Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-17
LITTLE BRAVO.

Years ago some Indians lived on the
banks of beautiful river The men fished
and the women planted corn in little NIL
locks instead of in rows. When they sat
down for 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 Weakened
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 should be a young man. All
her spare moments were spent in embroid-
ering clothes for Little Bravo and MS
father, with the result that they outshone
all others of their tribe. Little Bravo al
ways wore moccasins of yellow buckskln
trimmed with beads and porcupine quilts.
He was noble, warm hearted and sunny
tempered lad. The Great Spirit however,
saw that the foolish, doting love of his
parents was running the gift he had given
him.
One summer night the heat hung heavy
over the land.
There will be storm said the father.
Where is Little BravO?
Down on the river bank asleep replied
the mother. Il sat by him long time
brushing away the insects that bothered
him. He had taken off his moccasins and
his feet were bare. He is very beautiful.
our Little Bravo. 1 will carry him in when
the storm comes without awakening him.
The storm soon broke with great violence.
The mother fastened 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
nf 10, hOd nr,t pa CHI md c w
moccasns. A scream brought the father to
the spot They both Owed into the water.
though the storm ragged. What cared they
for that? Their Little Bravo had disap-
peared beneath the surface Finally, in
heartbroken accents, they pleaded: "Oh,
spirit of the riveri Give him back to usr
By and by the father arose, and looking
into the sky, said: 1T is the viii OF the
Great Spirit. He has taken him away, but
will save him for u.s." Turning, he disap-
peared into the forest. The mother sat by
the river for many days, without food or
sleep, kissing and caressing the little yell
low moccasins.
One night. on raising her eyes to the sky
she beheld the pathway made Of star dust.
which leads to spirit land. Longing to fol-
low it, she felt the pressure of a small hand
smiling gaze OF her son.
= "oh. Great Spirit. thank thee! The
dead is alive!'
Come, mother" said the boy I'VE are
to follow yonder path tonight. I have
come to thee because the weeping 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 foot,
upon which flashed and cleaned moe
casins of shining gold. Lay down my old
moccasins," he said, and thou shalt see
how a mothers love shall be remem-
bered."
She placed the little yellow moccasins
On the ground and a plant Immediately
sprang up. 1t grew rapidly, and on the
highest branch the moccasins were fast
ened They shrank in size and changed
| into flowers, keeping their original shape
and color. Little Bravo said, See, mother,
these flowers shall bloom on forever by
this shining river. Long after the red
| man has gone they shall bloom"
wondering, but happy the mother fol-
lowed little Bravo along the star-strewn
path to Spirit-land. Not many moons
later, from the midst of battle, the father
| joined them.
All this was long ago. The Indians have
left the banks of that river but the vel
low flowers bloom on by it's waters The
White children gather and call them .or
ch1ds, or 'lady's slippers" but the In
dlans always give them their real name
of Indian moccasins.'