For the Children.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2139, 14 March 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

For the Children.

AMERICAN INDIAN FAIRYTALES . THE STAR HUSBAND. Tliero were once two sisters who lived all alone in a wild place. This was long ago, when the tribes upon earth were low, mid the animill people were fripmlly to men. The name of one of the girls was Earth, and the other was called Water. They dwelt iu a lodge made of birch-bark and their beds were of soil grass and rushes. All of their food was brought to them by their animal friends. The bears supplied them with nuts, berries ami wild turnips, and the bees brought combs dripping with honey. One clear summer night the two girls lay awake a long time, looking up into the sky and talking to each other. “Sister, I saw in my dreams a handsome young man. Jt seemed to me that he camo from up yonder,” said the Earth. “I, too, have dreamed ol a great brave,” replied her sister. “Do you suppose these bright stars above us are the Star-men of whom we dreamed?” tasked the youngest sister. “If that is so,” said the V. a ter, ‘I choose that brightest Star up there for ray husband!” “And I,” said the Earth, “choose the little twinkling Star besido him for my husband!” The sisters slept, and when they awoke they found themselves in the sky! The husband of the sister, who had chosen tlio bright Star, was an old warrior with a shining name, and the husband of the younger girl was a fine-looking man. The Star-Men were kind to their wives, who lived happily. One day they went out to dig turnips, and before they Started the ohl man said to his wife: , , “Be careful that you do not lilt the ground too hard!” Tho young man also said to Jus wife: ~ “Do not hit the ground too hard! But the younger sister forgot, and after a while she struck the ground so hard with the long, pointed stick with which the women dig turnips that the floor of the sky gave way and she fell! Two old people found the poor girl lying on the ground below. ‘ “Alas, alas, my granddaughter, mourned the old people. They mado for her a little wigwam of pine boughs and brought ferns for her bed. The old woman spoke kindly to her and dressed her hurts, but she would not speak, except to cry for her husband. “Please let mo go to lnm! she beg‘ r ed. “I cannot 'live wit-liont him !_ “°Vb, ah, my granddaughter,” said the old woman, “fallen stars never return to heaven 1” Night came, and the Stars appeared in the sky as usual, but the little twinkling Star did not appear with the rest, for he was now a widower and had painted his face quite black. His poor wife waited for him a long time, but lie did not come. At last she slept, and dreamed she was a tiny red Star in the sky that had not been there before. . ~ , ' “Ah/’ she said, 1 ‘that is lied Star, my son!” In the morning she Sound a pretty lit-tlec boy at her side, who afterward grew to be a handsome young mail. His cousins in the sky, the Star-Child-ren of his mother’s sister, were Ins guides by niglif through the pathless woods. His children and tlieir children after them are the red people of this land!