Connecticut western news., 1890-06-04
LEGEND OF FROG ROCK.

pendicular and abrupt, wall of solid rock. of the Huronian formation, with horizontal cleavage, on the-face of which are to be found occasional lodges, formed by the action of the frost. Among the Indians this is known as 1.-The Frog Rock" and the following legend will probably throw some light ca the origin of the name.
 I suppose that in the whole world there is not found a more omnivorous being than an Indian. should have said ''omni-carnivorous," for his is es- sentially meat diet. He eats bear, beaver, lynx, fisher, fox, marten, mink, muskrat, mice, otter, porcupine, squirrels, in fact every animal that runs One would think that he would draw the line at skunk, but no, he looks upon skunk, properly skinned and cooked, as delicacy. However, he has his weak point; he drav-1the line at frogs. They seem to be with him forbidden fruit, his tastes having probably evolved the interdiction. The evolution of customs and laws is a constant contest between cause and ef- feet.
 Many years ago there lived at Mata-  jeesh He was wild, harum scarum observe the laws laid down by the old men of the tribe regarding the "modus vivendi" He was Liberal, and had the audacity to despise the customs of his ancestors, customs sanctioned by ancient observance. He would not treat the skulls of the bears which he slew with the difference due to an ami nal that claimed distant relationship with himself, nor would he throw the bones of his beaver into the water, but would give them to his dogs, sacri- legious offense, and one worthy of aw- full punishment.
 1twas prophesied of this young man that evil would befall him. The Mani tou would not allow the sacred injunc- tions put upon his people to be thus openly ignored without retribution following the offender, and the wise men shook their heads with an oracu- lar "Kish," meaning colloquially "Hold on," while tEe old women talked as old women do, and magnifed the ill doings of the young man to such an extent that more than half the In dian maidens of the tribe were in love with him.
 But Kodjeesh cared for none of these things, nor did he care for the dusky maidens who admired so much wickedness, for his heart had gone out to the lovely Bebaybickouse, who was, if possible, more lively than him. self, and very hard to catch. Before her he would dance in a very taking manner, and should she happen to be dancing with him he would ''swing'' her with such violence that she would almost come to the ground. But even this violent courtship failed to make an impression on the obdurate Bebay- bickouse In vain did he ply the gilt tering paddle with graceful flourish as he sent his swift running canoe through the foaming rapids until, half hid by the rushing waters, he would appear to her as if riding on the back of a mighty "kenoshie'' the strong swimming pike), or at times, most reckless, when he knew that she was watching him with admiration, mounting on the gunwales of his fra gile craft, would he run rapid, stand ing up with an air of unconcern as if he were walking on the shore. But still the hard hearted Bebaybickouse l would not listen to his suit until driven to desperation, he one day ad- | dressed her thus:
 "Bebay bickouse, what Is there that can do to win your love?"
 "You cannot win my love-" she said; "you have not heart enough" "Try me-" he answered. "I would | dare anything; I would even eat a frog" ''Eat frogs then," answered Bebay- bickouse. You dare not"
 | ''Kish," said Kodjeesh, and he went forth determined to eat the first frog be met
 That day he was hired to take letters to the trader in charge of Temiscamin- que, which in those days was trad ing post of the Northwest company's. The journey is long one, but Kod. | jeesh did not feel 1t, for his heart was light. Bebaybickouse would soon be his, and the thought made him glad. The season was far advanced and il was not until he reached Temiscamin que lake that he saw single frog. Here, however, as he was padding close to the shore at the foot of the mighty rock, described above, he saw sitting on ledge in the rock, close to the water, a fine, fat, phlegmatic look ing frog.
 "Ah-hah, he cried, 'shere is the very frog that I was looking for and whicE I Twill eat to win my Bebaybickouse, saying which he cautiously approached and with his paddle sent the unsus pecting bactrician sprawling into the water. He then picked 1t up, and SC lecting the first convenient place tc land, he went ashore, lit fire, ano for the first time in his life was able to appreciate the delicate flavor ot frog.
 'sMen-o-pi-gan" Git tastes nice), he muttered to himself; ''my ancestors were fools, and Bebay bickouse is not SC hard o win after all."
 | Hardly had he thus soliloquized be I fore he heard an awful voice, pro ceeding as it were from the depths O. the lake, and this is what it said:
 "Thou eater of frogs, thou shalt b. punished"
 Kodjeesh trembled and. dumping into his canoe, paddled with all hi might away from the voice." Wher be had reached a less forbidding sectio1
 of the shore he relaxed little, and a. nothing dreadful had happened te him so far, he began to think that he
 might have been deceived and that th'
 voice was nothing but the echo of th
 rock. By the time he had reached th
 post, his destination, he fairly laughed
 at himself for the fright he had beer
 in, and his soul even ''hankered" af
 ter frog.
 As he was returning, though trif
 Rwed by the somber shadows of thos iuiehty rocl., and by occssional miA