and
ranks were there; some passed and
some soon sank. 1t was only the
little children whose canoes seem ed
to meet no waves. At length every
difficulty was gone as in 3 moment,
and thau hotb laaral ha