The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-02-24
IkTOMI
AND
THE FAWN.

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In one Of his wanderlngs through
the wooded lands Iktomi saw a rare
bird sitting high in tree top It's
long fanlike tail feathers had caught
all the beautiful colors of the rain
DOW Handsome in the glistening
summer sun sat the bird of rainbow
plumage. Iktomi hurried hither with
his eyes fast on the bird
He stood beneath the tree looking
long and wistfully at the peacock's
bright feathers. At length he heaved
sigh and began: ooh, l wish had
such pretty feathers! How | wish |
were not |! If only | were a hand
some feathered creature how happy
would be! I'd be so glad to sit upon
a very high tree and bask in the
summer sun like you'll" said he sud-
denly, pointing his bony finger up to-
ward the peacock, who was cycling the
stranger below, turning his head from
side to side.
Il beg Of you make me into bird
with green and purple feathers like
yours" Iktomi, tired now of playing
the brave in beaded buckskins. The
peacock then spoke to Iktomi: Il
have magic power. My touch will
change you in a moment into the
most beautiful peacock if you can keep
one condition"
Eyes! yes!" shouted IlItomi, jump
Snc &c u-itH
his palm, which caused his voice to
vibrate in a peculiar fashion Yes!
yes! l could keep ten conditions If
only you would change me into a
bird with long, bright tail feathers.
Oh, am SO ugly! | am so tired OF
being myself! Change me! Dol"
Hereupon the peacock spread out
both his wings, and scarce moving
them, he sailed slowly down upon the
ground Right beside Iktomi he
alighted. Very low in Iktomi's ear
the peacock whispered, Are you will
ing to keep one condition. though
hard it be-"
Yes! yes! I've told you ten of
them if need BET" exclaimed Iktomi,
with some 1mpauenCe.
"Then | pronounce you handsome
feathered bird No longer are you
Iktomi the mischief-maker" Saying
this the peacock touched Iktomi with
the tips of his wings.
Iktomi vanished at the touch. There
stood beneath the tree two handsome
peacocks. While one of the pair strut
ted about with head turned aside
as if dazzled by his own bright-tinted
tail feathers, the other bird scared
slowly upward. lie sat quiet and I'M
conscious of his gay plumage. He
seemed content to pesch there on a
large limb in the warm sunshine.
After a little while the vain peacock,
dizzy with his bright colors, spread
out his wings and lit on the same
branch with the elder bird.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, "how hard to
fly! Brightly tinted feathers are
handsome, but l wish they were light
enough to fy!" Just there the elder
bird interrupted him. THAT is the
one condition. Never try to fly like
other birds Upon the day you try
to fly you shall be changed into your
former self.
"Oh, what a shame that bright
feathers cannot fly into the sky!"
cried the peacock. Already he grew
restless. He longed to soar through
space He yearned to fly above the
trees high upward to the SUM-
ooh. there see flock of birds fly |
ing thitherl Oh! OH" said he, flap
ping his wings, 81 must try my wings!
I am tired of bright tail feathers. |
want to try my wings"
mo. no!' CLICKED the elder bird.
The flock of chattering birds flew by
with whirring wings. "Oop! Oop!"
called some of them to their mates.
Possessed by an irresponsible i'm
ruIse the Iktomi peacock called out,
"He, | want to come! Wait for mel"
and with that he gave lunge into the
air The flock of flying feathers
Wheeled about and lowered over the
trees whence came the peacock's cry.
OnIv one rare bird sat on the tree,
and beneath, on the ground, stood a
brave in brown buckskins.
81 am my old self again." groaned
r,,tomi in a sad voice. Make me
,ver. pretty bird. Try me this once
eain," he pleaded in vain.
"Old Iktomi wants to fly! An! we
cannot wait for HIM" sang the BIRDS
az they few away.
Muttering unhappy VOWS to himself,
,,,tor,; had not gone far when ne
,banced upon bunch of long, slen-
ser arrows. One by one they rose In