The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-12


prepared. He then informed No
komis that he wished her to join.
him in grand dance. A place.
was accordingly arranged, long
lodge was built, this was partially
covered with boughs Of balsam
and cedar and on the ground with.
in, were spread mats, furs, etc.
Wainahboozho had made extern.
sive preparations as he had extend
ed a general invitation to all 'of
his relatives to be present at the
feast. But when the time had .r-.
rived to commence the exercises,
Nokomis and himself were the
only beings present, however this
did not seem to dishearten them.
IN the least, and they danced and
Toasted and had a very merry time
indeed. Then Wainahboozho
made a speech and in the heat of
his discourse he charged Nokomis
with deceiving him with regard to
his birth and parents, and finally
accused her Of having caused the
death of his mother. At this pc.
Rod Wainahboozho was very
much excited and with flashing
eyes he turned to Nokomis and de-
manded that she tell him, under
penalty of death, the cause Of his
mothers death and all she knew
concerning his parents. Nokomis
though fearful of loosing her life,
endeavored to pacify Wainahboo-
zho and dissuade him from his
purpose of learning more of his
past and parentage, her desire to
keep him uninformed being to
keep him out Of trouble. But
Wainahboozho was determined to
know and no argument could turn
him from his purpose. Finally
Nokomis, in a clear calm voice,
spoke to him thus: my child, you
know not what you ask. You
should not let the pains and dis
appointments Of the past cloud the
sunshine Of the present. The All
wise Spirit is powerful and He
knows best what is for our good,
and tits not right that we should
seek to know what he desires to
keep from us; were we permitted
to foresee the hidden paths of lfe's
journey, our hearts would ever be
in pain and our eyes ever bathel in
tears! You should, therefore, be
satisfied that you have been spared
and are strong in body and mind,
and that some day you may be
permitted to see and live with your
MOTHER Still inahboozhc
was obdurate and insisted that
Nokomis should tell him what she
knew about his mother and father,
and the old woman, seeing that
further discussion was useless,
addressed him thus: my child,
you, yourself, killed your dear,
beautiful mother; she gave her
sweet life that yours might be
spared; like the peaceful calm of
dawn drawing aside the curtains
Of eve before the advent of a new
day; like the lilly that buds and
blooms and feasts on the an bro
sial of its fragrance, it's life-but
a snlile-~is meekly given to the
sunshine of another. Thus it had
to be, the All-wise had spoken it
in my dreams that a virgin should
be sacrificed that Wainahboozho
should live,' and that virgin was
my daughter--your mother. Yoh
also, was the cause Of your broth
er Flint's death, as there we've
two Of you-twins. Your brothers
spirit returned to the fourth po1-
ton of the Earth as a spirit Of
peace. As to your father, 1 fear
to tell you, as he is a powerful
spirit For good or evil and lives in
the fourth folds Of the Skies"
The All-wise knew that His
grandson, Wainahb oozho, was
angry and He became very much
alarmed, and He proceeded to call
a council to discuss the latter's
probable visit to His realms. as
it was supposed thai Wa;nnah.