Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1925-01-22
Indian
Lodge Tales

Fordc c. rrick

a + TIM southern extremity Of the
- Sangrs DO cristo range, and just
across the New Mexico border, IL Z
peculiar rock formation. Half way ~
the slope between two giant peaks u
canoe Of rock. and In the canoe are
two persons-one holding paddle
poised In midair AZ II about to take =
stroke The formation II 10 lifeliko
that Il has attracted the attention Of
hundreds Of scientists who have Wis
tied the place. And about this rock
canoe. with its two passengers. the
Indians have woven beautiful little
legend which follows;
Long ages ago--before our fatherS
fathers or our fathers fathcrS
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 shons 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
drsn and from hls homo In Heaven sent
to them Joy and happiness and blood
shed was unknown and death was
only passing journey bstween earth
and Heaven.
But evil spirits came out Of the sea
and visited the beautiful valley at the
shadow Of the great white mountain.
and they flled the hearts Of the chosen
people with envy and hate, and muir
dor and bloodshcd and the chosen
people turned their faces from Heaven
and cursed the Manltou and wicked.
ness reigned throughout the valley.
And Of all the chosen people there
were only two. one man and one won.
an. who held their faith.
And % the all-wise Manitou sent the
foods to visit the valley, and the
waters came and all the evil spirits
were swallowed up and the chosen
people we're lost and the earth was
covered with water and ne one might
live. But first the Manitou warned
these two, this man and woman, and
they fashioned themselves canoe Of
maize and In II they floated on the tor
Of the floods until they landed on the
very summit Of the Holy mount. which
points the way to Heaven. and there
they thanked the ManItou for their do
livery.
And when the floods were gone the
sun shone and all the world was bright
and beautiful and now. And tho 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 end asked
the Manitou to assist them down the
mountain and back into the beautiful
valley where they might play and BE-
happy as Of old.
The Manitou was good and kind
and heard their call. So he fashioned
for them q magic canoe. filled with the
light Of Heaven, and this the two
the man and the woman. giided gently
down the mountain side from the very
gates Of Heaven TO the plains Of earth
In order that the chosen people
might have new faith. the Manitou
caused the canoe 10 make q track oves
the rock adown the eastern slope int
the plain. And there II remains TO this
day--a broad track where shadows hide
and where the sunlight CLOVIS forevsa
more.
So the two returned TO the beau
tiful valley, where they lived to wor
ship long the glory Of the Manitou. whs
saved them from the foods. And whes
finally they died. the Manitou lifted
them with the magic canoe TO q place
midway between Heaven and earth %
the great mountain. beside the seat Of
wisdom. There II stood NJ q guide
20 the chosen people and rs a monu
ment to the mercy Of the ManItou.
Those who do not believe have but
to 20 and see For the canoe. with
two who ply the paddle. seems tn ride
the tossing waves that roll from the
Holy mountain 20 the south and east
toward ST. Peters dome. And there
shall II stand 80 long NJ man endurea
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