Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-09-01
THE MAGIC SEED.

paper S~yndicate.)
once upon a time. hundreds of years
ueIoSe a White man set foot in this
land. there lived far out west wv tribes
OF Indians. One was called the Tur-
Ties n made its home on the banks
OF a muddy river that swept through
the plains. and the other people were
known as the Panthers. for they
roamed free through the forests that
covered the mountains.
The Panther folk were peaceful, but
the ugly Turtle men were always war
ring with their neighbors and stealing
otner peoples cattle. Now the chief of
the Panthers had a lovely young
daughter. Sweet Briar, who was the
pride of her fathers heart.
The son of the Turtle chief loved
sweet Briar. but she cared nothing for
MN. Among her own people was a
lad. Antelope, an orphan, whom the
maiden liked above all others, but her
iather thought him not good enough for
ms daughter. Antelope was a great
hunter and a swift runner but the girl
was afraid to speak to him for fear of
her fathers anger.
One day the chief of the Turtles came
with a great band of warriors and took
the chief OF the Panthers prisoner.
we will hold your father with u.s."
was the message they sent to Sweet
Brlar. till you consent to marry the
son of our chief. or you must have a
contest with u tribe. We will pick
u fastest man and you your best rum
ner; IL your man wins, we release your
rather; if he loses, you must marry the
son of h Turtle chief and give us 20
of your best fox SKINS"
So Sweet Briar went all around the
Indian village. but foun no one who
was willing to run. Few of the noun
tain Indians were fleet of foot, and the
Turtles Knew that, but they did no
Know that Anfo1Opo bod hoo,, n
all his life. So. when Sweet Briar came
by his tent. the lad stepped out.
Il Will be glad to run for you," he ex-
claimed shyly.
But the Turtles are cruel and may
hurt you." she cried. ''They are swift
Il am not afraid" replied Antelope,
oravely. IF I win, perhaps you father
may give me you hand" Sweet Briar
blushed and ran home in a happy mood.
That night. as Antelope wandered
through the forest he came upon the
nut of an old woman who was Stunned
by all the tribe. for the people believed
her to be a witch. But she seemed cold
and hungry. SO the kind lac built. a big
fire. warmed some meat and gave her
some medicine which she was too sick
to reach. At midnight she called the
boy to her bedside and said:
II feel his Is my last night on earth.
You nave been kind to me SO, as a part
ing gift, I leave you a magic seed. You
will find it in the heart OF the plant
h a grows behind my tent under the
tall bush. If o are ever in trouble
put the seed in your mouth and it will
help you o of any difficulty. The
seed will not be ripe till dawn, else I
would use it myself"
Then the old turned her face
to the tent wall.
At dawn Antelope gathered the seed.
1t was just a tiny red speck. so he
put 1t in his skin Jacket n soon for
got all about it. The next day at noon
the race began. All along the plains at
the foot of the mountain gathered both
tribes. The nan who was to run for
the Turtles was really one who knew
magic tricks. and by this means they
thought to win the race. The length to
be run was a mile away, then a mile
back.
Away the two unners sped, but An
telope soon felt that a pebble in his
mocassin (Which is an Indian slippery
was hurting his foot badly. The Tur-
tie runner kept close by his side and
laughed at the pain he saw Antelope
was enduring. When the two got to
the end of the mile neither was ahead.
They hen started back. The Turtle
man saw that Antelope was outrunning