The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-08-28

Some persons thought than they
might have been little beavers. or
little turtles, who were 80 smart that
they turned into a boy and a girl ;
hut nothing about this Ia known for
certain. These small people lived
In q tiny lodge near tho river. feed.
Ing upon the berries that grew along
the shore. These were Of great va
riety and many delicious havors.
There were wild currants. raspber-
riea. gooseberries, servtceberrlcs.
Wild plums and grapes, and OF most
these one was sufficient to make q
meal for both Of tho children.
The little girl was very fond Of the
boy. and watched over and tended
him with great care. She mado him
q tiny how from a blade Of grass,
With arrows to match and he hunted
grasshoppers. crlckets. butterflies,
and many other small creatures. She
then made him a hunting shirt, or
coat, from the skin Of q humming-
bird, ornamented with brilliant little
stones and tiny shells found In the
sand. She loved him 80 dearly that
no work was too much when done
for him.
One day he was out hunting on
the prairie; and. feeling tired from
an unusually long tramp. he lay
down to rest, and soon fell asleep.
The wind began to rise. after the
heat Of the day; but this made him
sleep the sounder. and he knew moth.
ing Of the stofm that was threaten.
log. The clouds r0oled over from
the northwestern horizon like an
army OF blankets torn and ragged.
With flashing lightning the thunder.
god let loose his powers. and peal at.
ter peal went echoing loudly through
the eanons.I up over hills and down
into prairies where the quaking asp
shivered, the willows waved and the
tall blue grass rolled "a tho winds
passed over like q tempest't0seed sea.
Only the stubborn aloes tho Span.
ish bayonet and the prickly pears
kept their position. But the storm
was az brief 40 It Was violent. and,
gradually subsiding, It passed to the
southeast, leaving nothing but a
bank OF clouds behind tho horizon.
Everything was drenched by the
heavy rain. The flowers hung their
heads, or lay crushed from the
weight OF water on their tender pc.
tails, vainly struggling to rise and re.
joice that the storm had passed away.
The sage brueh looked moro silvery
than ever, clothed With myfiads OF
rain drops, which beaded Ito tiny
leaves. Through all the storm our
little hero slept, tho feathers OF hts
huDting.cost vet and dattened BY
tho rain. When the Gun came out
again and shone upon him It dried
and ehrtveled this llttle coat until It
cracked and fell OF him like the shell
Of an egg from Q newly hatched
chicken. He soon began to feel tn'
comfortable and woke up.
Evening WAS fast approaching; the
blue jay chartered. the prairie. chick.
on Was calling ita young brood to
rest under It's wings for tho night.
the cricket had at last sung himself
to sleep, and all nature seemed TO be
getting ready for q long rest. Our:
boy. however, had no thought OF
further sleep. His active mind was
thinking how ho could revenge HIM
self upon the sun for hts treatment
OF him In thus running BILE coat. The
shadows on tho plains deepened Into
gloom and darkness. but still he
thought and planned out bis re-
veuge. Early In the morning he
started for homo. The little girl
had been anxiously Watching for him
oil night, and came out to meet him.
much rejoloed at bic safe return: but
when che saw the condition OF his
coat, On which she had labosed With
such care and love, che Was very
much grieyed. Her tears only made
him more angry with tho sun. and he
sat himself to planning with greater
determination By what means ne
could annoy his enemy, the Gun. At
last Q bright idea struck him, and he
ct once told It to the girl. She was
delighted, and admired him the
more tor his shrewdness. They soon
put their plans into practice. and be-
gan piating q rope Of grasses:
This was great undertaking, az
the rope had to be very long. Many
moons came and went before this
rope was finished, aud when tho
task Was completed. tho next thing
to be considered was how they should
carry or transport 1t to the place
where the sun rises 10 the morning.
This question puzzled them greatly,
tor the rope was very large ana noa'
w, and the distance was very great.
All the animals at that time were
very small when compared to the
fleld.mouse, which was then the
largest Quadruped in tho: whole
world, twice tho size Of any buffalo.
Tue horse, or "a the Indians gal! It.
1 "shungatonga," meaning eIk-dog.
did not then exist. 1t was 9 long
time before the children could ind
. 1eld-mouse to whom e1ey might
appeal for aid. At last they found
one ct home, sitting comfortably I'M
der an immense tern. The little boy
went uHt to him, and, eftes relating
bio troubles, asked II 10 would -
| toeIn carrying the rope. Mountain
hod TO be crossed. rivers sWum Of
,t1oeded. according to tnels oeptnl
4 Wido expanses OF prairie TO % passed
over, forests skirted swamps waoed,
! lakes circled, before the rope and itl
makers could reach the plAce where
1.-THE Gun rises. The deld'mouee. ettel
! much consideration agreed g oelt
} tho poie. and they began their pre-
partitions BY winding tho rope Into
| : great coil. which they PACKED %
the hack OF the ileld.mouDe. % the
top OF this the boy and girl oeosed
Themselves, and tho journey poqen,
/ When they came to . liver Wn1ce
met b crossed By swimming. tn