XXIII. THE GIRL WHO BECAME A PINE TREE
(Ojibway)
n the shores of Gitchee Gumee, the Big Sea Water, were many forests. Manitouwah was a sacred grove of great trees by the water. Many pukwudjinnies, or little people, lived among these trees.
Near by was an Indian village of many teepees; in one teepee lived Leelinaw with her father and mother. She loved the great trees. She came very often to sit in their dark shadows and hear their leaves whisper to the blue water.
One day a famous old war chief came to her father’s teepee with gifts. Leelinaw ran to the grove, for she did not love the old war chief. Her father took his gifts, and she was to be the old war chief’s bride. Her heart was very heavy.
The stranger went away for a time. Leelinaw came back and said: “His voice and his people are strange to me. Leelinaw will go with him, for her father commands her to do it; but first let your child have one more day in the grove by the Big Sea Water.” The [[148]]mother knew her child’s heart, and the father said it should be as Leelinaw had asked.
She ran back to the grove and leaning against a tall tree told to it her sorrow. A voice came to her heart from the rustling leaves. She understood the tree’s language.
It said: “Lean on me, Leelinaw; I am strong. I will help you. Stay here in the pleasant forest by the Big Sea Water. All the trees will miss you, but I love you best of all. Stay with us forever.”
The gentle voice of the leaves comforted Leelinaw. She went back to the teepee. In the morning she dressed herself in the robe of white deerskin which her mother had made. She took some wild rice in her hand and went away.
She did not come back at sunset; then her parents believed that the war chief had carried away his bride; but the next day he came asking for Leelinaw or his gifts.
The parents called the men of the village together and searched through the forest. The father gave back his gifts to the war chief, for Leelinaw could not be found.
Three moons had gone when two Indians in their birch-bark canoe saw Leelinaw sitting by the Big Sea Water watching them. Beside her stood a tall brave with green feathers in his hair. The two Indians in [[149]]the boat called to the two on the shore. Leelinaw waved her hand to them. Then they could see her no more, but two tall pines stood in the place where she and the brave had been resting. No trees had been there before.
Then the two Indians went to the village and told the father and mother of Leelinaw. “The little people have done this thing,” said the parents. “Let us take gifts to the two pine trees.”
They did so, and the pine leaves sang sweet songs to them, but the parents thought it was only the summer wind. [[150]]
Apache Woman with her Handiwork. Yucca Plant in Foreground
From a Photograph
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