Once upon a time, a poor Indian with his
wife and several children lived alone and apart from the tribe.
It was on the first indications of spring that his eldest son had
arrived at that age when it is thought necessary for youth to fast to
see what kind of spirit would be his guide and guardian through life.
[This could be as young as five or six years]
accordingly, a little lodge was made for him, as customary on such
occasions, some distance from the parents' lodge.
The father was a poor man and not very
expert, either in hunting or fishing, barely getting enough for the
use of his family day by day. He was contented and happy and always
thankful to the Great Spirit, for all the comforts, little as they
were. He was an humble, peaceable man.
His eldest son, of whom we are to speak in
particular, had always been a thoughtful, quiet, pensive boy from
infancy. He was always ready to assist with his parents without
murmuring. Kind and gentle to his brothers and sisters, he was very
much beloved by the whole family. The parents felt anxious about
the fast and hoped it would be propitious.
After the lad had prepared himself and
entered the lodge, the few first days of the fast, he amused himself
by walking in the woods and on the mountains, examining the early
plants and flowers, and as he observed all nature in its progress of
re-animation, he sighed and wished to know all about how they first
came, how they grew without the help of man and everything else about
their being useful to mankind and more.
After a few days, he confined himself to
his little lodge, thinking how he could be helpful to his poor fellow
creatures.
He thought how precarious the exertions of
his poor father were in order to sustain his family, and thought if
there could be no other means of support than that of fishing and
hunting.
This and a great many other ideas came into
his mind, such as, who is the Author, the Maker of all that I see, so
beautiful, so silent, and yet, perceptible in its operations?
"There must be a Great Spirit", he said to
himself, "who has made all things and who takes care of all. I
must try to find out who it is, perhaps in my visions I shall find out
who he is and he may show me pity, and teach me to be like him -
bountiful and good. For a good spirit he must be, who bestows such
beautiful things for the use of man".
On the third day, he became weak and faint
and kept his bed, and fancied he saw a man come down from the sky,
advancing toward him very gaily and richly dressed having on a great
many blankets of the same color, only slight shades of difference,
some were deep green and others lighter. He was very beautiful,
having fine waving feathers on his head.
When he came near, he said, "I am sent to
you, my friend, by the Great Spirit who made all things in the sky and
on the earth, the same great one you thought must exist, from what you
observed the other day. He has seen and known your motives in
your fasting now."
"He sees it is to do good to your fellow
creatures, and you did not think of yourself."
An Ojibway lodge
"You seek not for grandeur or praise from
your fellows, but their good, and the Great Spirit is pleased
with your fasting and in consequence, I am sent to instruct you to in
how to do your kindred good, as you feel most anxious about that".
He thus told the lad to arise and prepare
himself to wrestle with him as it would be only by his courage and
perseverance, as well as strength, the he could hope to succeed in his
wish to do and get good for mankind.
