Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-08-19
An Indian Fairy Tale.

An Indian Fairy Tale.
In one of the large forests that years
ago covered many of the regions Of this
country there lived young Indian with
his wife and little son. There was dog
also. named Unnemoosh, who was con-
sidered a very important member of the
family, as he was the baby boys guardian
in the absence of the father and mother.
One day when the husband was away
hunting an ugly old woman came to the
lodge The mother was frightened at her
looks, but gave her the best she had and
smiled very pleasantly upon her. Unne-
moosh barked at her continuously. The
old woman ate and drank and then went
away muttering to herself. When she
had been gone an hour or two the mother
thought everything was safe, so leaving
the boy in care Of Unnemoosh, she went
into the woods after fuel. No sooner
was she out of sight than back came the
old woman, who caught up the baby,
cradle and all. and started off with 1T.
But the dog seized the cradle IN ms teeth
and hung on with all his strength until
a piece of the blue and white wampum
of which it was made came off in his
mouth The old woman started OF with
Unnemoosh at her heels, barking furi-
ously, and the poor little boy crying at
the top of his voice.
The good mother, hearing the noise,
came running home only to find her baby
gone When the husband returned they
decided that the mother should go to
wise woman who lived two days journey
off and consult her. The wise woman
told the good mother that the old woman
was the witch Mukakee, who spent her
life in stealing children, and that to get
the baby again the mother would nave TO
go to the ends of the earth.
you must journey long way to-
wards the end of the earth" said the
wise woman, when you will come to
the land of the Nokoes, or the friendly
old grandmothers, and if they think you
are worthy, three of them will help you.
When the good mother told her hus-
band he said
"And will you go to the ends of the
earth %
"Oh, yes," answered his wife. What
mother would not go to the ends of the
earth for the sake of her child? You
stay here and keep the lodge and l will
start tomorrow
The good mother travelled on until the
weeks and months had become years.
Sometimes she would feel discouraged,
and then the thought of her little boy
would give her strength to go on again.
At last she came to the land of the
Nokoes, and there on the top of sand
hill was tall old Noko, who was trying
to beat off an eagle that was bouncing
upon her. The good mother ran to her
aid, and after the eagle was driven
away the friendly old grandmother said:
MY dear. | am Noko Aemotch. 1
know who you are; you need not tell
me. You deserve help, and [ will do
what I can for you. Take these moe
casins; they will carry you faster than
you can walk, to the lodge Of Noko
Wagokeek Then take them off and set
the toes homeward, when they will re-
turn to me-"
The good mother put on the mecca
sins, and was starting off when the
friendly grandmother said: IF the old
witch Mukakee ever pursues you and
you think there is danger of her catch
ing up with you, just cry out: May the
snakeberry vines spring up and trip
herr
The moccasins carried the traveller
swiftly over the road to Noko WACO
keek, who spoke to the good mother as
Noko Kemotch had done.
Here is a pair of moccasfns that will
take you to the lodge of Noko sNelokon;
then return them to me as you did the
Others Noko Nelokon will tell You
what you must do, and if old Mukakee
ever pursues you just say: May it rain
as if the bottom of the sky had tumbled
outv''
So away went the good mother to the
third old Noko, where she met with the
same welcome, and who spoke to her as
follows:
''The old witch Mukakee lives just be-
yOnd here at the ends of the earth. You
must put up a lodge near hers, your
dog will know you, and you can prove
to your boy who you are. If old Muka-
kee pursues you just say: May the
flint and the steel keep her foreverv
Just after the good mother had fin
ished her lodge she saw her son pass
by with Unnemoosh by his side. Her
son was large boy now, but she knew
him by his likeness to his father. She
stood outside of her lodge and as soon
as he saw her the faithful Unnemoosh
came running towards her. barking and
prised and accused the mother of be-
witching the dog. for Unnemoosh had
never cared for anyone but him, he said,
and never noticed strangers.
II am not a stranger to him." said
the good woman; ''he knew me before
you were born, for am your own moth
err"
The lad denied this, saying old Muka-
kee was his mother, that he was born
there and had always lived there.
''Well," said his mother, 'stake this
piece of blue and white wampum that
was a part of the cradle in which you
lay when old Mukakee stole you. Go
home and make believe you are sick and
tell old Mukakee that nothing will cure
YOU but q sight of the cradle in which
you were swung when a baby. She will
try to put you off, but insist upon seeing
it,"
The lad returned to the lodge and COM
planned of not being we'll, but when he
asked to see his cradle the old witch
brought out clumsy one that had be
longed to her own ugly ducklings. The
boy told her he knew that was not the
one, and finally she showed him a pretty
one of blue and white wampum in which
there was a break exactly the size and
shape of the piece the good mother had
given him. The boy was now convinced,
and, with his mother, began to plan their
escape. He was a good hunter, so he
went quite a distance away, and, seeing
a fat bear up in one of the treetops. he
shot it and left it there. Hurryiag back,
he told old Mukakee what he had done,
saying the bear was so large he could
not bring it home, and he doubted if she
could. unless she took her three children
to help her. as he was too tired to go.
Away went the old witch and her chill
raalIy fhQU ont of SIGHT