Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-10-09
Indian
Lodge Tales
THE LEGEND OF THE LONE
WOLF

world was new ana beautiful, al
the animals dwelt together in one
place. There was no trouble between
them, and the weak lay down with the
strong and the strong protected the
weak and all was peace and quiet.
In those days the wolf was the most
beautiful of all animals. and had long
hair Of glossy black covering his entire
body. and was much favored by Mani
tou, who was the ruler OF the whole
world.
Often the wolf and the Manitou
walked together and counseled to-
gether, and they were friends unto
each other, and what the Manitou
would command. that would the wolf
do.
But one day. as the wolf was going
through the forest searching for his
food. which In those days was herbs
and vines and fruit and corn. there
passed a small rabbit. also searching
for food. And the rabbit. not seeing
the wolf. started to eat at spot which
the wolf had selected for his own meal.
The wolf became angry and com
manded that the rabbit 90 elsewhere.
for, he said. the fruit belonged to him
and the herbs also. and there was none
who dared touch II.
But the rabbit was unafraid and he
turned to the great wolf and said.
"who are you to command me thusf
The Manitou, who Is your father, II
also my father, and he who placed
you here to roam also gave this spot
TO the rabbit for his home-and here
we are told to live In peace and happi-
ness together"
But the wolf was very angry and
even as the rabbit spoke the wolf
Jumped upon him and seized him and,
with one snap Of his jaws, killed him
and threw his body In the brush. And
then the wolf went back to his friends
and told no animal Of what he had
DONE But the Manitou, who dwelt In
the sky and was father Of all the AMI
mails, saw the act and knew what had
happened: and he was very angry and
sent his servants down to bring the
wolf before him where he lived in the
clouds.
When the wolf saw the servants Of
Manitou coming he was sore afraid,
and he tried to hide away where they
could not find him. The hair on his
back rose up from fright and as the
servants Of Manitou approached II was
seen to turn gray at Its ends from the
terror, for the wolf was very much
afraid.
SO the servants seized the wolf and
took him before the Manitou and the
Manitou. who was very angry. looked
at him and said:
'You are the great wolf and you are
my son. But you have killed your
brother the rabbit. and you shall be
punished, even though you be my son
and of my family"
Then he called all the lesser gods
Of heaven to pass judgment and to the
wolf he said:
Heretofore you have been brave
and fearless. From this time on you
shall be cowardly and afraid to run By
yourself. You and all your family
shall run together In packs. and your
hand shall be against all the ANIMALS
and the hands Of all the animals shall
be against you. No more shall you
eat In peace. but you shall quarrel
among yourselves. and the strong win
conquer the weak, and 10 no other ami
NAL shall You be friend. Your glossy
black hair which this day has been
turned gray from fright shall ever re-
main gray as mark Of my displeasure,-
and all that see II shall know that you
have dlsobeyed the Manitou. And now
shall you hunt In packs from fear Of
hunting alone. and must you be on
guard always, else you will be killed
by your fellows-for the hand Of all
animals will be against you from this
time forth. aud the Red Man who has
loved you Will come 10 hate you. and
Stay you. and nowhere In all the world
shall you find peace"
When the Msnitou had said these
words he caused the wolf TO be set
down again on earth, but all he ssId
was true. The wolf no longer walked
with the other animals. but sneaked
along through the woods. and never
more could he associate with his
friends, but only with the other wolves
who formed into q pack and came
forth only at night and killed and were
killed. even as the Manitou had said.
SO II Is unto this day even as the
Manitou commanded. II you believe u
not. 60 forth into the quiet Of the
woods and watch the wolf and see his
habits And be you always on guard.
for the wolf which was good is now
bad and his hand IL against you and
yours Is against him. and 80 shall II
be always. for that Is the command OF
the Manltou who Is the father Of 10 all