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

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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

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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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'Their hearts had become heavy bitter stones within their breasts. QAS is the way with all things troubled by uneasy pas- sions.D They hid away in the deepest corners of their tent: and each tried to form a plan whereby he might gain this treasure without his brother's knowledge. For many a day and night they sat thus never stirring nor speaking. Their mother seeing them was sorely grieved. She knew that the little pink cloud was merely a shadow. an illusion of beauty that would fade if it were touched. She reasoned with her sons but they remained morose and silent. The mother knew then that they had forgotten those, which of all the Great Father's teachings are the most important, brotherly love and Hlial affection. Her pure smooth brow furrowed by sorrow, she hastened to the Great Father and begged him to remove this cloud which had marred the peaceful existence of her sons. 'The Great Father taking pity on her plight sent the wind to whisk the cloud away during a storm. When the anger of the storm had been dissipated, the ravens arose from their tent to see the cloud. At first, they could not believe that it was gone. Frantically, each searched the horizon for it, They poked behind high snow-tipped mountains and looked in the shadows of deep rivers in vain. At sunset, each returned from his search, despairing. When they looked upon each other, Gana, the evil demon of jeal- ousy, took great bites of their hearts, and they were blinded by angry passions and torn by suspicions. They violently accused each other of stealing the cloud. The teachings of the Great Father fled from their darkened spirits and they flew at each other. One of the ravens sent blinding fiery shafts of light at his antagonist from his metallic clawsg the other, roared so mightily that the earth shook and trembled. Their blue black feathers rained from the skies and soon covered the face of the white earth. 'Their mother, finding them thus, shed bitter tears and besought them to cease their fighting: but they did not listen and the salty drops fell unheeded between them. Once more the mother vainly tried to quell her unruly sons: and then in great fear she went a second time to the Great Father. 'But even he, the all compassionate, was now angered. He arose from his throne and said in a mighty Voice like rushing tor- rents. 'Cease thy fighting, foolish birds, and listen well, You shall be punished for your disobedience to the sacred laws of love and trust. I condemn you for your folly to circle, fighting as you do ten