The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-01-18

Lodge Tales
THE CANOE
Dy
Ford C. Frick

THE CANOE
Al THE southern extremity Of the
"A Sangrs De Cristo range. and just
across the New Mexico border, 10
peculiar rock formation. Half way up
the slope between two giant peaks 10
a canoe Of rock, and In the canoe are
two persons-one holding . paddle
poised In midair as II about to take .
stroke. The formation II 20 lifellke
that 1t has attracted the attention Of
hundreds Of scientists who have vis-
tied the place. And about this rock
canoe, with Its two passengers. The
Indians have woven q beautiful little
legend which follows:
Long ages ago-before our father6
fathers or our fathers father2
fathers were born. In the ancient days
when the chosen people lived in hap
piness and peace In the shadow Of the
great mountain which points the way
to Heaven. the world was young and
beautiful. Here the chosen people
played and the sun shone and there
were no shadows upon the earth and
no sorrow In the hearts Of mankind
The Manitou. In his gracious goodness.
gave heed to the wishes Of his chill
dren and from his home In Heaven sent
to them JOY and happiness and blood
shed was unknown and death was
only a passing journey between earth
and Heaven.
I,.t ox,ti ov,f.4t- - no D.,< - A. -
and visited the beautiful valley at the
shadow Of the great white mountain,
and they filled the hearts Of the chosen
people with envy and hate, and muF.
der and bloodshed and the choeea
people turned their faces from Heaven
and cursed the Manitou and wicked
ness relgned throughout tho valley.
And Of all the chosen people there
were only two, one man and one wom-
an. who held their faith.
And 30 the all-wise Manitou sent the
floods to visit the valley, and the
waters came and all the evil spirits
we're swallowed up and the chosen
people were lost and the earth was
covered with water and no one might
live. But first the Manitou warned
these two. this man and woman. and
they fashioned themselves a canoe OF
maize and In II they fioated on the top
Of the floods until they landed on the
very summit o. the Holy mount, which
points the way to Heaven. and there
they thanked the Manitou for their de-
livery.
And when the floods were gone the
sun shone and all the world was bright
and beautiful and new. And the man
and woman looked down from the
dizzy heights and saw the fertile plains
below. They saw the green fields.
and the lakes and streams. and the
trees and they were unhappy and asked
the Manitou to assist them down the
mountain and hack into the beautiful
valley where they might play and he
happy as Of old.
The Maniton was good and kind
and heard their call. SO he fashioned
for them n magic canoe. filled with the
light of Heaven. and this the two,
the man and the woman, glided gently
down IN mountain side rom the very
gates of Hea, en- to the plains Of earth.
In order that the chosen people
might have new faith, the Manltou
caused the canoe to make a track over
the rock adown the eastern slope into
the plain. And there 1t remains to this
day-a broad track where shadows hide
and where the sunlight CLOVIS forever
more.
So the two returned to the beau
tiful valley. where they lived to wor.
ship long the glory Of the Manitou. who
saved them from the foods And when
finally they died. the Manitou lifted
them with the magic canoe to a place
midway between Heaven and earth on
the great mountain. beside the seat OF
wisdom. There II stood as n guide
to the chosen people and ms a monu-
ment TO the mercy of the Marbtou.
Those who do not believe have hut
to go and see. For the canoe. with
two who ply the paddle. seems to ride
the tossing waves TINT roll from the
Holy mountain to the south and east
toward st. Peters dome. And there
shall II stand so long rs man endures.