Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-01-19
The Trail Of
the Good
By FRANKLIN wELLEs cALKINs

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They had come out from the meet
inghouse of the new mission, where
q lately arrived missionary had been
preaching to the Oglalas in their own
tongue. The brothers, Yellow Horse
and Iron Arm, had listened to the
COED mans teaching with more awe
than understanding.
They had led their ponies to
stream, and while the animals were
drinking, Yellow Horse spoke his
thoughts.
Brother" he said, earnestly, 'it
seems that we should go to seek this
Trail of the Good of which the
White-One-Talking has told us. !,
indeed, wish to live as the white per
pie and to walk in their straight
road"
Iron Arm took time for reflection
before answering. The two had led
their animals back to the grazing
ground, and had driven their picket
pins when the younger spoke.
ter observing that no one was with
in hearing, that we should find the
white mans road and walk in it till
we are become as they are. Ho,
brother, | think that this Trail of the
Good should be found in the sacred
country which our people are talk
ing OF selling to the white ones"
How. it is So said the elder, with
conviction "Thither will we go TO
hunt for it. Let us picket our
horses farther away, that we may
take them secretly. Hunt We for it
In secret said the White-One-Talk-
ing"
They repicketed their horses, say
ing nothing further, and shortly af-
ter midnight, having stolen away
from their mothers lodge, they set
out fer the pine-covered hills, for
which the Great Fathers commits
sioners were at that time bargaining.
This country, because of its hot
springs, it's mysterious rocks and
colored earths, from which their
sacred paints were made. the Sioux
had long held as sacred ground 1t
was a wakan,-holy evuntry,-and
they did not pitch the teepee, fgh'
or hunt among its hills.
At noon the brothers reached the
Miniskanskan, or mysterious springs
OF hot water, which were known to
be healing to many complaints OF
the body, and which were considered
as gifts, direct to the Sioux, of the
Most Mysterious In the neighhor-
hood of these springs the young men
thought that they might find the
Trail of the Good"
They were very much in earnest.
these young barbarians. They md
for two years been penned in with
their tribe upon reservation, Ill
the freedom of the old life cut nj
because of their fightings The Sioux
now knew that they must come to
the white mans way of living. or
perish.
The missionary had been sent to
instruct them in this way, and some
of the young men, seeing the many
things which their conquerors enjoy
ed, were eager to live like them.
yellow Horse and Iron Arm had
grasped in a crude way the idea OF
a real trail, a well-deiined road. as
the strait and narrow way" of life.
They hunted in vain near the
springs for any trail save the crook
ed paths of the deer and other Wild
creatures. Then they passed on. go
ing north near to the farther limits
of their sacred country. Here they
came suddenly upon a white mans
read. straight across a plateau.
They we're elated "Hau. haul"
they exclaimed, looking at each 9th,
er with shining eyes. This must
indeed be the Trail of the Good.
Tor they had understood that these
trails were in all countries, if the
seeker would patiently and with
good heart endeavor TO find such a
road for himself
The young Sioux did not know of
General Clusters exploring expedition
of the year before. save from vague
report So they little dreamed that
they followed road of the great
traiLmaker. the scourge of their
people. whose impatient haste made
all roads as straight as possible.
Soon they came out of the hill
country upon the plain. and ii SEEM
ed certain that they had found the
Trail of the Good They rode all
day over a trail which. in their eyes.
nj least. was marvelously straight,
and their hearts beat high with hope
that at the end of this road they
should find themselves in possession
of all those things which white peo-
pie enjoy.
They had been told that the Most
Mysterious God of these people. and
of all the world, would provide for
their needs. They camped that night
upcn stream. where they killel
several sage-grouse and caught some
fish.
Toward noon of the next day they
were astonished to hear firing in
front OF them
ct Is 10 brighten us-to see if We
are towards" said Iron Arm. Come,
let us go on. as we were told. fear
ing nothing"
Presently they came upon fiat
valley. which cut. like huge, broad
ditch. across the prairie and the
trail. and from its heights they saw
number of horsemen riding back
and forth, 8 small party on either
side OF stream. These men We're
shooting at each other, having appar