🧚 Opening, part 18 · page 2

And truly this was like The casting oil on fire, And men and women all Were raging to inquire About the mystery, And ask the wife herself Who might her husband be?102 Though everybody knew In all the country round.103 And though it had been said That life and death and all Hung on her telling naught.104

Though what were life or death To any woman born, Likewise to many a man, Compared unto the joy Of learning that which is None of their business-- And tattling it abroad?105

And so they pressed her sore, Still teasing her to tell, And giving her no rest As fools are wont to do.106 Until one day, enraged, She thought: “This passes strength And I’ll bear it no more.107 Truly my lord was right, These people are too vile, Too petty and too mean, For subjects to my son, He ne’er shall lead them on To glorious victory!108 They are not of the kind To make a mighty race: With them it shall be o’er!”109

And as they still kept on Tormenting, teasing her.110 She spoke and said: “Ye fools!111 Who fain would kill yourselves By your own folly, ye Mud-wasps who sting the hands Which fain would pluck you forth When drowning in the pool.112 Why will ye trouble me To tell you what ye know?113 When ye keep asking me ‘Who my boy’s father was?’114 Can ye not plainly see Katahdin in his brows?115 Now it shall be indeed To your great woe and pain, And abject misery, That ever ye did ask Of what concerned you not.116 So now from this day forth, Ye all may feed yourselves; For now my boy no more Will lend his help to you.”117

So she arose and went Her way into the woods And up the mountain side, Leading her little son; And from that day and hour Was seen on earth no more.118

And since that time our tribe With all the Indian folk Who once might have become A great and glorious race, Have dwindled down into A very little folk.119 For when our minds grow small And gossip is our god, We must diminish too.120 Truly it had been wise For them of olden time, And for us too, indeed, Could they have held their tongues.121 L.122

FOOTNOTES:123

[67] Long ago an Indian girl was walking on Katahdin and she felt very lonesome.124

VIII125

THE PARTRIDGE AND THE SPRING126

[_Passamaquoddy_]127

_Uskitap iaqu bamose kʾchikok Etuchi nodak metetaguak kequ pichikok.128 _[68]129

A man was walking the woods When he heard afar a noise As of footsteps beating the ground.130 With a cry as of merry singing; So he sought to find the people; ’Twas a week before he found them.131

’Twas a man and his wife a-dancing About a tree; on its summit There sat a great Raccoon, And by their constant treading They had worn a trench in the ground-- Yea, in it, up to their waists.132

And when the stranger in wonder Asked of them, “What are you doing?”133 They answered that being hungry They were trying to fell the tree, And bring it down by dancing.134

The stranger said to them: “Know ye not that another, A newer and better way Of felling trees more quickly, Has come into the land?”135 They asked him how it might be.136

Then, while they greatly wondered, Taking his axe, he showed them How to cut down trees in a hurry; But made it a condition That when the Raccoon should be taken They might have his meat and eat it, But the pelt should be his portion.137

So, when the tree had fallen, And the game became their booty, The woman tanned the skin Which was strangely large and glossy And gave it to the Indian Who took it and went away.138

Then afar in a path in the forest He met with another man, And was greatly amazed at the sight, Because the other was bearing A very large birch wigwam, A dwelling with many rooms.139 He never had seen the like, And at first was in a fright, But the man, putting down the house, Burst into a fit of laughter, And shook him by the hand, Seeming in faith to be A downright honest fellow.140 Then, while they smoked and laughed, The man of the house beheld The skin which the other bore Of Espuns, the Raccoon, And said with curious air: “_He kekw nit?141 _” “What have you there The skin of magic power?”142 Then the other answering told How he met the man and his wife Who danced around the tree: Whereat the man of the house Offered to buy the skin At any price at all, And offered the house for it.143

Then the other looked it through And truly he was amazed To find how many rooms Were all contained in it, And what a wondrous store Of furniture and arms And kettles and the like Were stored in every room.144 “But oh and alack,” he cried, “I could never carry this house As you do, on your head.”145

“You can do it with ease,” replied _Pilowî wʾskichin_, That is “the stranger man;” “Just put it on your head.”146 He tried and found it as light As a _kchi bʾsnŭd_, or A basket made of birch.147

And so he went his way, Bearing the magic house Lightly upon his head, Till he came to a hard-wood ridge In which was a bubbling spring; And here he said: “I will live.”148 So searching he found a room In which there was a bed; A better he ne’er had seen, All covered with the skin Of a snow-white northern bear.149 So he laid him down to sleep.150

In the morning when he awoke What was his wonderment To see above his head, All hanging to the beams, Good food of every kind, All dainties known to man.151 For there were venison, Bear hams and many ducks, Buckets of maple sugar, Others of cranberries, And many golden ears Of drying Indian corn.152 But as in his delight He stretched out both his hands To grasp the tempting food, The bear-skin, melting fast, As water ran away-- For it was but the snow Which all the winter long Had gathered o’er his nest.153 And as he stretched his arms, Lo! they were changed to wings!154 And up he flew to the food, Which was the early buds Of the birch on which they hung.155 He was in truth himself A Partridge who had been Wintering beneath the snow, And who in joy came forth To greet the pleasant spring.156 L.157

FOOTNOTES:158

[68] A man was walking in the woods and he heard something far off.159

IX160

LOX, THE INDIAN DEVIL161

[_Passamaquoddy_]162

_Laks uskiehinwi Wahant Nekŭm mechikit wesis kchikok.163 _[69]164

Lox the Wolverine, Is of all the beasts of the forest Crafty and most ferocious, Cunning and utterly given To every kind of mischief.165 In all the world of the wood There is none so utterly evil, And therefore he is called By right, the Indian Devil.166

Now it happened on a time, That Lox, or the Wolverine, Who had many a time been killed, And as often rose from the dead By his sheer force of will-- The one great gift he had-- Found himself down in luck, Yea, very deeply down.167 Crossing in bitter winter A wide and dismal region Very poorly supplied For travel of any kind, The cold wind blew like knives, Snow fell with sleet and frost, And hail and pelting rain All in bad company Came on him all in one.168