Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-07-10

Il r
4 Il was many months since the floating
island had first appeared near the silen,
strand OF the Epoi. Windaru strode
into camp long after the moon had
risen. He threw from his weary
shoulders his days spoil. Far and fast
he had toiled for it, and his soul was
troubled to find the game rctrcating
still farther inland day by day.
i He passed on to the mia-mia of Wo.
rangou. The old warrior lay on his
back. with face upturned to the sky.
The opossum rug was cast from his
brawny chest. His flowing silver beard
shone in the moonlight. His lips
moved; his heaving breast showed that
his sleep was troubled.
Oondilla, ever watchful, with we'll
heated oven-stones prepared the even
ing meal. Together they partook of it.
Then they sat silently watching the
sleep of their fathcr-of the father of
Epoi. AS tho moon lowered over the
center of the earth, Worangou awoke
and sang loud and long the death song
of an Epoi.
Mournfully rose and fell the monoto-
nous ca'ience of fate fulfilled. An avail
anche of woe seemed to pour from the
heart of lost race. In that death
song the blood of the black mans fu-
ture was offered up rs holocaust for
the mighty requirements of the white
mans rule. The last tones of the song
sank lower and lower. till borne away
by the wind as it sighed through the
swaying forest trees.
The eyes of the old chief fell on the
listening cOuntenances and intent forms
of his son and daughter He beckoned
to them. They approached and sat at
his feet. Windaru knew well that he
was about TO listen to the last words of
his chief and father. Patient and dumb
rs a young Indian warrior, he made a
gesture OF attention.
Windaru, o my son, and Oondilla,
my daughter" said the gray chieftain,
sOlemn!y. 1.-the only ones. of SO many.
who have not cast ihe traditions of the
Epoi behind you. listen: My soul will
linger bu: 4 little while in the land of
my love and of my birth. Last night
my soul was in spirit land. have
looked upon the future of our race.
IL SAW the tribe of Epoi, with his
mia-nias scattered over many hills.
The hunters spread over the plains and
thread the forest. Kangaroo and emu
fell before the swift-ilyingspear. The
bees rendered mp their treasure of yell
low honey. The rivers and lakes offer
ed their fish, the earth its roots and
herbs. The women of the tribe were
busy all through the long DAYS trim
ming and softening the skins of the
animals slain by the hunters, fashioning
them into warm rugs for the cold Of
winter. The children were many, and
rolled with the dogs on the grassy
slopes. or played with the .witchie-
witchie' among the mia-mias. The
ovens were gaping with fiery teeth of
red-hot glowing stones for the. ever
ready feast. Peace and plenty filed
the land. The Epoi were free and
happy.
Suddenly, from the east, arose a
cloud on the sea. with three !eafess
pine trees uprearcd to heaven. Swiftly
the cloud travelled till it rested in tho
air over the hunting ground of the
Epoi. In the center of the cloud stood !
4 form white as TIE down OF the black I
swan, but with cold and cruel coun-
tenance.
" He looked on the lands of the Epoi.
He saw that they We're good. He |
stretched forth his hands over the hill. .
and valleys, and there flew from him
two white owls. These dartcd into the !
plains and multiplied into mvriads. /
The air was full OF them. They killed
and devoured all the ground game
bandicoots and water rats, iyuanas,
field mice and opoSsums-tIley left not
one alive. When there were no more,
the owls disappeared, save two. which
to the cloud.
1.-The Cioud Form again raised his
hand. Fishing nets descended aud
raked the fish from every river and
lake, leaving them to rot in the sun.
The nets were again drawn back to the
cloud
The hand was again uplifted. The
>angaroo and emu were seized with
1estilence. They went blind-thev
iiiled themselves against trees and
we're drowned in the rivers aud lakes,
Until none were left.
''Then the hand of the ClouL Form
vas again stretched forth to sprinkle
he wide land with liquid fire. The
'lackmen, as it touched them. went
mad. They fought--thev slew one an
,,her. There were no animals for food
no tish-no skins to make coverings
rom the cold.
My sou! gazed far and near over the
beautiful land of Epoi. There was
lothing living TO be seen. such as l have
cen in my youth. my manhood, my old
ge.
Again the Form spread his hands
orth above the land. 1t became Gov
re! with sheep in countless numbers.
)roves OF cattle and horses fed on the
'lains. White men built great camps
n the hills and in the valleys. Every
where there WAS Life; but everywhere
hat Life was yhi.e. Then voice said
nto my soul, 'Worangou! return un-
D the earth and sing the last song of ,
by race-a race without a future with
ut n history This, my children, is ,
he vision which l saw in the Spirit Z
and"
When the sun rose, the mia-mias of
'orangou and Windaru were empty.
he tribe of Z poi never more set ewes I
pom their chief or upon his son and his
)n's wife. {