The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-11-14

The Legend Of It's ongin in
America.
In ancient times, when the Indians
were better than they now are. when
their laws we're enforced BY chiefs, and
when every crime wa promptly punish.
"a, theere lived 4 noted hunter and just
man, AZ remote point on the north
shore Of Lake Superior. he had a wife
and two cons. who were usually left in
the lodge while be went out IN quest Of
the animals upon whose hesh they sub.
sisted. As game was then abundant,
biz exertions were well rewarded. and
he lived in the enjoyment Of every
blessing. But there was 1t this time
venom preparing for his heart, which
was not the less poisonous because Il
vas for a time kept IN secret. His
two little sons had observed the visits
Of a neiehboring hunter during the alb
sence their father, and they yentufed 10
demonstrate with their mother on the
pFopfiety OF receiving elandestine visits;
but she vas II NJ temper 20 he reasoned
WITH She febukel them sharply. aud
finally, on the iHtimation u disclosing
the secret. threatened 70 kiil them II
they made any disclosure. They were
frightened into silenee. but observing
the continuance Of the visits, kept up
BY stealth, a. il was. they resolved at
last to disclose the whole matter TO their
father. The result was such as might
be anticipated. The father. being satis-
fed with the infdeIity Of bis wife, took
up war club at a moment wnen he
was not perceived and with a single blow
despatched the object Of his Jealousy.
lie then buried her under the ashes Of
his fire. took down his lodge, and re.
moved 70 distant position.
But the spirit Of the woman haunted
the children, who were now grown up
Il the estate Of young men. She appear.
ait to them III the shadows Of evening.
She terrified them In dreams. Sne har.
assed their imaginations wherever they
went. 10 that their life was a life Of
perpetual terTors. They resolved to
leave the country, and commenced, a
journey Of many days toward the south.
They at length came 10 the Piowateeg
Falls (st. Mpry'sl. But they had no
sooner come in sight Of these falls than
they beheld the skull Of woman their
mother) rolling along the beach after
them. They were in the utmost fear
and knew not what to do TO elude her,
when one Of them observed large crane
sitting on rock in the rapids. They
called out to the bird "See, Grand
father we are prosecuted by spirit.
Come and take US across the falls, so
that we may escape her,
This crane was bird OF extraordinary
size and great age. And when first de-
scribed by the two sons sat IN state
Of stupor in the midst of the most VIC.
lent eddies Of the foaming water. When
he heard himself addressed he stretched
forth his neck with great elaboration,
and then rising himself on mis- wings flew
across TO their assistance. BE careful, !"
said the crane, that you do not touch
the back part of my head. 1t is sore,
and should you press against | shall
not be able to avoid throwing you botn
into the rapids" They were, however,
attentive on this point, and were both
safely landed on the other side Of the
river. Tile crane then resumed it's for
mer position in the rapids.
But the skull now cried out, Come
and carry me over, for /
have lost my children, and am sorely
distressed
The aged bird flew to her assistance,
but carefully repeated bis injunction
That she must BY no means touch the
back part III his head, which had been
hurt and was not yet healed She
promised To obey, but che soon felt 4
curiosity to know whore the head Of
her carrier mad been hurt, and how 50
aged 4 bird could have acquired such 4
bad wound. She thought il strange, and
before they were hnlf way over the
rapids could not resist the inclination
she felt To touch the affected part. In
stantly the crane threw her into thel
rapids The skull floating down from
rock to rock. striking violently against
their hard edges, until il was battered
tp fragments. aud the sons were thus
happily aud eifectually relieved from
their formenter. But The brains Of the
woman. wheen the skull was dashed |
against the rock, fell into the water in |
the form Of small white roes, which soon |
assumed the shape Of novel kind of |
fsh. possessing Wilderness Of color pc /
nuliar to itself; AMI these rapids have I
aver since been vel stocked with this
new and delicious species Of lish.
The sons meantime took up their per
manent abode at these falls, becoming