The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1893-09-16
TIE LEGEND OF THE ARBUTUS.

"Some time ago." says th3 OLlereT-
sity Review, congressman Belsnap
related, one night at the Washington
Cosmos Club. the following legend OF
the trailing arbutus, which he hear1 IN
The lodge of an aged Indian chief on the
shore Of LAKE Superior.
sHere, in this couutrv, grows to
perfection that deare:t aud sweetest OF
ali wild-Iowers, the arbotus-5he plant
that the most skllful florist cannot
cause to grow in hot-house or garden.
There are two .nings the learned
white man does not know-the Indlau
and the aroutus. From time to time,
sitting by the camp-dres in the evening
| have been told of the creation OF
animals and birds by the great N anna
Loosho ard his captains, the Manitous.
! AND this is tue legend Of the origin or
creation OF the arbutus:
"Many, many moons ago there lived
an CID man alone in his lodge beside a
frozen stream IN the forest. His locks
and beard were long and white with
ege. Hs was heavily clad in fine fuls,
for all the world Was Winter-snow and
ice everywhere.
"The winds went through the forest,
searching every nook and tree for birds
To Chill, chasing evil spirits DER hill
anc vale; and the old man went about.
vainly searching in the deep snow for
ii :ces of wood to keep up the fire in bis
o1ge.
ssIn despair. be returned to his lodge,
and, sittlug Gown by the last few dying
Goals, he cried to Mannaboosho that lie
might not pel15h. And the wird5 blew
aside the door Of the lodge, AID there
came in most beautiful maiden.
| "uer cheeks were led, as il made or
| wild-roses; her eyes were large, and
sIowed like tie eyes Ct fawns at night;
ner hair was long and black a3 the
ravens feathers, and iI touched the
ground as she walked; her hands were
covered with willow buds; on her head
was a wreath OF wlldfoWers; her
clothing was of sweet grasses and ferns;
her moccasins were white lilies. and,
when she breathed, the air Of the lodge
| became warm,
"Ihe old man said, Ny dlughter, l
nm glad to sea you. My lodge is c1ld
an1 cherries; yet it will shield you
from tfe tempests of the night. But
tell me wi.o you are, that you dare to
come to my lodge in such strange cloth
ing, Come, sit Lare and tell me of thy
/ country and thy victories and 1 Will
tell thee Ct my exploits, lorN~a am
Manitou. I blow ny breath, and e2e he
waters Of the river stand STILL
1.-THE maiden answered, 4 breathe,
and the flowers spring up on all the
plants
ss1,he old man said, Il shake my
locks, and snow covers all the ground.
"'I shake my curls,' rejoined the
maiden, 'and Warm rains fall from the
Clouds
Wv len I walk about, the leaves fall
| from the trees. Atmy command, the
animals hide in Their holes in the
ground. and the wild fowl get out of
the water and fly away, for l am
Manitou.'
s.The maiden made answer, When
walk about, the plants lift up their
heads: the trees cover their nakednes;
with many leaves; the birds come back,
aid all who see me sing. Music is
everywbere.'
"And thus they talked, and the air
became warm in the lodge. The oil
uan's head dropped upon his breast,
and he slept. TheD the sun came hack,
and the hlu BIRD came to the top of the
lodge and cllled, 'Say-ae, ! am thirsty +
and the river called back, I am free;
rome and drjnk!'
"Aslhe cid man slept, the maiden
ras-ed her hands above his head, and
he began to grow small; streams OF
water ran out Of his mouth, and soon he
| was small mass upon the ground, aud
his clothing turned 10 green leaves.
Then the maiden, kneeli1g upon the
ground, took from her bosom the most
precious white flowers and hid them
about under the leaves, and, breathing
| upon tnem, saic:
'.I give thee all my virtues and my
sweetest breath, and al who shoul
PICK thee shalt do so upon ben0ed
knee
Then the maiden moved away
! through sIs woods and over the plains,
ard all the birds sang to her, and
wherever she stepped, and nowhere
! Else, grows the arbutus.'