(An Indian legend)

Long, long ago, there was a time when Indian corn or maize was unknown to Indians. Their food consisted of meat — deer and wild turkey — and fish from the little streams. Sometimes they found sweet berries. In summer Indians lived well, but when the long, snowy winter came, it was hard for them. The rivers froze, the birds flew south, and the deer wandered farther into the deep forests. Indian women cut up the flesh of deer into strips and dried it in the bright autumn sun. This dried meat was the only food they had during the long winter. But the food seldom lasted until spring.

In those days there lived an Indian boy named Waso. He was the son of a chief, and like his father had a kind and gentle heart.

One day the boy had a strange dream. He dreamed of a food which was to grow out of the black soil and which would help Indians to live during the hungry winter. This food was called Mandowin, but the boy did not know where to find it.

And so Waso decided to go and find this wonderful food. He travelled for many days and was very tired. Then he built a little wigwam and slept there at night on a bed of skins.

One day, at sunset, Waso met a beautiful boy. He was dressed all in green and yellow.

"I shall tell you the secret of the food which will help your people to live during the long winters. But first you must wrestle with me. Only if you defeat me will you learn the secret," he said. Waso began to wrestle with the unknown boy. But soon he lay on his back, panting for breath.

"I'll come back tomorrow," said the strange boy and went away.

The next day at the same hour the boy appeared before Waso's tent, and again they wrestled. Once more Waso was defeated. But the boy only smiled his kind, friendly smile and said, "Be brave, little Waso! You have another chance — tomorrow — but the last one — remember."

On the third day Waso was so weak that he could hardly stand. But he said to himself that he must win in order to learn the great secret for his people. And so much did his strong will help his weak body that at last he defeated the strange boy.

"Well done, little Waso," said the boy. "You have defeated me and I must die. Take off my clothes, clear the ground of stones, weeds and roots, dig up the earth and bury me there. Then visit my grave from time to time and see me come back to life again." The last words the boy whispered weakly, "You have promised — remember!" And he spoke no more.

Gently, tenderly, with tears running down his cheeks, Waso did as the boy had told him.

Drawing off the beautiful green and yellow clothes, he buried his strange friend in the soft black soil, and returned to his father's wigwam. But every day he visited the lonely grave at the edge of the forest. Carefully he pulled out the weeds and in the dry season he watered the earth to keep it soft and moist. Then one day Waso saw that the green plumes of the boy's headdress were pushing through the soil. His friend was coming back to life! All this time Waso had kept his secret, but as autumn came he led his father to the grave of the unknown boy. He told his father the strange story and pointed to the plant. As tall as man it stood, straight and green, with broad shining leaves. From either side grew long green husks full of pearly white grain, sweet and juicy.

"It is my unknown friend come back to me," cried Waso. "It is Mandowin, the Indian corn. And so long as we renew it from year to year, and watch and tend it, we need never fear hunger."

Sean Townes

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