The Indianapolis journal., 1898-04-17
LEGEND OF THE TRAILING ARBUTUS.


The delicate fragrance of the trailing ar
butus (epigaea repens) and the futile at
tempts of the skilled florist to raise the
plant in garden and greenhouse render this
sweetest of wild flowers an object of inter-
est to all lovers of plant life. Early in the
month of March the trailing arbutus of the
South puts forth it's rose-tinted blossoms,
but far up in the Pine Tree State, it some
times blooms as late as July. 1t grows in
profusion throughout the New England
group of States, especially near the coast
and in the valley of the Connecticut. There
1t has received the name of the MayfloWer
chiefly from the poetical association Of the
name of the vessel which brought the pill
grlfns TO Plymouth rock. The Puritans it
seems, called it the trailing arbutus because
It's blossoms resembled those of the straw
berry tree or arbutus. In the southland it
Is called the ground-sweet or ground
laurel.
The trailing arbutus is found along the
Atlantic coast as far south as the Carolinas.
sometimes in great fields more often in
small patches, while in some places in New
York. and in the valley of the Susquehanna
acres of the hillsides are covered in April
with the fragrant arbutus blossom 1t is also
found ON the south shore of Lake Superior
III the vicinity of the Pictured Rocks
Inc following beautiful legend concerning
the origin of the trailing arbutus is gatn-
cred from the legendary lore of the Indians
Many, very many moons ago, in his hunt
ing lodge beside an ice-enthralled stream.
there lived an old, old man. He was clad
III heaVy 1urs, for without his lodge the
eerle wind went searching through the for
est for the hapless children of the void,
lnfF ofr.1
The old man went about searching for
pieces of wood to keep up the fire, but re-
turned from his fruitless quest, and, sitting
down by the last expiring embers. cried to
the great Mannaboosha that he might not
die And 10! the wind blew aside the door
OF the lodge and before his astonished eyes
there appeared a most beautiful maiden
with cheeks rivaling the blush of the wild
rose when wooed by her lover, the wanton
west wind. The maiden's eyes were large
and beautiful, her hair long and black as
the ravens wing, her head dress the roanv-
colored wild flowers her clothing the sweet
grasses and delicate fronds Of the fern. her
moccasins the Lilies white, and her breath
fragrance delightful, filling the lodge with
warmth and perfume
The old man recovered from his astonish-
fnent ana hastened to welcome the beautiful
maiden. My child" said he, 81 bid YOU
welcome My lodge is cold and cheerless.
put 1t Will give you shelter from the storm
without. Tell me from whence you come.
and why do you visit me in such strange an
parel? Come, sit here, and let me hear of
Your country, and / will tell YOU of nv
conquests, for I am the mighty Manitou"
The old man filled his pipe. and when the
smoke had warmed his heart, he said: 81
am Manitou. Lo, when breathe the rivers
forget the call of their mother the ocean
and remain mute and motionless.'' "I
shake my head" said the visitor, "and tho
summer rains bless the flowers and the
growing grain" The old man said: s.Wben
walk abroad, the leaves fall from the
trees and carpet my pathway. At the sound
of my voice the birds and beasts seek their
hlding places and the wild fowl begin their
hlght TO the southern Cline" The maiden
said: Wherever 1 tread the tiny plants
break through their dark prison walls, the
trees burst into leaf and bloom. the birds
return from exile, and everywhere there is
joy and gladness."
While they talked the air of the lodge he
came warm and the great Manitou fell
asleep. The sun came out from behind the
dark clouds and from the top of the lodge
blue bird called to the awakening stream.
'Sayee, sayee, am thirsty" and released
from its icy thralldom, the brooklet an
swered; Il am free, come and drink"
And while the old man slept the maiden
passed her hands, bright with the sheen of
the willow buds, above his head, and he
began to grow very small. Water flowed
from his mouth, and soon there was naught
to be seen of the mighty Manitou Then
bending low the maiden took from her
bosom the sweetest and most precious of
flowers and hid them all about under the
dead leaves Breathing upon them she said.
ITO thee l give all my virtues and nv
sweetest breath, and whoever would pick
thee shall do so on bended knee" Then tho
maiden departed from the lodge of Manitou
and such was the magic of her presence
that wherever her mocaSsin touched the
earth and nowhere else there grows the
trailing arbutus.
RUPLE DIX SMITH (Ben-Ardys.)
The Spelling.