The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-01

her kinsmen? While one woman held
the child safely in her arms the other
carefully wrapped the clothes OF the babe
about n piece of rotten wood and handed
this bundle back to the poor. blind nurse.
And she, poor creature, crooned her ten
der songs to the senseless wood When
the people returned they saw that she
sang only to a piece OF rotten wood. and
the mother cried out In anguish: MY
beautiful babe! My beautiful babel
Where is my babel MY beautiful star
child?" And she would not be com
forted.
Days passed in tears for the lost one
One day 1t happened that as the
mother wept she wrung out the cedar bark
napkins and blankets OF the absent little
one and from the water which she wrung
from the clothes came another babe
Stil she yearned and mourned unceasing-
ly for the star-ch.ld. She sought out the
people who know all things. the medicine
men and the councillors. to know whittier
her child had gone. Now. Kow-uks, the
Raven, had great thoughts of himself
ever, and he said he would make II plain
but he only made OF himself a fool,
usual. II was then that Blue Jay came
when he spoke he knew OF what he spoke
else he held his peace. She besousht him.
but he said nothing he only thought
They brought him "A beautiful blue blanket
and again besought him TO tell OF the
child. Blue jay took up the blanket and
put II upon himself, for he was greatly
pleased-in fact, 50 greatly does he love
| this same blue blanket that he wears IL
| to this day, and that Is why the Blue Jay
| Is blue Blue Jay looked In satisfaction
| at his new blanket and walked slowly as
well as thoughtfally to the open space in
: the midst OF the people. He did not know
what had become of the child, and hence
} he must think while. silence fell upon
them. Suddenly Blue Jay held forth at
! length one arm, and MS he swung u about
| In circle he cried:
| "Ketch-er, ketch-er, ketch-er, kctch-er,
| ketch-er ketch-er-ketcht' Their hearts
| fell for In this manner Blue Jay always
| foretells bad luck. slowly the arm swung
| round as though 20 complete the circle.
| and suddenly. as IL pointed straight north,
| II began 10 sing softly.
"Kash. kash kash, kash. kash. kRsh,
| kash kash kaahF' And the hearts Of ali
were glad again for this was Blue jays
/ message Of COOL luck There was mis-
taking H. As Blue Jay stood forth TO
| speak they strained their ears TO listen.
| And this Is what he said:
Il think the child "a in the north. II
is from the north that the strange women
came. The child II with them"
There was mingled CONSERVATION and re-
ioicng at the news. What II they should
Kill the child? But II Blue Jay knew
saycd2 And 40 they sought long and
| earnestly to have Blue Jay 20 10 the land
| OF the north. find the star-rhlld and bring
| him back 20 his own people again. And
/ though he WAS not eager for the task he
( finally rons.htei % don his blue blanket
| an3 set forth
For many days he Few and few and
/ flew ttll the air grew chin even ia the
1 day time. A. last he came TO a land
where there MAS a great stone A. he
looked closely at the stone ha saw a door
I slide open Ia its side and then slowly slide
/ shut again n opened again and again u
closed Il was at thls moment 81 opening
( that Blue JAY cauEht glimpse 90 the
! sfar-chui within. Watching FOR a time
he learned that ths door SLID open and
shut at res 3iar intervals, 30 be crept
I cioss to 81 and waited. The door began
! 30 trem6ie be made himself ready a.
soon as 70 had opened wide enough ga-
him. though 81 seeweJ ever go small IL
B crack be- vas 20 the door AMI through it
in less than Tho tWinkHnR of an eye A.
+ Dr. sBntChe3 up the star child the door
/ was hegin0.n~ 90 close again He Gaffed
/ straight Tor me cyer-lessening streak II
/ Hght an@ as Do passed zAs nearly caught.
( Iniead. the heavy stone just grazed and
/ touched his head. shcarinE away q portion
I OF the feathers To this day the b5ue Jay
/ has only q portion - the feathers left on
! the top o. hls head. and some people cali
/ that little cluster which the heavy stone
/ door left unshuTn. top knot II Il b. =
{ top knot. that Is shy The blue Jay has one
Many days Blue jaw aew Ia haste. bear
I lug back the star-child 20 his people
. when they returned the people were mad
I with SOY and made merry all the live
long day.
The star-chili and his younger brother
| grew up together. At last there came a
time when the 2eoIle were greatly con-