The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-05-28

THE SALT LAKE HER.
for her mind, with no time at all for grief,
in making cages for her squirrels and
birds. and providing them with food.
sIzoka, however, being very partial to
the fish in the we'll, devoted most of her
leisure in feeding them, and she soon
taught them to be so tame that they I'M
derstood the cooling notes OF her strange
song as though they were human beings.
She fed them plentifully with banana
butter so that in a few months they had
grown into goodly size. By-and- by,
the became too large for the we'll, and as
they were perfectly tame, she took them
out, and allowed them to go at large in
the pool; but punctually in the early
morning, and at noon and sunset, she
called them to her, and gave them their
daily portion OF food, for by this time
she had a goodly store of bananas and
grain from her plantation and garden.
One of the largest fish she called Num-,
and it was so intelligent and trustful In
his mistress hands that he disliked going
very far from the neighborhood, and if
she laid her two hands in the water 1t
would rest contentedly in the hollow thus
formed. She had also strung her stock
had fastened them round their tails.
S'Her other friends grew quite as tame
as the fish, for all kind of animals learn
to cast off their fears of mankind in re-
turn for true kindness, and when no dis
turbing shocks alarm them. And in this
lonely place, so sheltered by protecting
woods where the wind had scarce power
to rustic the bending reed and hanging
leaves, there was no noise to inspire the
most timid with fright.
elf you try you can fancy this young
woman Izoka sitting on the ground by
the pooi-side, surrounded by her friends,
like mother by her offspring. In her
arms young pelican, on one shoulder a
chatJering parrot, on the other a sharp
eyed squirrel, sitting on his launches,
licking his fore-feet; in her lap another
playing with his bushy tail, and at her
feet the wagtails, wagging friskily their
hind parts and kicking up little showers
of dusty soil. Between her and the pool
a long legged heron, who had long ago
been shared and had submitted to his
mistress kindness, and now stands on
one leg as though he were watching for
her safety. Not far behind her is her
woodland home, well stored with food,
and comforts, which are the products of
her skill and care. Swifts and sandman
tins are flying about, chasing one another
their pipings; the water of the pool lies
level and unwrinkled, save in front OF her
where the fish sometimes flop about i'm
patient for their mistress visit.
''This was how she appeared one day to
the cruel eyes of Koku, her husband,
who had seen the smoke of her fire as he
was going by the path which led to the
north. Being a woodman as well as
fisher, he lad the craft of such as hunt,
L. IL, Two 70
tree until he was so near that he could
see the beady eyes of the squirrel on her
shoulder, who startled her by his sudden
movements. 1t was strange how quickly
the alarm was communicated from one to
another. His brother squirrel Peeped
from one side with his tail over his back
like a crest, the parrot turned one eye
towards the tree behind which Koku
stood, and appeared transfxed, the heron
uttered his melancholy cry, kWa-le, and
dropped his tail as though he would surge
upward. The wag-tails stopped their
curtseying, the pelicans turned their
long bills and laid them lazily along their
backs, looking fixedly at the tree, and at
last Izoka, warned by all these signs of
her friends, she also turned her head in
the same direction, but she saw no one,
and as it was sunset she took her friends
indoors.
s'Presently she came out again, and
went to the pool-side with fish food, and
cooed softly to her friends in the water,
and the fish rushed to her call and crowded
around her. After giving them their
food, she addressed the largest fish and
said, L am going out tonight to see if I
cannot find discarded cooking vessel,
for mine is broken. Beware of making
friends with any man or woman who can
not repeat the song | taught you, and
the fish replied by sweeping its tail to
right and left according to its way.
ssIzoka, who now knew the woods by
night as well as by day, proceeded on
her journey, little knowing how Koku
had discovered her, and her manner of
life and secrets. He waited little time,
then crept to the pool side and repeated
the song which she had sung, and inn
there was great rush OF fish
towards him, at the number and size of
which he was amazed. BY this he per
ceived what chance of booty there was
here for him, and he sped away to the
path to the place where he had left his
men, and he cried out to them, Come,
haste with me to the woods by great
pool, where I have discovered loads of
fish,
''His men were only too glad to obey
him, and by midnight they all arrived at
the pool. Alter StaulOnlng tnem near MIN
in a line with their spears poised to
strike, Koku sang the song of Izoka in
soft voice, and the great and small fish
leapt joyfully from the depths where they
were sleeping, and they thronged to-
wards the shore tiinging themselves over
each other, and they stood for awhile gaz-
ing doubtfully up at the line of men. But
soon the cruel spears flew from their
hands, and Num-, the pride of Izoka was
pierced by several, and was killed and
dragged on land by the shafts of the
weapons which had slain him. Num-
was soon cut up, he and some others of
selves with the meat, hastily departed.
s'Near morning IZoka returned to her
home with load of bananas and cook
ing vessel, and after short rest and re-
freshment she fed her friends-the ground
squirrels, the young pelicans, the par
rotS and herons, and scattered generous
supply for the wagtails, and martins and
switts; then fastened with her bounties
to the pool-side. But alas! near the
water's edge there was a sight which
almost caused her to faint-there were
tracks of many feet, bruised reeds. blood.
scales and refuse of fish. She cooed softly
to her friends, they heard her cry, but
approached slowly and doubtingly. She
called out to Num-, 'Munu- nu-nu, oh,
Num-, Num-, Num-; but Num- came
not, and the others stood well away from
the shore, gazing at her responsibility,
and they would not advance any nearer.
Perceiving that they distrusted her, she