The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-07
THAT / willg, the doll answered.

Suddenly all grew dark about tbs
young Indian; he felt himself grow
dizzy, and the next moment he tainted
When he awoke ne found himself out
side strange Indian village. and b,
knew that he was where the old mar
had wandered from.
/ Now, it was custom among the In
dians, that when visitor entered 4
strange village he should stop at the
first lodge he approached. Following
this habit the lad entered the wigwan
on the outskirts of the village. He
was cordially received by the only oc
cupant, an aged woman, who invited
him to the upper part of the tent, the
place of honor.
But suddenly his hostess began "a
weep and moan, and would not be
quieted. Asking the cause of her sor-
row the boy was told that it was on his
account she wept.
''Kn0w, she said, "ehat we have q
mighty chief in our camp, and every
time stranger comes he gives him
some difiicult task to perform, which,
should be fall to do, brings with it the
penalty of failure, which is that he
mast die; but TO do the task is but to
meet death in another way, therefore,
| weep for thee. For many others,
braver and stronger looking than thou
art, have tried and failed, and l fear
that you, also, may fail"
"Ho, no. Is that it?'i cried the youth;
''then fear nothing for me, for fear
not for myselfr'
These brave words quieteo the wo-
man, but her fears were not gone.
Soon the news spread, and reached
the ears of the chief, that a stranger
was in the village. Immediately he
sent naughty message that he should
appear before him. But the boy sent
haughtier message in reply, and re-
f1sed to obey the chief.
Amazed at the boldness of this an
swer-for he was really like king and
had never been so treated before-the
chief thought it must be indeed great
hero that won Id dare to insult him. So
he sent another messenger, begging the
stranger TO honor him with his COM
pany. All this the young Indian said
he would do.
WI N the time came for him to set
out ne carried his bow and arrow, aud,
placing the magic box in his pouch, be
soon reached the dweIling-place of the
great chief. There he was entertained
in Indian fashion, and while they
were smoking their pipes the chief
said:
"There is a trifle that should like
you to do for me. Yonder is a slight
obstruction that prevents me from see
ing the sun till it is far up in the heav-
ems. should be pleased if you would
remove it for me, though it is such
little thing that sho1ld hardly trouble
yeu about it,"
The youth looked towards the spot
to which the chief pointed, and saw a
huge granite mountain, reaching up
into the clouds. A smile crossed his
lips and he answered in an off-hand
manner:
''Certsinly, your pleasure shall be
gratiiisd, though, as you say, it is a
small thing that you ask of me-"
The chief looked at the youth in
scarcely concealed amazement; he had
expected to see him cAsgrined aud full
of fear. Bat his countenance soon
cleared, for he knew the task to be inn
possible and thought with pleasure of
the punishment Of the strange boy,
who had dared enter his domain aud
treat him with so slight respect.
The boy soon departed, and, return
ing to the lodge of the old woman, he
told her Whist the chief had asked him
to do.
Again the old woman wept and rock
ed herself back and forth in misery;
but the boy told her not to fear for him,
and soon afterwards he retired 20 rest.
When all the camp was wrapped in
sleep the youth opened the box and
saw the little man dancing with all his
might Suddenly as before, he stopped,
looked up, and said:
"Well, what now? What do you
want of me?"
II want you to level the huge granite
mountain out yonder and it must be
done by morningr'
THAT will do for your the little
man said; and, closing the box, the boy
went TO rest.
But ali night long he heard the noise
Of hammering and grinding, aud
pounding and digging; he heard shouts,
and orders, and noises of implements.
Early in the morning the great chief
was awakened by the sunlight's fash
ing suddenly into his lodge He look
ed out in wonder, and scarcely recog-
nized his home land; for where the
mountain had been was broad plain,
with nothing but waving grass to be
seen, till it dipped down into the boil
low that had always been behind the
mountains
The mighty chief was very angry at
this change, but he dared not ex-
press IL; 50 he told the lad he was so
pleased with him that he would re-
ward him by giving him a great treas
ure But first he had another little
thing that had to be attended TO. Then
he told him Of neighboring tribe,
who were very troublesome.
"Before you can have my gift," he
said, ''you must help me battle with
this tribe, for they always rise to COM
bat when stranger settles within my
land.p
Now the chief, who was a very
wicked man, thought that he could
surely manage the death of the young
Indian In the battle.
"Gather your warriors together the
boy said, '.and In the murning we will
start, while yet is early"
But he himself went that night, and
reaching the outskirts of the village,
be opened his box and gave the COM
.,o,d - tt,a HanefnO doll Soon he