The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-05-11
WHY CRANES DANCE.
copyright. 1916, by the Mcclure News,
paper Syndicate.9

III -
Copyright, 1915, by the McClure News. /
paper Syndicate.)
Almost everyone knows OF the funny
little mice that whirl about every few
moments in a waltz, but few have
heard of a dancing bird that lives far
away in the wilds Of Australia, that
wonderful country on the other side az
the world.
Back in the depth of the jungle there
has lived for hundreds of years a race
Of people who are called Bushmen, as
the forests they inhabit are called the
Bush. They are brown in color and
have long. black hair. while their only
clothing is a mat tied around the body.
These Bushmen have always been
fond of dancing, n every week they
would hold a feast, at which the girls
ind men would prance around a bla2-
Ing fire from sunset till dawn. whirl-
Ing about in the moonlight to the
music of the tom-tom and native
drums.
Among the maidens of the olden
times We're two daughters of a mother
who had great power in doing TRANCE
things, and some even said she gath
cred poisonous herbs to put in the
food of her foes. The girls We're not at
all alike. The Oldest, whose name was
Oba, was a dark beauty, but with
flashing eyes and a fiery temper. Sura.
who was slight and quiet, had a gentle
nature and was not at all striking in
appearance. Both We're beautiful dan
rers, but the steps of Sure were said
to be more graceful than those Of her
sister, which made the older girl very
Jealous. Besides. the girls both loved
. young ma who was devoted to Sura.
So it soon happened that Oba grew
TO hate her younger sister most
heartily.
One night Sura and the young man
were walking in the forest down a
path bordered by thick bushes, and in
the tangle weeds they stopped. Here
they planned to have a wedding feast
and a great dance the following week.
Dba, who was seated in the bushes.
heard every word and her face dark
ened with anger.
Never shall my sister marry the
man l love-" swore Oba under her
breath. Il will show her how she can
insult her older sister,"
So Oba went home, and finding the
mother asleep, she asked questions OF
her and received replies, for the wom-
an did not know to whom she was talk
Ing.
rs 1t possible to turn anyone into
a bird?" she whispered into her moth
er's ear
oh! yes" said the mother, still
dreaming, IF one will gather the roo
of the yucca and boil it at dawn, the
juice will turn anyone into a bird tina
will continue to act in most ways a.
Ii it were a mortal"
But where can I find the yucca
whispered Oba again in her mother:
ear.
Down by the green pool" returned
the woman. THE water there is full
of the plant"
Oba ran out Of the house, and, a!
she did SO, brushed past her siste
coming back to the hut singing in he
happiness. In a few minutes til,
wicked girl had reached h poo
gathered a handfu OF root n wa
home again. Then she sat till dawn t
boil it down.
The next day the coming marriag
was and great prepare
lions were made. When the night ar
rived, Oba opened the feast with he
dancing, which she kept up for a
hour, whirling about in 1000 fantasti
r ways.
When it came to the turn Of tn
bride, Sura rose timidly, but she 500
: forgot the crowd and danced away g
, lightly as a feather blown by the breez
: The company broke into a storm of al
:. plauSe. Oba tool a chance when sE
! thought no one was looking to pour tt
!: yucca Juice into the brides cup, bl
7 she did not notice that the bridegroom
when her back was turned, exchange
, the cups, SO that the one intended fl
Sura stood before Oba instead. TT
. young bridegroom knew of the sis