Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-04-20
TIE TRAILING ARsurU,
An indian Legend Beautifully Told IN
Paper by c. E. Beiknap.

In
Paper by c. E. Beiknap,
New Orleans Picayune.
At a meeting Of the American Fo,L.
lore Society, held recently in Washina.
ton, ID. G., the Indian legend of *.
trailing arbutus was thus beautifuls
told in "a paper prepared by Represents.
tive G. Il. Belknap of Michigan. AM
read in his absence by DIR. Bolton;
On the south shore of Lake Superior
in the vicinity of the Pictured Rocks
grows to perfection that sweetest and
dearest of all wild flowers, the arbutps
the plant that the most skilful florist
the plant that even the tender, loving
touch OF woman cannot cause to grow
in dollhouse or garden. There are tvo
things that the learned white man doe,
not understandable Indian and tia
arbutus. From time to time, sitting
by the camp fires in the evening. I
have been told of the creation OF mapy
animals and birds by the great Man.
naboosha and his captains, the Mani.
tos. And this is the legend, as told ma.
of the origin or creation Of the arbutus.
"Many, many moons ago there lived
an old man alone in his lodge beside
frozen stream in the forest his locks
and beard were long and white with
age. He was heavily clad in furs for
all the world was winter-snow and ics
everywhere. the winds went wild
through the forests, searching every
tree and bush for birds to chill, chasing
evil spirits over hill and vale, and ths
old man went about searching in tho
deep snow for pieces OF wood to keen
up the fire in his lodge. In despair hs
returned to his lodge and, sitting down
by the last dying Goals be cried 10
Mannaboosha that he might not perish.
And the winds blew aside the door Of
the lodge, and there came in most
beautiful maiden. Her cheeks were red
and made of wild roses; her eyes were
large and glowed like the eyes d
fawns at night; her hair was long and
black as the ravens wing, and il
touched the ground as she walked her
hands were covered with willow buds;
her bonnet was wreath Of wild
flowers, and her clothes sweet grasses
and ferns; and her moccasins were
white lilies, and when she breathed the
air of the lodge became warm.
1.-THE old man said. My daughter,
/ am glad to see you; my lodge is cold
and cherries, but it will shield YOU
from tho tempest of the night. But
tell me who you are, that you dare to
come to my lodge in such strange
clothing. Now, come, sit here, and
tell me of they country and thy
victories, and | will tell thee of my
exploits, for | am Manito.' He then
filled two pipes with tobacco, that they
might smoke rs they talked, and when
the smoke had warmed the old mans
tongue, he said: L am Mantle. T.
blow my breath, and the waters Of the
river stand still. The maiden said I
breathe, and flowers spring up on all
the plains The old man said: Il
shake my locks, and snow covers all
the ground Il shake my curls, said
the maiden, and warm rains fall from
the clouds. The old man said: When
walk about the leaves fall from the
trees. At my command the animals
hide in their holes, and the birds get
up out. of their nests and fly away.
The maiden said: When l walk about
the plants lift UP their beads, the trees
cover their nakedness with my leaves,
the birds come back, and all who SEQ
me sing. Music is everywhere.
And thus they talked, and the ar
became warm in the lodge. The Old
mans head dropped upon his breast
and he slept. Then the sun came
back, an a bluebird came to the lodge
and called, Say zee, say zee, / am thirsty
and the river called back, Il am free;
come and drink. And as the old man
slept the maiden passed her hands
above his head, and he began to grow
small; streams of water began to run
out of his mouth, and soon he was
small mass upon the ground, with his
clothing turned to green leaves. And
then the maiden. kneeling upon the
ground, took from her bosom the most
! precious white flowers and hid them
about under the leaves. Then she
breathed upon them and said: Il give
thee all my virtues ard my sweetest
breath. and all who would pick thee
shall do so upon Bonded knee. Then
the maiden moved away through the
woods and over the plains; and all the
birds sang TO her. And wherever she
steps, and nowhere else, grows the
. arbutus. "
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