Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-07-13
III lllLllLlllIlIItlIlIIIIlllIIIlIIIlIlIIIlliII
Indian
LodgeTales
By
Ford c. Prick
Observation-Disclosures
THE FIRST WINTER

TN THE days of the long ago the
= world was world of summer. The
Maniteu, father of US all, lived in the
heavens and smiled down upon his
children of the earth; and the world
was a world of Gnnshlne: and birds
sang the year through, the fruit grew
on the trees; and fishes filed the
streams and everywhere was happi.
ness and prosperity.
In those days there were no wars
and no pestilenee; no hatred and nc
envy. But everywhere the redmen
ruled in joy, and hunted and fshed
as they pleased-and there was ne
work to be done and no fields to bt
cultivated and no meat to be dried
for in those days the corn ripened
throughout the year and buffalo were
plentiful at all times, and fresh meal
could be had for the asking.
But by and by evil spirits came
among the people, and they told tales
of wickedness. They laughed at tht
Manitou and defied his power ant
they called him "Old Woman" ans
laughed at his kindness These evil
spirits Influenced the Indians, and th,
Indians, too, made fun Of the Mani
tou, and they dehed him to punish
them and declared that he had los
his power and that they no longe.
need Worship him.
At length the Manitou became anRrl
and sorry: and he called council o,
the chiefs and told them that his hear
was sore, and asked that they one,
more accept his rule and give hin
their worship. But they only laughed
and so the ManitOu declared that h.,
would remove the sun from the heav
ems as mark of his power.
By and by the sun began slowly t.
change its route, and each day It be
came less and less In the heavens, ant
the tribesmen were much afraid. Coli
winds swept the earth, and snow fel
and the leaves on the trees died ant
fell TO the ground, and the stream
were covered with ice so that 1t wa
impossible to Ash. The buffalo dis
appeared and the rabbits and tn,
( j. bears, were unable to come out on &C
count of the great snow.
~ Among the Indians sickness pre-
vailed, and many died and great soI
row was upon the land, until 'tinall.
two old chiefs went out into the snow
and climbed many miles to the top o
a, great mountain and there the,
prayed the Manitou that he shoul,
give them aid, and make his face L
shine once more upon the world.
The Manitou heard their prayer ant
was moved and slOw,pN. he sent tn,
sun back upon Its course, and one,
J more, the, grass was green. and tn
streams sang, and the, birds returnei
= ste their, homes. And the Indians VIII
D were sick and starved and hungry re
. gained their, strength and their healtl
and the world was happy once NOR
in the warmth Of the sun, which is tn,
face Of the ManitOu.
But when the summer time ha,
come then the Manitou appeared t,
the tribesmen and held council witt
them, and he said to them:
"YOu have doubted my power. Yol
have scohed my strength. You havi
overlooked my kindness. And so hav'
l punished you. From this time forth
each year. will withdraw my fac,
for a period and the land will becOml
a land of ice and SNOW, and TIT
streams will be covered with ice. am
the lodge of the red man shall be 1
lodge Of desOlation.
$50 must you prepare yourselvel
and work and labor that during thu,
long period of winter your lodge
shall be full of food and your fire
shall have plenty of fuel"
When he had said this the Manitol
disappeared in a cloud. And from tina
time on the winter has come eacl
year, with its cold and its desolation
Each year the trIbesmen know tina
It is a warning to them Of the pOwei
of the ManItou. And SO during TIT
winter months they build their fire.
and hold their councils and pray e.
the Manltou that he may look will
favor upon them when the springtim'
comes again.
Note--It is interesting TO note tina
this legend exists In varying formi
among a score or more of tribe
throughout the country. The wrlteI
had II from the Arapahoes. 1t ex
lists among the IroQuOfs, likewise, ant
among the nlini, the Cherokees ant
the Dakotahs. to his personal knOwl
edge. Probably many other tribes
also number 1t among the legends.
Had Him Won over.
The southern Californian may thinl
himself an adept making seductive pic
.,a,' 90 hte apd ne tho Statn INT he