The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-12-13
MOOWIS.
AN INDIAN LEGEND OF A MAIDEN WHO
LOVED A MAN OF RAGS.

NVl)d W was GtlC UCllC VI tLS II
lage. There could be no doubt about
that. The tribe of Indians to which
she belonged had but lately returned
from the summer fishing grounds, had
built their lodges and spread their rude
floors with skins and had prepared the
great logs which were 10 be burned in
the winter to keep out the cold, one
side of the lodge being left open to
admit the log, which was slowly drawn
in as it was consumed.
Her fathers lodge was the largest OF
them all, and here Nepawhamis pres
emily set up little court of her own,
for during that summer she had first
donned the red cap to betoken that she
might now be wooed, though it soon
became very evident that she did not
intend to be lightly won.
For Nepawhamis was coquette,
and her lightsomc fancy showed itself
in many WAYS. Her red cap, contrary
to custom. WAS u.i;iln, nlrd with beads
wrought into various conceits of birds
and animals, and in it she wore a red
feather, and she perched it jauntily
upon her glossy black tresses with an
air of defiance, as though daring any
brave to remove it.
And she wore her mantle of deer
skins as none other could wear one.
The skins, sewcd together to make
great length, were ornamented with
the tails of many deer, which bobbed
and danced as she walked trailing the
great length of her mantle behind her
as though she were queen sachem OF
her tribe.
And many lovers came to WOO, but
with none would she wed. Before the
door of her lodge were laid many offer
ings until the little lodge was hung
with mats of many and various weav.
ings, decorated design, jars of earthen-
ware with pictures burned in their
sides, basins of beaten copper and belts
of wampum. No hunt was undcrtak en-
that some brave did not lay bis offer
ing at her door, and her father waxed
fat and lazy, and all things were pro.
vided without his exertion.
Now and again some brave, embold-
ened by show of greater favor than
WAS given to the others, would lay his
first and second finger by the side OF
his nose, thus indicating his lifelong
devotion to her and his desire to marry
her according to the custom of the
tribe, but to all such, with merry
laugh, Nepawhamis would extend her
hand, with the tips of her fingers
pressed close together, and then, in the
braves face, would slowly and derisive.
ly open them.
Then that brave would go away, to
be seen no more 10y her, and if she re.
gretted any of them she showed it not
for their places were quickly filled and
the same story was repeated until the
gossips began to declare that Ncpaw-
hamis would never wed and to sllak,
their heads dismally when they saw !.
new brave wooing. as they knew, in
vain.
At last there were no braves who
had not tried their fortunes, and Ne
pawhamis' father began to be disturbed,
for their offerings ceased, the winter
began to press and the old man was
obliged to hunt for himself.
Thou willful girl" he said. sis there
none in the village worthy of thee?"
But Nepawhamis only laughed and
Uaoe uliH "dit. anu III luc ucsluIlIuc
the fame of Nepawhamis and her beau.
ty, as we'll as her ccqnetry, had spread
to neighboring villages.
In one was a young brave named
Sakatehoc, the son of great chief.
But th' ugh brave, he was gentle and
loved the arts ofpeace more than those
of war. He was tall and straight as
an arrow, but his dark eyes were soft
with lustrous light rather than with
the fire of passion.
Finally he, too. came wooing the
fair Nepawhamis, and he sat for long
hours without the door of her lodge
waiting for her to appear.
And he sang to her the love songs
of the forest.
He told her the stories of the camp
and of the hunt, but those she loved
best were the folk tales of the tribes.
He told her how Nanabahzo made
the earth, and of the great flood which
nearly engulfed him.
He told her of the origin of the ami
mails, the birth of the east wind and of
the west, and he told her of the mighty
magician Masswawcinini of the Mon
touline island, and the wondrous feats
he performed.
And Nepawhamis almost forgot her
coquetry in the charm of his presence
until the gossips began to look wise
and say, "Nepawhamis has found her
master at last"
But it was not to he. No sooner
did Nepawhamis begin to remember
who she was than her old ways began
to reassCrt themselves, until when
Sakatehoc finally crossed his fingers