Hunter College High School - Argus Yearbook (New York, NY)

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An Alaskan Fairy Tale by Barbara Grushlaw Cumi Wangi squatted in front of the flickering fire. The reflections of its dancing flames sent mysterious, weaving paths along the wrinkles in her parchment-like face. She stretched out one skinny paw and selecting a gleaming red ember from the fire, lit her long white pipe, She smoked slowly, taking long satisfied pulls and pausing to meditat- ively watch the blue grey smoke spiral and curl, like a monstrous snake, out thru the top of the tent, until, at last, the writhing column seemed a veritable misty stairway to the heavens themselves. At the old woman's mocassined feet, her four little brown grand-children sat wait- ing patiently. They knew well that until this ceremony of smoking had been finished, she would not weave the tale they nightly a- waited. I-Xt last, the grandmother reverently laid the slim pipe away in a beaded pouch. Long, long ago, came her low dron- ing voice. fThe ears of the expectant child- ren were cupped to catch her magic mono- tone like little flowers lifting eager heads to drink the dew.l 'AThe Great Father, vexcd with the wicked world, sent a swift messen- ger to Mogui, medicine man of our tribe. fFor you must know that Mogui, who was as old as the grey hills, was as wise as the horny knotted oaks, the chieftains of the council fires of all the plant folk.l The mes- senger came to Mogui as he sat in his tent and said to him, 'Mogui, thou, who art well versed in the secrets and mysteries of our white earth, listen unto me. l bring to you a tale which no other mortal knowsf eight

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i I the ceiling. Below this cupboard was a long log of wood into which axes. knives, and other useful implements were placed. To the right of the table was a big wooden tub, overturned. I was amused for I immediately thought of the poem 'The Old Wooden Tub'. Around it were smaller wooden tubs, which I decided were used for milking. Meanwhile my host had filled a large jug of hot soup and placed in front of me a huge cheese and an immense loaf of bread. We immediately 'fell to'. As I was eating I noticed rafters stretched from one side of the room to the other. Garlic and dried red peppers hung in strings from these rafters and chestnuts in net bags. About a half hour later the tinkle of sleigh bells was heard, and a neighbor, whom the peasant had in some way notified of my presence, came to take me home. A few minutes later I drove away with some regret, for in the peace of that little Swiss kitchen, I had been strangely happy. If I Had A Million Oh, for a million! If I had a million, Would I wander far from my own native land In a plane, ship or car like the gypsying brand? Would I dress in rich garments Eat 'fabulous stuffs' Wear pure ermine mittens with red satin cuffs? Aye, I would that-and more, I'd have non-running hose And a maid to continually powder my nose. I'd run down to Egypt and startle the dead, lFor an 'Empress Eugenie' I'd float on my headj Ch, a bright yellow skirt and a purple 'vestee' And green shoes with points that curl up to the knee Would make me supreme as I 'fected a 'huff' In my pure ermine mittens with red satin cuffs. And thus I'd be borne on a brocaded pillion fThough I'll grant-with concessionl If I had a million. Alice Ames SCVBII

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Mogui made a deep obeisance and offered the messenger a gaily patterned blanket on which to sit. He then lit for him the ceremonial pipe and bowed low saying, 'I am sensible of the honor the Great Father bestows upon my unworthy self. l will gath- er in his every word with mind, heart and spirit as earnestly as the lusty black ants do the millet seedsf f'The messenger puffed awhile and then related the following tale. 'Many eons ago, when the white earth, untainted by the guile of men, was still pure, there lived in the deep blue of the Western skies, two great black ravens and their grey mother. These ravens were formed so much alike that their cruel hooked beaks might have been carved from one dully glittering block of goldg and their huge black bodies cut from one fallen meteor. Such a fire of strength blazed within their veins that when they played in the skies, the Very earth trembled and all the animals cowered in fear and hid in the depths of their dark holes. Yet, be- cause of the benevolence of the Great Father, these fierce ones dwelt in peace and loved each other wellg but above all things they revered their tender mother. 'But sorrow threw her somber cloaked body across the happy path of their lives and one day, as they played, a faintly blushing cloud floated temptingly past them. It was an exquisite thing, of very rosy hue at the center fading until it became golden at the softly curving edge. The two brothers paused amidst their merry games, and agape with wonder and admiration, watched its airy flight. Slowly a deep covetous desire awoke within each raven and with great wings drooping they flew homewards. nine