University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Quiver Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

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Walter C. Hewitt Reader-of-the-Mystic-Symbols Ismg. long ««« then- wnx a chief who loved to ask his people strange ltt«'HtIons. Ills IoiIk ' was covered with signs anti symbols which he alone could Interpret, lie was very proud or his skill anti sometimes offered prizes of horses and blankets to any one who would read his signs. Itut one day a stranKe youth come to the lodge and offered to read the sIkiis If the Big Chief would Kraut him any wish he asked. So the Chief aKreetl and led the youth to Ills lodKO. He Raxed Ioiik nntl earnestly at the slKns on the wall. CIosIiik his eyes, and with hand iiiovIuk mysteriously In the air. he read all the symbols. The Chief pulled his scalp-lock In dismay, hut asked the youth what boon he wished. Give me. . Great Chief, the young man cried. the power to make others happy and to tench them well. Ills wish was granted, and now through the whole cycle or moons he teaches the tribes at Oshkosh and makes them happy. Josephine Henderson Fountain-of-Knowledge” In a pleasant vale secluded, ’mongst the mountains far. far eastward from our great rocks, gray, malestlc. fell a crystal stream of water. When the bright sun danced upon It. shorn- forth myriads of diamonds, and Its voice was purest music like a bell of silver tinkling. At Its foot a mist In the sunlight rose, rainbow-tinted. In the shadow cool, refreshing Always at return of summer, all the tribes of all the nations made a Journey to this fountain: bathed their brows In Its clear waters, bathed their souls In its pure music. And upon the braves and maidens, east this fount a spell of tnngle. for to those whose hearts were open to the Influence of its beauty, much there came of heavenly wisdom, and of deep, life-giving knowledge. And when all the tribes departed, much they pleaded, much besought they, that ihe .Manltou In kindness grant the one great boon they asked him. Itut he could not heed their pleadings, for the boon they asked too great was. The Great Spirit loved the fountain and to part with her he could not. But one morn an Oshkosh warrior gazed on her in all her beauty as her cloudy mists were sparkling In the rosy light of morning. And his prayer ascended upward to the furthest bounds of Heaven, and the mighty spirit heard him. And the silver fountain heard him and Its heart was filled with gladness. Gltchee.Manltou. the Mighty, bent his head in silent sorrow.-—then he gently said. My daughter, go thou with this Oshkosh warrior, henceforward to his people, be a ‘clear fountain of pure knowledge I.o. a maiden stood before him. eyes rclleotlng Heaven's azure, hair like silver mists of morning. I.Ike a oucen she stood before him. stately ns a goddess. And she did the Spirit's bidding, ami she came unto our people- She to us a guiding star is. unto us a fount of knowledge. Frederick R. Clow Keeper-of-the-Lore” Far out on the distant prairie on the plains of Minnesota, dwelt a sober Youth and thoughtful. Soon ambition stirred within him. led him forth to seek much knowledge till at last he came to Oshkosh, there to teach the youthful Nation how to dwell in peace together Here he tells them of the history of the ancient tribes and peoples from the time of man’s creation to the year of nineteen hundred eleven. Kccpr r-of-thc-l.ore we call him. Ellen F. P. Peake Giver-of- Happiness Once upon a time the Great Spirit was very sad. He wandered out Into the forest, trying to And something to cheer him. Here he met a oualnt little child with such a bright, happy face that he was attracted to her. She would be a cure for his sadness, and he took the little maiden to his wigwam. He learned to love her because of her winning and cheering ways. He kept her ami let her live In Ills heart. And because she lived in the heart of the Great Spirit she drew from him still greater kindliness ami strength and justice. After a time when the child had grown Into a slender woman, a distant nation needed the help of the Great Spirit. All Ills helpers Were busy In other lands, and no one was left but the slender maiden whom he loved. The Great Spirit was sad at the thought of losing her but at last he said. You must go to help the Oshkosh nation, and there you will be known ns ’Glver-of-Happiness.' “ 20

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' 6 Rose C. Swart “She-of -W ide-Experience” For many moon have tlic people listened to tin wlie counsel of the gifted daughter of the Nation. Great Is her Inllueneo In the Counell Chnm-her and In the aeeret meetings of the wise men assembled to speak of youths In their keeping. Freely she minifies with the Youth of the Nation, always ready In notlnK wherein they excel. Her care are many and varied, but she frees herself of them with a will. Her hopes, too. ore many—her latest Is- -that the Maidens of u 11 lands may gain and enjoy the rights in the life of Nations that the Youths now have o Emily F. Webster “ Magician-of-the-Digits-Nine Lome summers uro the Great Spirit called his people together and they rame from the four uuarters of the Wind. They came from the cold lands of the North Wind, from the balmy South Und, from the laiml of the Rising Sun. from the land of the Golden Glow. Amnnit them was a young maiden eager to hear what the Great Spirit had to tell his people. The Spirit talked long and solemnly to the gathered throng. Good words he spoke of alms ami ideals: but Ills people gaxed at him with troubled faces. They could not understand what the Great Spirit wanted, and their hearts were uneasy. Hut the little Malden looked at the Mighty Ituler with bright eyes. She knew what he meant, and the Spirit looking sadly down on his troubled people saw her. He called her to hint and said. O Small One. you have heard my teaching. Your bright eyes tell me you have understood and the Great Spirit's heart is glad. I will whisper to you a secret and you must carry It fair away among the people and teach It to them. Then will your work be good. And the Malden carried her secrets always with her. She built her lodge among the Oshkosh Tribes. Many came to listen to her wondrous teachings, ami on the walls of her lodge they find the secrets written. o Lydon W. Briggs Keeper-of-the-Nation’s-Wiimpum” In the Council Hull at Oshkosh, in a wigwam called an office, sits a warrior with a sculp lock white ais are the snows of winter. Keeper of the Wampum Is he. guardian of the Nation's treasures. How came he to dwell among them respected so by all the chieftains? Hearken then unto a legend, to an old and strange tradition. Long ago before the white man cutne here lo destroy our people, when o'er plains and hills and forests roamed our Nation unmolested, a great warrior dwelt among us. None there was In all our Nation who could send so swift, an arrow—none so licet of foot, so tire-less—none so sighed for by the maidens. While he yet was young, his chieftain mighty, called Ills braves upon tin- war path. In a long and hitler struggle. Many moons our warrior followed his great chieftain to the southward. Many were the hardships hitter he was called upon to suffer. One night folded In Ids blanket, lie began to think and ponder. Was there need for all this bloodshed? Could not all the tribes he governed so that there would he peace among them? And he thought of laws and orders that would help to banish warfare. Next morning forth lie went to battle pondering still Upon these questions. All day long waged the great struggle and this warrior at the day's dose shot Ids last arrow at the enemy. Hut in doing so his bow snapped and fell broken from Ids finger . Some great Impulse that he knew not hade him follow his last arrow. ATter a long and tiresome Journey, pressing ever toward the Northland, lie found Idmself among a Nation on the shores of Winnebago. There he stayed and trained these people. taught them laws to guide their children. And so faithful was lie ever that they made him Keeper of the Nation's wampum, guardian of their many treasure . Mary E. Apthorp “Reader-of-ihe-Tongucs-of-Many-Nations One day the Robin said to a Malden of the Quincy Tribe. Mv child, you know the speech of the birds and animals: go. now. and learn the tongues of the nations. It Is the will of the Great Manltoii.-' The Malden then went to the tribes of the Rising Sun and to the Iowa Nations, and learned their speech. Then a white-winged ship bore her away to the home of the White-Man and she learned many of Ids languages also. After she had returned to the village of the Chicago , the great Manlto himself came to her and said. My child, you have done my bidding well. You shnll now be called •Reader of the Tongues of Many Nation .' and you shall leach all people the languages you have learned. 10

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 n o I Harry R. Fung Protector-of-the-Weak-and-Lowly” Far to t 10 Kant, In a iiimitry famous. dwelt ttiIh bravo chief when a youth, lie loved the woods with all Its mysteries. He loved the fields with all their greenness. Best of all this youth loved the little creeping thlnxs of the eatth. lie wanted to know more of them After hlddlnx farewell to the land of his youth lie went away. He went on a lonx and distunt Journey, lie wt nt t blx xohools. He learned much knowleilxe. Then Oshkosh wanted a teacher. Thither went forth our brave with fourteen others. They stood before the Council. From among them all. he alone was chosen. Many moons have now passed. He Is still anionx us and Is known as “Protector-of-the-Weak-and-liOwly. Frank F.. Mitcheli. 'Seer-of-the-Earth-Home There was once a younx brave of the Indiana nation who knew more about the Knrth lie lived upon, and thouxht more about the welfare of mankind than all the sachems of his tribe. But for all his wisdom he was the best sportsman In the village. He knew where the finest trout streams were and where the hunter could find great Hocks of wild fowl, lie knew why the Northern winters Were long and cold and the Southern winters short and mild. Sojourns nmonx the tribes of the Indlatiax and the Mlnnesotas added to his store of knowledge. Now lie. Tin— Seer-of-the-Kartli-Home. teaches all of the Oshkosh tribe who will hear, the wonders of the universe So respected Is he that the trllie has dedicated to him Its records Inscribed upon the birch bark. L. L. Summers “The-Great-Builder Should you usk me whence these soundinxs. Whence these knocking , whence these poundltixs. Whence this cloud of dust, these shavlnxs. AH these nails, these boards, these paint pots. I should answer. I should tell you: 'TI the realm of one among you. Strong and mighty wlelder Is he Of the plane, the saw. the hammer. Skilful rider of the Jig-saw; Master of the art of making Picture frames, desks, tables, cupboards Oh. the wonderful wood-worker! I.ov« r of the oak. the hemlock. When It's sawed and cut In pieces.— Such Is Summers. Tlo—Orent-Builder. » Maurice H. Small Man-of--Thought In the far distant forest of the Northland. In the country of the Or eat Main Nation, there was u tribe known far and wide for Its learned medicine man Versed this sachem was in the lore of the mind, ami most tlttlnxly called “The Man of Thought.' To know and rule the minds of all. from the papoose In Its case to the great chief In Ills topee, was his desire- And ■• for years he lived In the seclusion of the medicine tent, ever gaining more knowledge. At length, imbued witb the desire to impart his wisdom to oilier Nations, lie Journeyed to the West, to the land of Oshkosh, whore this “Man of Thought still lives, teaching us to know men's minds. 21