Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-16


one of them had been able to get a
shot at it with his arrows, and some
thought it was only dream, The
story spread throughout the city, ana
all the boys and young hunters were
anxious for chance to win so fine
prize as the snow white man. Not for
himself, oh, no, for whoever brought 1t
home must hang 1t in the temple.
ION brave young hunter said, I am
going into the heart of the forest. |
will take only the bravest with me,
and l will never return without the
prize
This young man was dearly loved
by everyone. His mother had left him
when he was only few years old, and
gone, no one knew where. He was
cared for by his uncle, and grew up,
hoping each year his mother would re-
turn. He took long journeys trying to
learn If she were still alive, but no one
could ever tell him a word about her
These Journeys had made him very
bold and brave, and there was no
cave so dark, nor mountain so high,
but that he would search 1t in the hope
of finding his mother.
"He found six young hunters ready
to go with him into the heart OF the
forest. They loked verv fine in their
bright, shining hunting suits, with
their bows and arrows, and every one
wished them success.
They wasted no time in the pleas
ant fields outside, but started for the
dark. sunless forest 1t was slow work
picking their way through the tangled
bushes growing under the trees. and 1t
took many days to reach the place de-
scribed by the hunters who had told
them the story of the strange white
bear.
"Whoever sees it first must call to
the others. 1t may be that this is en-
chanted ground. and something dread
full will happen to the one who is
alone said the leader of the hunting
party.
Tt is we'll said,' they all agreed. In
the heart Of this wild forest they wan
dered, shooting the strange birds they
saw there, and saving the long feath-
ers and wings, to bring home after the
hunt was over
zone day the leader of the hunt
chased a wonderful bird for hours
from tree to tree, riding beneath the
branches, trying to get shot.
"At last. just as he had his arrow in
his bow. ready to aim, his. horse reared
and nearly threw him backward to the
ground. There, beside him, stood the
snow white bear.
"Its two fore paws were stretched
Jul " ulcSl illIs dilu ltS eyes SSCil1C"
full of the love he used to see in his
mothers eyes: 1t was a beautiful sight,
and the arrow meant for the bird shot
upward into the sky, harm ing no one,
but bearing the next words of the
hunter as message to the great Jup-
tier.
cob. my mother let me live forever
with you!' exclaimed the hunter, as his
strong arms were clasped about the
white bears neck
"'My mother is found!' he shouted,
and Echo repeated over and over,
Found Found!' until the six fellow
hunters came to where the mother
and her son were standing, gazing
with loving eyes toward Mount Olym-
pus. the home of their gods
1.-THE winged arrow had taken it's
flight to Jupiter and the sons prayer
was answered.
"Jupiter's lightnings flashed and the
six hunters saw their strong leader
change into the Great Bear, and gently
guide his mother the Little Bear, to
her home in the sky. He took his place
near he7, at Jupiter's command, and
now follows wherever she leads. He
points forever to her and to the North
watch this unchanging beacon among
the stars sometimes thought that it
ives placed there to tell them Of the
love of mothers
ooh, I knew there was story. 1t
came out all right at last. and that
takes the sad part away
Then Ralph whispered, I'VE know it
was only myth, don't WEI"