Racine High School - Kipikawi Yearbook (Racine, WI)

Page 138 text:

-cdo- . . H8312 .,.-- -15. K ,W ,.:. ...sg kf,f K K .kL,k: , K k.,,L h,.Qtf 1 fV,k , k.:Z:, l,. ..hJ , 1 5 , .. .W - .. 3 ' -x -, , Vbh. .- , , .,, - ,t,, , . , kk X-I -1- Z kk h , ,,,,.,1,., . Yfk, ,N . ,,.: 1,, K . kAf,,1.,, ,itw ,Xf. at ' -1 - Wi dim daylight mingling with the light of the flickering flames, spoke again. 'fYou know that tonight the Palefaces are to be burned. I ought to be glad, I ought to exult in their punishment. But my heart is sad. True, they killed my father in the battle, they stole his dead body before our men could return and bear it away. But tonight is the birth- day of the White Christ. From the Black Robed Chief you have heard the story of His birth, His life, His crucifixion, and His forgiveness. All day a voice in my heart has been saying, 'Peace on earth, good-will to men.' I, the daughter of a chief of the Mackinacs, can save the Pale- faces if I will. The White Christ would do so. What shall I do? The intense silence which ensued was broken by the crackling of the burning branches. Then the voice of old Noko rang out proudly: My Minnehaha, your father knew no word forgive. Nay, Wa- basso's cry was 1Revenge, forever re- vengel' though he died in the act of avenging-and are you not your father's daughter? The White Christians are pushing far- ther and farther west. They are seizing the lands and the streams that Gitchie Manito gave his red children to hunt and fish in. They bring war and bloodshed to our hitherto peaceful homes, and sor- row and suffering to our happy hearts. They have killed your father, a mighty chieftain. Yet what is death to a brave warrior but an entrance to the Happy Hunting Grounds! And the White Chris- tians have taken that chance from Wa- basso, they have stolen his dead body. No weapons could be buried with him, that he might defend himself on his jour- ney to the Promised Land. No prayers can be offered to the Great Spiritover his grave, no sacrifices laid at his resting- place, no chance is given to intercede for him. . 'fBut, and the tone of old Noko changed to one of triumph and of rap- turous faith, we have a promisefrom the Deliverer of the Nations-from Hia- . .. - ...af watha. As he was lifted into the sky, the promise to return to us fell from his lips. He will avenge our wrongs. He is even now gathering his army from among the warriors of the Upper World, they hold themselves in readiness for the word of command to march upon the Palefaces, and we will once more occupy the land of our fathers in affluence and powerf' She was silent for a moment, and then added: You must decide for yourself whether to serve the white man's God or the Great Spirit of your fathers. Minnehaha rose. Wrapping her shawl about her, without a word to Noko, lest she should be dissuaded from her pur- pose, she left the Wigwam. In the deepening twilight the great cluster of Indian dwellings showed a ghostly white against the darkening blue of the eastern sky. In those wigwams which were not deserted, the bright fire inside revealed the fantastic decorations upon the canvas, and the moving shadows of those within. The muffled beat of drums, intermingled with savage yells, were wafted to Minnehaha's ear. She knew that no time was to be lost, and ran lightly down the snowy path to the scene of commotion. At the edge of the circle stood the war- riors of the tribe, some carrying torches. Their faces were rendered more hideous and unearthly in the dim light by fresh war paint. In the inner circle stood a band of half a dozen white men, bound hand and foot, one or two with heads erect, but the rest a picture of the most hopeless, abject misery. Piles of pine- tree boughs were being lighted by the squaws. At one side, ifpon a raised plat- form of logs overlooking the entire scene, sat an aged chieftain. Minnehaha comprehended the whole situation in an instant. She sprang upon the platform beside the old chief, the next moment the attention of every man, woman and child in that assembly was 'riveted on the girl. My people, she was saying, I have a command from the Great Spirit to stop

Page 137 text:

wi i ' N I 2NX f I as . - I t....' R . s , ,, A - g.... . ,, - . , I ..,.. . .f,,, .L. W ,E,... , ,. Z is .2 Iles ., -. ,, -. .- K - K- -6 I Q ig - migglgvf, W The Christmas Story Contest This year much active interest has been taken in public speaking. In the first con- test each pupil in the school was allowed to contribute a story. These were looked over by a committee of teachers. The eight best stories. two from each class in High School, were chosen. These were given to Mrs. Schnetz, Reverend Chenoweth, and Professor Henderson of Racine College, who acted as judges of thought and com- position. The contestants were trained by their English teachers on delivery. The contest was held the day of our Christ- mas exercises. The judges of delivery were Mrs. Leek, Reverend Buxton, and Mr. Richard Harvey. The medal, given by Mr. Brooks, was awarded to Emily Donaldson. It is to be sincerely hoped that the interest in public speaking will be kept alive for many years to come. The school has surely appreciated Mr. Brooks' effort to introduce this line of work, and all who have taken part in the contest have been greatly benefited. The contestants were: 'tThe Van VVoosters' Christmas - Elsie Pust, '15, An Old-Fashioned Christmas Dinner -Josephine Peterson, '15, Jimmy's Christmas Fairy - Lucille Clemons, '14. Katherine's Awakeningl' - Sylvia Musa, 14. . Minnehaha's First Christmas - Em- ily Donaldson. '13. A Convert to Santa Claus -Esther Wood, '13. The True Christmas Spirit - Helen Van Arsdale, '12. Mrs: Malcolm's Christmas Party - Mary Vrana, '1Z2. -H. V. A. The Story Which Won the Brooks' Medal in the Christmas Story contest. MINNEHAI-IA 'S FIRST CHRISTMAS The setting sun had just disappeared below the horizon, but its crimson trail, like that of a mighty chieftain, lingered yet in the western sky. It was a winter sunset, cold and orange-red, but with a beauty all its own. At the west the wa- ters of the Great Lake caught up the re- tlection of the clouds and lighted up with a chill, lonely splendor, dark pine trees rose in queenly array at the northg snow- clad fields stretched away toward the south, wlhile ,at the east, a picturesque and beautiful sight with their painted decora- tions and the blue smoke rising from their tops, stood the wigwams of an Indian vil- lage. At the entrance of the most western dwelling, her dark, comely features il- lumined by the glow of the western sky, stood an Indian maiden. But she saw not the beauty of the winter landscape, her As she gaze was bent on the ground. stood there, motionless, a clue to her ab- straction framed itself on her lips. Scarce- ly audibly she spoke, and as though weighing every word. The wild passion of her race was melted into a low, tender whisper as she said: .- And tonight is His birthday. I An instant later. from within the wig- wam, issued a low, musical call, 'tMinne- hahall' Yes, grandmother. The maiden answered in the language of the Mackinacs, and addressed an old woman who was seated by the fire which she replenished with a handful of fagots as Minnehaha entered. You are troubled today, my Minne- hahaf' The tenderness in the woman's voice indicated the strong affection and deep sympathy between the two. '4Yes, Noko, I 2111 troubled. Perhaps you can help me.'l The young girl seated herself on the deerskin robe beside her companion, and amidst the weird shadows cast by the

Page 139 text:

you. Ile bids me tell you that the lVhite children are llis children as well as are the lied, and that Ile cares alike for both. Ile says that you must release the pris- oners and dwell together in peace. And what the Great Spirit commands, we must not disobey. Vllhen she had ceased, every person was silent-awe-stricken, though a god had come among them. Then the aged chief rose and addressed his people: UThe daughter is right. VVhat the Great Spirit commands, we must not disobey. Ile quickly called his council of chiefs together in a. nearby lodge, unbinding the feet of the prisoners and leading them along, that no harm might befall them if the crowd suddenly became angry. Min- nehaha remained in the Same position she had assumed while speaking. A few quiet words were exchanged between the Indians reniaining, but a great hush pre- vailed. Wheii the lodge entrance opened and the chiefs tiled out, with them came the white men, unbound. Then the figure of the young girl disappeared in the dark- ness. The moon had risen in the heavens when Minnehaha reached her home, and she lingered outside the wigwam to breathe in the deep peace of the night. She felt that she had done right and what the Christ would have done. She knew now what those words meant- Peace on earth, good-will to men. He was born on a night like this, calm and cloudless, when the Divinity seems to bend and l lt: W touch the earth, waiting in silent expecta tion. She could almost see the light m the sky as it must have shone then. bln could ahnost hear the angels sing, Glow to God in the highest- A step soundid at her side. She looked around. There could be no mistaking the form and fra tures in the bright moonlight. It was lui father. I have come to spend Christmas with vou. It was the voice of no apparition. Hut to spend Christmas with her-what did it mean? As though i11 answer to he! thought, he continued. 'tVVhen I lay un conscious after the light, the Black R-obt chiefs found me. They took me ,to their lodge, they fed me with tl1e best from their table, they healed my wounds Again they told me the story of the White Christ, in whose name they re stored me to life. I, who had scotted and mocked before, 11ow listened and believed. And you, too, my daughter, yy 1ll believe ? ' l 'AI do believe, she cried rapturously and she poured out the story of her day s struggle, of the VVhite Christ's victory 111 her heart, and of rescuing her father s enemies from torture and death. Tlun, feaing lest he might still cherish revengl toward those who had injured him, she asked half doubtfully You are not an 7 gry with me, father? The very stars seemed to sing as his an swer fell upon her ear: HI am proud ot my Minnehahaf' -Emily Donaldson, '13