The Calumet news., 1913-04-23

iClose 10 nature as IL is possible To dc
In this generaIion. while renewing his
lallesianve To- his religion.
Bere ana there throughout Michigan
tie Methodist church conducts camp
MEETINGS for it, indian missions. TIN.
Is the event of the year for these
people The, are deeply religions. ana
their camp meetings have lone been
someshing Of curiosity to the white
people who always attond in large
numbers
J II Is AZ these camp meetings where
! a legend or Two may be- picked M.
II one is fortunate Wair uI the pur-
pie tints filter through the white
blrches and ii YOU can slip quietll
I into the circle that gathers around the
camp hrc perhaps the grandmOthers
viii hs kind, ana not make You ga
away while she TELLS again the tales
that Were told her when she was u
little girl.
scenes ON the camp grounds when
twilight gathers are enough to inspr,
The soul OF Longfellow II is The
one marrow trail that leads these sim
pie people back 10 the days when the
forest was their own. when the Palr
Face was unknown, when the wisWam
could be pitched at viii under pines ur
naples. meath the white birches or
down by the blue waters Year after
NeaI they gather. bringing their WIZ
vans (modern tents in these iaNsD,
ana pitch them where The shadows are
thc deepest Campfres are built in
FROM oi the tents and over them pots
ana kettles boil ana sputter throueu
out the day.
While tney religiously attend the
regular services. ana many hnsrr for
the prayer meetings that close the
days program, here and there YOU
will see family gather about The
campfire to hear The oft-told tales Of
Nenahooshoo, the Trickster
one by one the young people gather
about the campfire. and slip comfort
abl& 10 the ground. there To await the
beginning ot the tales. The 6lazinI
fire lights up the forest of white
birches, naples and elms, sendins ram
tdstic shadows across the ruddy irt
light
They sit close together, these young
people. and the old ones, too. who ioin
the gathering. For Nokomis often
tells tales that make the chils cha Sc
up and down ones spine. ana brings
the goosetlesh out, even though the
air is sitting. None like 10 sit in the
shadows, for might not Nenahoos 100
he lurking there and play som" trick
upon the unWary one 'TiS said his
spirit st'll fingers upon the earth. and
comes ont when least expected hover
lne about one when the nishr mas
fallen.
The freight plays upon the Wrinklcd
face Of Nokoms with It's sphinx like
expression. What Is she going 10 tell
us. tale that win bring forth peais
of merry hearted laughter Ia awaken
the fairies of the twilight, or viii she
awe rs with gruesome story that
viii draw rs nearer together into IA"
light of the campfire?
who touches the leaves in the fan
and makes them SO be3utiful'' asked
Simon. her iavorite grandson.
"Nenabooshoo." said Noliomis softly.
throwing "A hemlock knot onto the
blazing embers eve had always sup
posed ii was Jack Frost. but of course
NokOmis knows the truth of thes"
lhinss).
Long, lone ago" said NokumiS.
"all the woods were green, green, No
color in the trees but green till leaves
fen off and made blanket or the
ground. Nenabooshoo he got very
tired ot so much green, ana went down
To Lake Michigan to think out huw
he fix it, NenabOoshoo always like to
sit near biz water when he want 10
think. waves tell him so many things.
Long time he thought about hang
ing leaves. then quick as mat <Noko-
mis- snapped her fingeD II came 10 him
how he made woods wear pretty
dresses In the iall.
Going down into village ne took
biggest kettle from chiefs Wig ,ldm
and carried IL to lake Then he went
out into meadows ana TO goldenrod.
and carrying them TO lake, shook
much dew from yellow iowers into
caldrOn till il was full
"Nenabooshoo then built up great
fire and all night long he boil. boil
boil the dew. In the mOrnng kettle
halt full Of beautiful yellow PANT
Garry ing caldron into woods, he
broke off branch of balsam. which he