Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-03-03


swered Nahsig.
did you come here for my help or
to tell me what l already know"
growled the bear.
So Nahsig went off and did as the
bear told him.
Now it happened that old Somgo
was Just as much in love with Koko
as any of the rest Of them, but, being
only bear at the best, and demon
who was no better than he should be
at the worst, he knew he could never
hope to win her. So what should en-
ter his heart, which was not so much
unlike the heart of devil, but this;
that If he could not have her himself
no one else ever should.
Well, that same day what should
happen but that Koko should say to
herself: Hes truly the dearest and
the handsomest and the best man in
the world, but the truly dearest and
the handsomest and the best man in
the world can shoot no farther than he
can. 1t seems to me that it would be
very proper to get help" So she went
to pool hard by and laid the whole
case before the head stork of the place
and implored assistance.
"The matter is simple as eels," an
swered the old stork. 81 will take
my place behind the sail bush, and
when his arrow comes down swift as
the wind, l will catch /. in my beak be.
fore 1t strikes the ground and cast it
over at your door. Ho, no; you did
quite right to come to me, quite right.
I'm the sharpest creature hereabout."
For the stork also loved Koko, but
having good heart, he was willing
to help her.
So the stork went and took his
place behind the sail bush, when old
Nantoneka wasn't looking, and cooked
up one eye for the arrow, but with the
other on Koko, who stood in front Of
her door, more beautiful than ever be-
fore, so that the winds turned from
their course in order to touch her
cheek.
Nahsig came up to where the gold
tipped arrow stood in the ground. Soon
Somgo started out from some bushes
and began creeping close behind him
SO that he could not be seen from old
Nantoneka's house. The young man
placed his knee against the arrow in
the ground. Then Somgo rose up and
put his paw against Nahsig's left ell
bow and seized the other with his
right claws and drew the arrow back
to Nahsig's left ear. Twin-n-n-g.
went the cord, and the arrow
shot away faster than the light
when it comes over the mountain in
the morning after rain; and the wick
ed bear made off, even with his demon
heart unable to look upon what he
had done.
For the arrow, going like the sun
beam, was speeding straight for the
bosom of Koko, standing there too
beautiful to tell. Over the old stork it
whizzed like lightning. This old
grandpa made mighty leap for it,
but his great bill clapped together on
itself like the swapping of the bamboo.
The cruel arrow found it's mark, and
Koko fell down as one whom her
friends would bear out to the grave.
Nahsg had seen what would hap
pen when it was too late. He had
thrown down his bow and followed lit
tie less swift than the arrow itself.
When he came up and saw the very
terrible thing which was done he stood
and cried out "Nantoneka, take Ulu.
meet and shoot me through"
The old man leaped up and seized
Ulumeet and drew an arrow to his
ear. But just then the stork, getting
his poor wits together at last, rushed
forward and cried in his own language,
which they all understood: Hold"
and he seized the arrow in the bosom
Of Koko and plucked it out and then
snapped off a wind-bell blossom and
said: "The koko is her own flower,
and must love her more than any OF
u.s." and clapped it over the wound,
and the blood was staunched and the
girl opened her eyes and sat up. Nah
sig rushed up and knelt beside her
and clasped her in his arms.
"Ha," cried the old man, why did
you never shoot so well before?"
81 have always been afraid to let
myself out" said Nahsig.
But dian see Ola OOnSo Stdnulu8
behind you?" asked Nantoneka, with
scowl on his face.
"Yes, he tripped me as l drew back
the arrow to my ear, otherwise 1t had
gone over the house and harmed no
one"
So they were married, and the old
stork came and danced taoi on the
green before the house, very awk-
| wardly, and his bill Gathering good
deal; but he meant well enough. Then
the wedding company went. with Nah
sig at the head, and hunted out the
bear who was really the demon less
good than he should be, and shot him
with a flight Of arrows like grass
stems driven before the wind; and he