The Osage tribe, two versions of the child-naming rite / (1928 N 43 / 1925-1926 (pages 23-164))

by Francis La Flesche

3

51. Again the people spake, saying: Lo, the little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
52. Take heed and see what can be done, O, younger brothers.
53. Then they spake to the youngest of the brothers,
54. Saying: O, younger brother!
55. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
56. Take heed and see what can be done.
57. Even as these words were being spoken,
58. He stood before the Male Star (Morning Star) who sitteth in the heavens,
59. And spake to him, saying: O, grandfather!
60. The Male Star replied: My grandchild!
61. The messenger spake: The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
62. The Male Star replied: I am a person of whom the little ones may well make their bodies.
63. I am a god who has power to resist death.
64. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
65. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the path of life.
66. Even among the gods
67. There is not one who is able to see my path.
68. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
69. Even the gods
70. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path of life.
71. Even among the gods
72. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going,
73. When the little ones make of me their bodies.
74. Even the gods
75. Shall not be able to stand in their way to prevent their going.
76. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
77. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
78. They also shall be able to bring themselves to see old age, as they travel the path of life.
79. They shall also live to see the days that are calm and peaceful.
80. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
81. They shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.

4

82. The people spake, saying: O, younger brothers,
83. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
84. Take heed and see what can be done.
85. Then they spake to the youngest of the brothers,
86. Saying: O, younger brother,
87. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
88. Take heed and see what can be done.
89. Even as these words were being spoken,
90. The messenger stood before the Female Star (Evening Star) who sitteth in the heavens,
91. And spake to her, saying: O, my grandmother!
92. The Female Star replied: My grandchild!
93. The messenger spake: The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
94. The Female Star replied: I am a person of whom the little ones may well make their bodies.
95. I am a god who has power to resist death.
96. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
97. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the path of life.
98. Even among the gods
99. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going.
100. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
101. Even the gods
102. Shall not be able to stand in their way to stop their going.
103. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
104. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
105. They also shall be able to bring themselves to see old age, as they travel the path of life.
106. I have been able to bring myself to the calm and peaceful days.
107. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
108. They also shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.

5

109. The people spake, saying: O, younger brothers,
110. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
111. Then to the youngest of the brothers
112. They spake, saying: O, younger brother,
113. Take heed and see what can be done.
114. Even as these words were being spoken,
115. The messenger stood before the Litter (Ursa Major), who stands in the heavens,
116. To whom he spake, saying, O, grandfather!
117. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
118. The Litter replied: I am a person of whom the little ones may well make their bodies.
119. I am a god who has power to resist death.
120. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
121. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the path of life.
122. Even among the gods
123. There is not one who is able to see my path.
124. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
125. Even the gods
126. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path of life.
127. Even among the gods
128. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going.
129. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
130. Even the gods
131. Shall not be able to stand in their way to prevent their going.
132. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
133. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
134. They also shall be able to bring themselves to see old age.
135. I have been able to bring myself to the calm and peaceful days.
136. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
137. They also shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.

6

138. The people spake, saying: The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
139. Give heed, younger brothers, and see what can be done.
140. Then to the youngest of the brothers,
141. They spake, saying: O, younger brother,
142. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
143. Even as these words were being spoken,
144. The messenger stood before Deer-head (Pleiades), who sitteth in the heavens,
145. To whom he spake, saying: O, my grandmother!
146. She replied: My grandchild!
147. The messenger spake: The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
148. Deer-head replied: I am a person of whom the little ones may well make their bodies,
149. I am a god who has power to resist death.
150. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
151. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the path of life.
152. Even among the gods
153. There is not one who is able to see my path.
154. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
155. Even the gods
156. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path of life.
157. Even among the gods
158. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going.
159. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
160. Even the gods
161. Shall not be able to stand in their way to prevent their going.
162. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
163. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
164. They also shall be able to bring themselves to see old age.
165. I have been able to bring myself to the calm and peaceful days.
166. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
167. They also shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.

7

168. The people spake, saying: The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
169. Give heed, O, younger brothers, and see what can be done.
170. Then to the youngest of the brothers,
171. They spake, saying: O, younger brother,
172. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies,
173. Take heed and see what can be done.
174. Even as these words were being spoken,
175. The messenger stood before Three-deer (Orion’s belt), who stands in the heavens,
176. To whom he spake, saying: O, grandfather!
177. The little ones have nothing of which to make their bodies.
178. Three-deer replied: I am a person of whom the little ones may well make their bodies,
179. I am a god who has power to resist death.
180. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
181. They also shall have power to resist death, as they travel the path of life.
182. Even among the gods
183. There is not one who is able to see my path.
184. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
185. Even the gods
186. Shall not be able to see their path, as they travel the path of life.
187. Even among the gods
188. There is not one who can stand in my way to prevent my going.
189. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
190. Even the gods
191. Shall not be able to stand in their way to prevent their going.
192. Moreover, I have been able to bring myself to see old age.
193. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
194. They also shall have the power to bring themselves to see old age.
195. I have been able to bring myself to the calm and peaceful days.
196. When the little ones make of me their bodies,
197. They also shall be able to bring themselves to the calm and peaceful days, as they travel the path of life.