The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-01-05
INDIAN MYTHS
Why the Baby Says GOO"
(Algonquin)

Why the Baby Says Goo"
(Algonquin)
Many, many moons ago there lived
among the red people warrior who
was greatly respected and admired
by all his tribe.
! When an enemy came to attack
them, this warrior was always the
first to resist. His arm was strong
and his arrows went true and
straight to the mark. He had gone
alone on many a daring hunt, and
had contended with the fiercest
beasts of the forest and slain them
But greatest of all, he had fought
alone with mighty giants, and over.
come them, so that his tribe was
rid of their evil magic. It was nc
wonder that the people thought him
great. ~. .....
But then, as so often follows, the
warrior became pulled up with
thoughts of his own courage and
power, and he was filled with pride,
and boastings.
There is no one, among men Or
beasts" he said, who does not fear
me. All men obey me. They
tremble at the sound of my voice. F."
Now there was in the tribe of this
warrior an old grandmother to whom
age had given great wisdom. And
she thought within her heart, "Our
warrior is becoming pulled up. He
thinks too we'll of himself. 1t would
be good for him to be humbled." So
among the women she said, There
is one whom l know, who is greater
than the mighty warrior. He would
not tremble at his voice, nor obey
his word -. ~.
This saying was repeated to the
men of the tribe, and in time it came
to the ears of the great warrior him
SELF Immediately he went to the
lodge of the grandmother .-.
What is this, that l hear?" he
enquIed. "Show we who it is that
will not obey my voice! Tell me
his name!",
His name is Wasis,' replied the
grandmother, land he sits inside my
lodge"
The warrior threw back the hang
ing of deer skin covering the en-
trance of the lodge, and strobe
within. There, upon the ground,
sucking a piece of maple sugar, sat
Wasis, the baby. The warrior looked
at him in surprise. He knew moth
ing about babies, having been too
busy all his life with battles and ad-
ventures to pay any attention to the
little people of the tribe. But here
was just tiny fellow. 1t would be
no trouble to get him to obey!
So without any ado, the warrior
said, "Ho, baby, come here to mel"
The baby looked at him, but did
not move. He repeated his COM
mand.. The baby stopped sucking
his maple sugar long enough to say
Goo, goo," but he did not move.
Then the warrior said, IT will
show him that I am to be feared,
and then he will obey me-" So he
began a war dance, and uttered fierce
war cries, and Wasis opened his
mouth and sent forth such piercing
yells and shrieks, that the warrior
stopped in amazement. And when |
ne had stopped the baby began suck
ng his maple sugar again.
"He, baby, come here to mel" he
'epeated once more, but at that the
ably again opened his mouth and
'ried so Justify that the great war
'ior covered his ears and ran from
he lodge. 1T is worse than the
var cries of the Frost Giants" he
did he obey your" asked the
/
NO. said the warrior. "He IS
little fellow, but he is mightier
han l."
Yea" answered the grandmother,
Wasis, the baby, conquers us all,
nd no one can resist him."
And the baby, left alone in the
odge with his maple sugar, stcpred
ow and then to say, 1000, go,!"
or had he not conquered the mighty
7arrior, the great brave of the tribe?
From Indian Nature Myths" by
ulia barrow Cowles, copyright and
ublished by A. Flanagan Company,
hicago.