Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-09-15
TIE CURSE OF The MANlTOU,


THE CURSE OF The MANITOU.
An Indian Legend.
~ lew vANDKRPooLE.
5S
n - legendary lore OF the North
A1Doe1cao lndtans, Il Il II ever written, will
aGug4 ~ lowers Of wiefd and mythical ro-
49, ttNdlt1Ons afe simple while others are
voey compiler; many are rich with IN al
- os3e1lAl splendor, and others approach
~ RIa9onisn and deliberntiOn OF Morse
saQns. Al assist h demonstrating that
peeeY e more . matter Of conditions than
Tne1s = iitGle difsculty in tracing a ma
jegtl8 d &hese legends 10 their tribal origin,
- 1lnnt 1tably DO they bear the impress Of
Iooal, md natural, influence. Those which
80 originated among the mountain
6teeas wAers ths scenery h continuous
panoe4ma q rugged grandeur, are most
49, g their imagssy and movement.
fSon ~ Colombo Utss and accounting for
~ ORIGIN ~ the buffalo, ID, with some
utlGAt medication. o. follow:
IL 1sst people Of the earth were the
unntooa's own children. He formed them
- - enow Of ~ mountains and filed
49, witA his own breath. So they we're
1hey wsse lsw IN number and their faces
gAooG HE mOuntain sunshine. Thew
6y0d q The summits, In the heart Of the
49, 1ocU Mcuntains, where the Manitou
Ind ~ tkxcno.
rs ~ vi1A thsm always. 20 they wsre
49, Win Ne wisdom Of purity and blame
ssssness. The birds which sang around
- wsts ~ happier.
Hsspslual youth va theirs, and there
- - sickness or death among them.
I IL Menitou provided food for them,
md to Ne beasts, birds, and fishes, with
81 dee1foying any form Of life.
AGo followed age, and still all was the
came; there had BEEN no dissension, blood
had nct been spilled, nor had flesh been
taDoed. Tia happiness which first came
WITH them wes still complete.
Ihers had been no loving, passion, or
mas1taee, and though there we're both men
and women--as nOw-the secret Of ser was
Bas oaes has The earth echoed the tread
a : perfect people. Those who came
~ nAnitou's wars until the passing Of
~ ume va beyond mans reckoning,
9nally had The curses and pangs Of wisdom
bsou6At upon them BY the touch of .
Wonanss hand.
The Nanitou had commanded his chill
eren never % enter the valleys, and az long,
dark shAdows swept over these low places,
the people wese glad to stay on the SUM
nils IN the sunliGht.
Tina day, 10 the season Of melting SHOWS,
. man whose splendor none excelled
climbed farther mp one Of the highest
DOuntsins than he had ever been before.
Eaidenly great bodies Of snow began
Nlidiug down the mountain al around him,
ntnDdiAa began moving too.
Gtsntghe down toward one Of the for
htdden valleys 4 went. and the man with
H knew no danger, save that Of dis
pleasing The Manitou, for danger, like
pain. waa altogether unknown among those
Wh0 dwelt Ia The mountains.
hut ~ could not stop, and the snow
eoee Inn On down into the valley below.
Thsre ~, great river q his feet which
~ eAow chnksd, and he was borne safely
aefess .and lsft standing upon the other
- looked back, bat the snow was al
1eAdy xAshed away By the river. 10 he
~.
Nhyl asked voice q his side. sWhy
isxgt = sten avsyfs
q q ma slood face to face with :
- 6cnsn.
oe 1kin Was much darker than his. and
- - bean1tl1l beyond any ono he ever
49, tolbo, 6ave ~ Nanitou.
Il ~ ~ - - ehs aaked sAse
- - - 1nountsins--of Tie Nanitoa's
Oun poopto1s
~ - Aad sssr - bsvildsrsd him be-
tsgA - ~ vutce had ever 20 thrilled him.
h Nee nOved by new emotions, and his
h 5eped tArcseh HI veins with new
n n 1T Spen ~ lips and in the eyes
5Sfs9 IsS r. womsn IA Ser strange
Aoav ~ fcegoetsn.
n 1now sliIi swept down the mountains
49, : tunh1e. and the river still reared
lheg1GA ~ yalley. Above him we're the
nn6ife ~ had known since earth'a in
z6ne1, ~ home Of his people and the
oao 81 ~ ManitOu.
# ~ ~ heodod none Of these.
-, Z ~ answered, Il am 81 The noun
tn1m1, 6Qt whO ore ron"
g11ll ennfling gWest1y, the woman put out
~ Aand1 and tcnchsd his face. Unre-
Si1led - dlsw his hsad forward until il
1eeed 80 Mr. besom.
\ q - ) daaehtsf * The plains people,
- eet. Ldke ycus We necd TO dwell
- ~ = ~ sumnits, bat he was
49, - away. 6ouDs of us stayed in these
ta13Sea anA 80 ns,e.m f1,a rlaSns av,d rlfhars