Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-06-26
A LEGEND OF LELEOTA.
HOW THE BIG MISSOURI RIVER
CAME TO BE MUDDY.
A Wild, wIerd Tale Handed Down
Through Countless Generations
OF the Ponca Indians
Flend's Death.


IT makes ones head ache to think of
them, the chief town of the Ponca ma
ton nestled at the eastern base of a
low mountain about fifty miles, as the
crow flies, west of where now is Sioux
City, Iowa. This mountain stands Mt
the head of a chain of smaller fellows
that stretches away TO the southwark.
Straight at its base the Missouri hurls
its mighty flood with all the force
gathered in a tive-mile sweep from
the north; then, finding its progress
barred, turns due east and continues
its seaward way in ten thousand swirl
ing eddies. 1t is as If the mountains led
by this patriarch, had started on a
journey to the north, and finding their
path blocked by the river and being
too obstinate TO turn aside had sullenly
held their ground through all the long
ages.
In deep, narrow ravine, close 90
the river and little removed from the
rest Of the village was the tepee OF
Warpah Tcnka, the medicine man.
Long years devoted to sacred mysteries
had bent his once 1.-the form and
plowed such deep burrows in his face
that the swarthy skin seemed to de-
pend from the skull in folds, which
were curtained by snowy locks hang
ing far down upon his shoulders.
Never was medicine man at once so
beloved, feared, and respected by his
people or vouchsafed such signal
marks of favor by the Great Spirit.
So sedulously had Warpah Tonka de-
voted his life to his holy calling that
he found no time for matrimony; so
that now there was no childish laugh
ter in his tepee TO cheer the long win
ter evenings no bright eyes and MIN
BILE feet TO exc out his fading sight and
trembling step. Had it not been for
the consciousness Of a great duty,
nobly performed. Warpah Tonka
would have regretted his celibacy;
even as it was he could not suppress a
yearning for the sweet companionship
OF the young, for he dearly loved chill
dren.
One summer twilight as Warpah
Tonka wandered beside the river his
meditations were interrupted by a
sound as OF thousand mockipgbirds
singing. Looking up he saw a feecy
white cloud floating toward him. Soft
ly down it came until it rested at his
feet. 1t opened. and Warpah Tonka
saw. lying upon a bed of soft, golden
moonbeams, a papoose. AS he looked
the babe grew until she had the ap-
nf ori,.1 If ID Then
she opened her eyes, smiled, and, look
ing at Warpah Tonka, said simply:
my father" At this the cloud van
ished and the two were alone. Then
Warpah Tonka knew the Great Spirit
had sent him an especial token of
favor in this little maid to brighten
the last days Of his journey to the hap
Ply hunting grounds.
Much the people marveled at this
great miracle. Whole tribes came
many moons travel to see Leleota,
Tho Cloud Child" and TO beseech
Warpah Tonka to make medicine for
them.
Four joy-laden years sped by.
Leleota was the light OF Warpah
Tonka's tepee and the life OF the viii
lage. All spots were cherries, all
games dull, unless she was present;
the children were happy only when
with her.
Beautiful did / say? Why. until
Leleota came, beauty was not; and now
that she Is gone. beauty is no more.
Though not the boldest young war
rior would have dared to speak to the
cloud child of love, yet there was one
who regarded not sacred things. Ok
shela Seche, the storm devil, had
looked with covetous eyes upon Leleo-
Ia. Many were the cunning plans he
laid to possess the cloud child. but as
often was he thwarted by Wsrpah
Tonka's medicine. Each time he was
baffied his disappointment and fury
were doubled. How he tore up the
forest trees and buffeted the waves in
the transport Of his rage!
As n lovely June day was drawing
to close Leleota wandered away from
her young companions and climbed to
the summit of the mountain back of
the village and stood with dreamy
eyes, as was her wont, gazing upon the
glorious sunset landscape. After the
fiery orb her father had taught her to
worship had disappeared behind the
distant hills Leleota still fingered.
drinking in the perfumed breeze and
listening to the evensong OF the feath-
cred choir about her.
Okshela Seche saw her standing
there, and with howl of triumph was
at her elbow. "Ha! ha! my pretty
one," he screamed; "now you shall
come with me and be my bride"
Leleota was filled with loathing at
sight OF the hideous apparition, but
she knew no fear. Clinching her dim
pied fist she struck Okshela Sache
square in the mouth, saying. 'Begone,
thou ugly storm devil. Oh, but
thou shalt repent in anguish Of this.
Ny father shall fill thy body as full of
pains as raspberry is of seeds, thou
evil one"
Okshela Seche was in an ecstasy OF
rage. With below that made the
oaks trembleh he drew his scalping knife
and. summoning all the strength Of
his being, drove the cruel blade to
y nrt