LEGEND OF THE INDIAN CORN

 

LEGEND OF THE INDIAN CORN

By  Bertha Crocker Cook 32 Ford Place Bridgeport Conn  

Centuries and centuries ago, long before Columbus set sail for Spain, and discovered the great country that now bears the name of America, there lived in this new country a powerful tribe of Indians called the Iroquois. The red men busied themselves making mighty bows and fashioning arrow points that they may use when food was needed. The Indian women tilled the soil and attended the wigwams. The children ran and leaped in the sunshine and their laughter filled the air and mingled with the low crooning songs of the old men and women. Groups of young men and maidens were plaiting the soft willows into baskets and mats. And on the hills roamed the medicine men, gathering the prized and cherished herbs, that drove away bad spirits of suffering and sickness. 
Everywhere there was peace and happiness. But still, with all this contentment, they were not satisfied and wished food, they would not have to labor so hard for. So the old and honored chief of the tribe named Toahwa, went alone to the top of a high mountain to talk to the "Great Spirit." The chief told the Great Spirit the red men were tired of the roots and herbs which, with the fruit that grew on the bushes and trees, made up their food, and asked for some food used in the Happy Hunting Ground. The Great Spirit told the dissatisfied chief, that before many moons, he would come and give the Indians food. So the chief went back to his people, and told them what he had heard from the Great Spirit.

 Long and earnestly the red men waited for the food to come from the Happy Hunting Ground, and discontent arose among them, and unbelief in what the old chief had told them, and finally also the chief disbelieved the Great Spirit. 

Now there was a beautiful Indian maiden. Wonno. the chief's youngest daughter; her cheeks were the holly berries, her eyes were large and glowed like the eyes of a fawn at night, her hair was black as the feathers of a crow, and so long it brushed the ground as she walked; she was greatly beloved by young and old, but more so by a young stalwarth brave named Ontian. 

One night there were many heated words as to Great Spirit's message, and the young Indian brave, Ontian, Wonno's hero, arose from the council fire, walked alone in the forest, and soon fell asleep under the bowering branches of the forest trees. He suddenly awakened by a light footstep, and up saw Wonno his beloved one stealing past him in the dark; he pursued her, and as fleeing from danger that threatened her, she ran through the woods like the fleet footed hare. On and on he followed her, and finally drew so near, that he could hear her quick breath and the rapid beating of heart. With all his remaining strength, the lover the sprang forward and clasped the maiden's form to his breast. What was his grief and astonishment when he found his arms clasped, not the maiden he loved, but a strange plant, the like of which he never seen before. 

 And through the Great Spirit, Wonno, in fear of danger and so frightened at her surroundings, was transformed. She had raised her hands to her head as her lover caught her, and her uplifted hands were changed into ears of corn, and where her fingers caught her hair, the maize bears beautiful silken thread. And how, from a stalk of Wonno, a valley of corn grew and supplied food to the discontented tribe of Indians. And the old chief often wept and thought of Wonno, and at what cost of the discontentment of his people she was sacrificed. 

References:

1. The Kindergarten Primary Magazine 1919

2.McNair James Birtley Indian corn 1889