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

VIZ LA,ATG

rope was taken of the mouse and
unwount; then he would take one
end In his mouth and swim to the
other side, letting 1t trail out after
him as he swan. This performance
had to he repeated many times he.
fora the whole rope WAS landed on
the opposite bank. When this was
done he had to swim across again
and fetch the little pair, seating
them on his forehead.
1t was hard work for the mouse,
but the little boy encouraged him to
his work by promises of reward and
compliments on his extraordinary
strength. The high mountains were
crossed with great toll. and while
they were on the dry plains the
travellers suffered for want Of water,
The sun had dried up everything,
and it almost seemed ~ II he under.
stood their object. for he poured
down upon them bis hottest rays.
Several changes OF the seasons, and
many moons had come and gone be.
fora they reached the dense forest
from behind which the sun was &C.
cust0med to rise. They managed to
arrive at this big forest at night. %
that the sun should not see them,
ana then they screened Themselves
in tine woods, resting there for sev-
eral days. When at last they felt
rested and refreshed thew beparl
their work at nightfall, and tho first
thing they did was to uncoil the
rope. The little boy then took one
end OF it ia his teeth, and climbed up
ono Of tho trees at tho extreme edge
OF tho woods. where he spread It out
IN the branches. making loops and
slip. knots here aud there all over,
from one tree to another, until the
rope looked le an immense net.
Then the mouse. finding bis services
no longer needed. left them and
wandered far away.
As morning approached, the two
children quilted the wood, everything
being In readiness. and retired to .
distance to watch the result Of their
work. soon they espied q pale light
cleaning behind the forest and
gradually becoming brighter and
brighter. On came the Gun, rolling
up in all his grandeur and fast up.
preaching the ropes. while Two little
hearts were beating quickly down
below. In q moment be had reached
the network Of rope. and then, be.
fore he knew It, he vas eutang(ed Ia
Ito meshes and found himself thor.
oughly eatrapped. What q proud
moment for our hero! He compared
his own stze With that Of tho sun and
delight seemed beyond bound a. be
and the little girl watched the sun
struggling to free himself. getting
red with fury aud rage. aud pouring
out his burning heat on oil surround.
ing things. The leaves shriveled and
dropped from the trees, the branches
could be seen to smoke, the grass
curled up and withered, and at last
the forest began to burn AZ the heat
became more intense. 1t seemed aa
II all nature was on fire. The joy oi
the children aow turned into fear,
The elk. deer and buffalo came rush.
ing out OF the woods. The birds cir.
cled, shrieking and crying, and all
living things seemed Wild with fear.
At last the fleld'mouee called the
animals together for q consultation
as to what was best to be done.
They held q brief council, for no
time could be lost. The elk spok 9
up and said that O. the mouse had
gone to such trouble to carry the
rope to entrap tho sun, ho was the
one who ought to cot him free from
hts ENLARGEMENT. This Vas gen.
orally agreed to. and besides tho
deld.mouse was the largest animal
and had such sharp and etrong teeth
that 1t would DO easy for him 70 gnaW
through any rope.
It vas getting hotter and hotter
something must be done quickly.
The sun was blazing With rage! The
field mouse 6naliy yielded to tho
Wishes OF bis fellow animals. and
rushing into tho woods through the
terrible heat and smoke, he grswed
the rope, but 10 doing % Wa melted
down 10 bis present elze. Tho sun
then rapidly arose. aud everything
soon became all right again.
The fact Of the little man trapping
the sun and causing % much mis-
chief proved his superiority over the
other animals, and they have feared
him ever since. And according 70
the Indian belief, this little man and
this little woman were tho father
and mother Of all tribes Of men.