The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-07

80 N4S o1SCro0So "a LIS lAlaoecAf auG
tried from time TO time to find out
wherein lay his power.
One day, however, the master forgot
his coat, which he left hanging near
the door. The man tried the garment
on, aud suddenly felt something in the
pouch. Eagerly he took out the box,
and slipping Off the lid, saw, to bis
amazement, the dancing doll.
Up looked the little one aud said:
"Welli what now? What am / to do
for your
Now the servant knew that this was
a manitou, and that il would obey the
holder of the box, so he said:
Convey this wigwam, with all that
is in it, to a forest that cannot be
reae hedn
THAT / will do for your said the
manitou, and the next instant the ser
want grew dizzy, and tainted.
When he awoke, there stood the
wigwam, far from human reach, in the
centre of q wood, and entirely sur
rounded by water.
In the evening the hunters came
home. but there was no wigwam for
the Indian youth, and only then he
missed bis box.
The great chief, who really was
wizard, and knew that the Indian lad
performed his feats by magic, was very
glad when be knew of his loss, and
Immediately he set another task for
him to perform.
This was that he should slay great
horned serpent that inhabited a far
away wood, and bring him its head.
Now, this serpent was the tutelar
deity of the chief, and from it came all
his power as wizard But, deeming
the task an impossible one, he insisted
that the youth should obey him, and
pretended that the camp was in danger
as long as the monster lived.
The boy said never word, but in
the morning he started out. He shot
his arrow before him, running with it
as on the first day of his travel, and
commanding il to direct him to his
wigwam. BY evening he had reached
the wooded island, where he found
the perfidious servant sleeping, with
the stolen coat under his head. Gently
the boy slipped the coat from under
him, and put it on, and then, taking
out the box, ne wished the wigwam,
with all it contained, back in its place
in the village.
Immediately he was there, with the
false servant in his power. Then he
commanded that the serpent be brought
into the village, and when the people
saw it they fled in terror. Aud the
servant, thinking that it was for his
punishment, left the camp, and was
never seen again.
Meantime the boy slew the monster
and cut off its head Then he hasten
ed to the chief, whom he found weak
and trembling, for when the serpent
died he lost his strength and power.
Here IS what you have asked me
for" the boy cried; and throwing the
head at the chiefs feet, he left him.
But wonderful thing happened
then. When the head touched him,
the chief uttered fright ful cry and
fell dead. Aud with his death ended
ell his magic, as the young Indian
learned when he reached his wigwam.
For there he found the old man that
had given him the box, no longer old,
but restored to youth aud strength, as
was every one else in the tribe. He
heard how the chief had worked magic
on all his people, that he might ever
retain power. And the old man who
WAS restored to youth told him how he
had set out on a journey to find him,
who alone could redeem his race.
Then ali the people crowded about
the youth, and made him their chief,
and brought costly gifts, and rugs, and
beads, and gave them to him.
But before we leave him, in the land
of youth, you must know that the
dancing doll performed one more mis-
sion for him.
His father, his mother, and his six
brothers were now transported to the
village, where youth was restored TO
them for time in the other world bad
passed quickly, but in this village no
one grew old.
And then, in return for all that it had
done, the young chief opened the box
and gave the manitou its liberty, IL US
stopping forever its wearying dance.