Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-12-06

A long time ago, when the earth
was peopled by few small tribes,
when the chiefs of the elements de
stroyed many and terrified those who
were left, there were two maidens who
we're sisters, living in wild country
all alone. The name of the elder
sister was Mineota, which means
Many Waters. The younger sisters
name was Makatah, or Earth Dweller,
These two sisters understood the
sign language of all the tribes of Wild
Land They worked industriously
in the daytime and at night they built
their cheerful campfire and repeated
the stories of their people. They were
happy because they were innocent
and good
The maidens had pets of many
kinds. The foremost ones were Igmu.
the wildcat, Mato, the bear, and
Shunkmanitu, the wolf, who Wed with
one another in offering their services
to hunt and go on errands for Nine
ota and Makatah. The two travelled
much and dwelt now in the great
woods, now upon the vast plains
They loved to hear the songs of the
winged tribes, especially the little
people, who never harm any one, but
show the way to lead a gentle, happy
life. The thoughts that swell thclr
little hearts with song are joyous as
the sunshine.
Mineota and Makatah taught them
that they could not stay in northern
lands when Wazeah, the storm god,
comes to chill all living and growing
things.
You must fly now to the southland,
but you shall return again." said
they. You shall be always enter
tainers Of the world. Your music may
soften the hard hearts of these hunt
ers of the living"
1t was the maidens pleasure to give
feast to their pets before their final
retirement for the winter. At such
times they employed the gopher and
the chipmunk, those little striped
ones, to tell the others to come out
and enjoy the last warm days of au
tumn. Then some of them must jour
ney southwark to the warm spring
land, and others go TO bed and sleep
four moons, while still others were
made to change their blankets for
warmer ones and lead modest, quiet
&c 70 \ - he tv;h
under the leadership of Mineota and
Makatah was called by them flash
nahachah chat hakiktah," or the
gophars' smiling farewell. 1t has
since been called the Indian summer.
Every spring, when the wild
friends of the maidens were together
again, they had many social gather
ings among themselves. The two
would carefully comb the hair of their
pets, and retouch the weatherworn
paints on their coats anil their orna-
ments, thus giving them their spring
and summer finery. The animals
were exceedingly vain; even the rusty
old Bison and the ungainly Moose
came urging the maidens to comb
their hair before any of the others
Such was the maiden life OF Mine
ota and Makatah. They were The
guardians of the animal people.
Thier pets included even the finny
tribes of the streams and lakes. The
two loved to do all they could for all
the world. The winged pets we're
usually good and obedient, but there
were a few who we're not so. The
Grow, for instance, was unclean and
slovenly at home, very indolent, and
took what was not his own. The
maidens called him Unchshecala.
meaning, bad old grandmother"
All of their comforts were provided
by their kindred of Wild Land. They
were In need of nothing. The Bear
maidens brought to their mistresses
an abundance OF nuts, berries and
teepsinna, the wild turnips. AS they
reclined in their pinebough lodge upon
beds Of balsam, the bees brought
them honey. Each evening Upe-
hanska, the thrush, sang his lullaby
to the babies of Wild Land, and Hen.
akaga, the Owl, uttered his note OF
warning, that all might know he would
punish those VINO did not keep quiet
in the dark. Even little Hetunkala,
the Mouse, was told to be quiet. but
paid nc attention, and this is why
Henakaga is allowed to punish him.
BY and by the old Beaver woman
came up, begging permission for her
young ones to work and play In their
pond.
Yes, II you are very good and 10
not disturb any one else" replied
Mineota and Makatah. This caused
many others to ash the same privi-
lege, to all of whom the maidens re
piled that they might do 50 IL they
would be good and quiet. Thus It
happens that all night hunters OF the
animal tribes are noiseless, because
that was the condition on which their
guardians gave them permission to be
out.