The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-03-06
The Trail Of
the Good
BY FRANKLIN WELLES CALKISS

They had come out from the meet
lnghouse OF the new mission, where
lately arrived missionary had been
preaching to the Oglalas in their OWL
tongue. The brothers, Yellow Hors-
and Iron Arm, had listened to the
good mans teaching with more awe
than understanding.
They had led their ponies to a
stream, and while the animals were
drinking, Yellow Horse spoke his
Brother" he said, earnestly, 81:
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 pep.
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.
1T is very necessary" he said, af-
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. l 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 sto'"n away
from their mothers lodges they set
ont for the pine-eovered 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 wakan,-holy cvuntry.-and
they did not pitch the teepee, figh'
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 neigbhor-
hood of these springs the young mon
thought that they might find the
Trail of the Good"
They were very much in earnest.
these young barbarians. They hid
for two years been penned in with
their tribe upon reservation. Ill
the freedom of the old life cut nff
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
ed, were eager to live like them.
Yellow Horse and Iron Arm had
grasped in a crude way the idea of
a real trail, well-definel read. 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 white mans
road, straight across a plateau.
They were elated. "Hau! hau'"
they exclaimed. looking at each 9TH
er with shining eyes. This must
indeed be the Trail of the Good" /
Fsr they had understood that these |.