The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-11-16
Llttle Bravo.

LiAllC Bravo
Years ago some Indians lived on the
banks Of beautiful river. The men
fished and the women planted corn in
little hillocks instead of in rows,
When they sat down for a friendly
| gossip they held their little babies in
their arms or strapped upon their
backs One young mother never took
her eyes from the cradle in which her
handsome boy slept. When he waken-
ed, she sang to him and called him
Little Bravo" with such love and
tenderness in her voice that the
other women all stopped to listen
Years passed merrily until Little
Bravo was ten years old. He could
hunt and fish, and his mother was
happy dreaming of the time when he
shcpld be a young man. All her spare
moments were spent in embroidering
clothes for Little Bravo and his
father, with the result that they out
shone all others of their tribe. Little
Bravo always wore moccasins Of yell
low buckskin trimed with beads and
porcupine quills. He was a noble.
warm-hearted and sunny-tempered
lad The Great Spirit. however, saw
that the foolish, doting love of his par
ents was running the gift he had given
him.
One summer night the heat hung
heavy over the land.
There will be a storm said the
father Where is Little Bravo?"
Down on the river bank asleep"
replied the mother. Il sat by him a
long time brushing away the insects
that bothered him. He had talen off
his moccasins and his feet were bare
He is very beautiful. our Little Bravo
! will carry him in when the storm
comes without awakening him."
The storm soon broke with great
violence. The mother hastened to the
river and Just as she was about to
lift her boy a vivid fash of lightning
revealed the two hands of the spirit
who lives in the water. They reached
up and drew Little Bravo into the
waves All the mother saw was the
print Of his body on the shore and
his two yellow moccasins. A scream
brought the father to the spot. They
both dived into the water, though the
storm ragged. What cared they for
that2 Their Little Bravo had disap-
peared beneath the surface. Finally
in heart-broken accents they pleaded:
"Oh, spirit Of the river! Give him
back to us!,'
By and by the father arose, and,
looking into the sky, said 1T is the
will of the Great Spirit He has taken
him away, but will save him for u.s."
Turning, he disappeared into the for
est The mother sat BY the river for
many days, without food or sleep, kiss
ing and caressing the little yellow
One light, on raising her eyes to
the sky, she beheld the pathway made
Of star dust which leads to the spirit
land. Longing to follow it, she felt
the pressure of a small hand upon her
shoulder. Turning, she met the smil-
ing gaze of her son.
ooh, Great Spirit. thank thee!
The dead is alive"
Come mother" said the boy. 1--WE
are to follow yonder path tonight. / |
have come for thee, because thy weep.
ng grieves the happy ones.
The mother placed her hand in the |
small clasp. but said:
Here are thy moccasins Thou wilt |
need them, the way may be rough"
The boy laughed, and held up his
DOT, upon which flashed and cleaned |
Of shining gold. Lay down
ny old moccasins." he said, "and
hou shalt see how a mothers love
shall be remembered"
She placed the little yellow mocca-
sims on the ground, and a plant imme-
liately sprang up. 1t grew rapidly,
md on the highest branch the mocca-
iins we're fastened. They shrank in
;ize and changed into flowers, keep
ne their original shape and color.
little Bravo said "See, mother. these
lowers shall bloom on forever by this
Inning river Long after the red man
las gone they shall bloom.
Wondering, but happy, the mother !
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