The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-05-01
LEGEND OF OJIBWAYs
By ELMER EDWARDS.

i Long ago, before even ber lake
{ quette visited the beautifuh village
z region, there was an inf Harbor
Z where the little toXs.
Z Springs, Mich, now 4aIli was chief
Z In the days whS and prosperity
? Of the village pthe red men. To
! were enjoyed little Traverse Bay
!. their very d9great abundance.
brought hs9 daughter, Winons. was
Haili 8 Jughout all that region for
famed and goodness. From child
her Per favorite among the young
nooGays had been Neoma. He was re-
ofned as the swiftest runner and
.1e most daring hunter OF the tribe.
IAN the people looked for Neoma TO
wed Winona and, when the old chlel
was dead, rule in his stead. II was
then that trouble came to the peace
full and happy village.
A little to the east, on the bank OF
a beautiful stream, a willy Indian
named Motchimanitou came to make
his home. The stranger was false
hearted, and in league with the spirits
Of evil. Soon he laid spell upon the
village. Halli boldly called Motchi-
manitou to a council and when the
stranger departed, the old CHIEF
emerged from his wigwam, his head
bowed and his face somber.
The next day Neoma went to the
chief and asked Winona's hand In mar
riage. "Once am your son 0 Hall,
we will lead the warriors against the
evil one at the brook" the young brave
said.
NAY. nay, Neoma! We would be
powerless against the mighty Motchi-
manitou. There is only one way. II
Winona becomes his wife he will no
longer be our enemy; instead OF ours
ing he will bless u.s."
It was in vain that Neoma cried
out against that plan. The old chief
was firm.
For three days there was much ex-
citement in the village. On the morn
ing of the fourth Neoma and his birch
canoe were gone. That was not all;
I Winona had left her fathers wigwam.
The lovers made their way IN the
canoe to a small, uninhabited island
far out in Lake Michigan. There the
young warrior built wigwam. From
the lake they obtained fish, and Neoma
visited the mainland in his canoe,
bringing back plenty of game. The
two we're very happy all through the
golden autumn when, according to the
II legends Of thier tribe, Shawondasee.
the South Wind, ruled the land, and
From his pipe the smoke ascending
| Filled the sky with haze and vapor,
Filled the air with dreamy softness
Gave twinkle to the water,
Touched the rugged hills with smooth
ness,
Brought the tender Indian summer
One day Neoma went to the main
> land on a hunting expedition. He was
8 gone until sunset, bringing back In bis
d canoe the carcass of deer The wig
a. wan was deserted.
i Neoma recalled Motchimanitou. HI
+ hastened to that braves home ant
+ soon learned that Winona was indeed
( a prisoner there. She was confined II
+ a cave, and, because the entrance t.
/ her prison was guarded by evil spirits
+ all Neomas efforts to rescue his brid'
+ were in vain. Always Winona wa
4 singing the weird death song Of thei
& tribe Thus did Neoma know tha
= hope had died in the maiden's breast.
y On a summer morning Neom
: climbed to the top of tall pine tha
>. stood near the caves mouth. Directl
9 ! beneath him a pool formed by tn
i, damming of the brook, sparkled an
y cleaned in the rays of sunlight tha
], stole down through the foliage,
: touch it's placid surface with caressin
- fingers. Suddenly Neoma saw an Ill
usual commotion below him. From tn
cave came several warriors Of his n
tive village They bore with them
burden, and the young braves heal
broke when he saw that 1t was I'll
dead from of Winona. The maiden ha
died of grief, and the cruel Notch
manitou had given permission for ht
people to carry her body away fl
burial
There was nothing for Neoma
live for. He began to sing the san
plaintive death song that had been ev
on the lips of his beloved. Still sin
ing he threw himself down, to die
the pool below. So sad was Ii ak tn
the waters of the brook took up &
weird chant, and still they sing 1t.
days of storm and wind the song 70
so high that the Indians gave to t
stream the name of Roaring Brook.
Today the stream threads its W
through the woods to discharge
| water in the bay. Near the bay t
| stream widens, and there among t
| gnarled roots of the venerable ceda
| crossed by decaying tree trunks,
| the spot where Neoma went to
| death. If the tourist fingers there
will hear the weird death song,
ways providing that he has In his p
- session the key of imagination that