The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-09
OKEMOs AND HIS SON.
WIS of Willow Spring

Under the willows of Willow Spring
Happens many wonder vi thing.
The sound that held the children mute.
One morning, came Fl ON an Indian flute.
1t was a weird sound like the cry of
wild animal, the note of far-aWay bird
or the splash of fins in lonely lake.
Rather. it was like all three of these.
The children were awakened by 1t and
lay quiet, frightened, yet pleased with the
strange, sad music
The master of Willow Spring, who had
risen early to make the rounds of barns
and pasture was now rousing the sleepy
mistress of Willow Spring He was call
ing, Come, Chummy. let S have our COZ
fee right away when he heard the mys-
ferrous music.
THAT is the flute of Johnny Okemos,"
he cried, and making hasty toilet his
wife followed him to the back porch.
where sat a queer old Indian, gazn g up
into the willow branches and softly pip
ing en- the rude flute.
He gravely took the masters hand, and
as the lady appeared he asked in surprise,
You got wife," He took off his bat
tered hat. Where he learned this bit OF
politenesS, | do not know.
His eyes were kind under the bushy
brows and the honesty of his face helped
to conceal it's plaipness. He was anything
but handsome, but commanded respect;
Upon the lapel Of his coat hung wilt
ed red peony. He explained the presence
of this decoration 1T was childrens
day, 1 find, yesterday. Those children
OLD PdlmGrS place Say Iuuldn muSt
wear over Great Spirit make 'em to
wear maybe. Okemos not know.
Johnny was now led to the sitting room
and shown the portraits OF grandpa and
indian dropped feebly as he gazed, and,
being given, chair, he looked long and
earnestly.
Your moder, she fade like the snow in
SUM-; said he. mot strong. but she
could sing like the birds; I think sweeter.
Your fader he different. Strong. worker.
he make the ak hot. He and Hail.. and
Scarf and Parker l know But Johnny
Anoder time, Hall gone Then your fader
go, and last time | don't find Scarf.
Bimeby Johnny. come, and>here is Johnny
Where is Chief okemos % asked the
Long gone. I am alone in my wig
wan. L go to see Pokagon in Traverse.
But APokagon old, too. He go soon;
Now, Pokagon was able to read ana
write and was a poet, though he wrote
/ no rhymes. Pokagon met the tourists
in Northern Michigan, and his name and
fame reached even to the Eastern CUES es
ed on birch bark, lay in book case OF
the room where Okemos sat.
The little girls hanging round the door
reported how sorrewful the old Indian
was and planned with their mamma to
make an extra nice breakfast for him.
They knew the story of Okemos. and
they understood how grandpa mad cut
down the trees, builded houses and
barns and roadways and had, in doing
these things, builded himself into the
lives of those about him, and into the
history of the state.
Now mamma had seen Indians eat,
but she did not realize JOhnny's appe-
tite. Coffee, milk, toast, eggs and
doughnuts fairly melted away, and still
| the old man ate on Just before the
larder was empty he was satisfied.
He was eighty years old, he said, but
intended to come back and trap about
the old mill pond the next fall:
The girls put fresh rose In place
of the peony. and after a few bars of
wild music the old man went his way.
He never came again, and his death
was reported. do not think he left
son.
Chief Okemos. for whom is named
town not far from Lansing, was an In
dian of much Importance In the days
when the first white men began to make
a settlement at Lansing.
He often camped with his warriors at
Willow Spring. making maple sugar in
it's orchard and trapping about the
shores of the mill pond and its feeding
While grandpa toiled in the mill max
ing logs into planks for the new homes
of Michigan. Chief Okemos and his fol-
lowers lived in wretched huts, proud
that they did no labor.
So they cooked down the sap in
cauldron kettle, strained it through
blankets none too clean ate their sugar
with hominy and game, and stole ev-
erything they could lay hands on.
Grandpa always found that his flock
of fowls was smaller whenever the chief
had chicken for dinner. yet he was al
ways kind to Ol1emos. for under the dark
skin he knew good heart was beating
and the knowledge that is power looked
out of the chiefs keen eyes
So when the old man brought Johnny.
and showed him proudly as his son.
grandpa made friends with the young
Irdian.
One dav Chief Okemos wanted to buy
bread The loaf, while good. was al
lowed to become too light before bak
ing. Next morning the chief came back
holes?" demanded he. 81 think you give
| me half my money, for your bread WAS
half h|es."