[Contents]XX.THE PRAIRIE DANDELION(Algonquin)In the Southland, flat upon the ground, lies the spirit of the south wind. He is a very fat and very lazy old man. His eyes are always toward the cool north, but he will not stir from his resting place.When he sighs the air is filled with warm breezes. In the autumn his breath is filled with the odor of apples and all manner of fruits. He sends the golden Indian Summer to the Northland. Shawondasee is the name of this spirit of the south wind.One day, while looking toward the prairies of the north, he saw a beautiful girl with yellow hair standing on the plains in the west. Every morning for days he saw this maiden, and she seemed more lovely each day.But another morning when he opened his sleepy eyes and looked, the yellow locks on the maiden’s head were changed to fleecy white.“Ah! my brother, the strong north wind, has been more swift than I, as he ever is. He has put his frost crown on the maiden’s head. I will mourn for her.”[140]Shawondasee heaved a number of warm sighs, and as the pleasant south breezes reached the maiden the air seemed filled with tiny feathers. The maiden had vanished with her crown.It was no Indian maiden. It was only the prairie dandelion, and the crown that Shawondasee thought the north wind had given her was only her crown of feathery seeds; but the lazy Shawondasee never knew the secret, and mourned for his loss and envied his brother.Schoolcraft.[141]
[Contents]XX.THE PRAIRIE DANDELION(Algonquin)In the Southland, flat upon the ground, lies the spirit of the south wind. He is a very fat and very lazy old man. His eyes are always toward the cool north, but he will not stir from his resting place.When he sighs the air is filled with warm breezes. In the autumn his breath is filled with the odor of apples and all manner of fruits. He sends the golden Indian Summer to the Northland. Shawondasee is the name of this spirit of the south wind.One day, while looking toward the prairies of the north, he saw a beautiful girl with yellow hair standing on the plains in the west. Every morning for days he saw this maiden, and she seemed more lovely each day.But another morning when he opened his sleepy eyes and looked, the yellow locks on the maiden’s head were changed to fleecy white.“Ah! my brother, the strong north wind, has been more swift than I, as he ever is. He has put his frost crown on the maiden’s head. I will mourn for her.”[140]Shawondasee heaved a number of warm sighs, and as the pleasant south breezes reached the maiden the air seemed filled with tiny feathers. The maiden had vanished with her crown.It was no Indian maiden. It was only the prairie dandelion, and the crown that Shawondasee thought the north wind had given her was only her crown of feathery seeds; but the lazy Shawondasee never knew the secret, and mourned for his loss and envied his brother.Schoolcraft.[141]
[Contents]XX.THE PRAIRIE DANDELION(Algonquin)In the Southland, flat upon the ground, lies the spirit of the south wind. He is a very fat and very lazy old man. His eyes are always toward the cool north, but he will not stir from his resting place.When he sighs the air is filled with warm breezes. In the autumn his breath is filled with the odor of apples and all manner of fruits. He sends the golden Indian Summer to the Northland. Shawondasee is the name of this spirit of the south wind.One day, while looking toward the prairies of the north, he saw a beautiful girl with yellow hair standing on the plains in the west. Every morning for days he saw this maiden, and she seemed more lovely each day.But another morning when he opened his sleepy eyes and looked, the yellow locks on the maiden’s head were changed to fleecy white.“Ah! my brother, the strong north wind, has been more swift than I, as he ever is. He has put his frost crown on the maiden’s head. I will mourn for her.”[140]Shawondasee heaved a number of warm sighs, and as the pleasant south breezes reached the maiden the air seemed filled with tiny feathers. The maiden had vanished with her crown.It was no Indian maiden. It was only the prairie dandelion, and the crown that Shawondasee thought the north wind had given her was only her crown of feathery seeds; but the lazy Shawondasee never knew the secret, and mourned for his loss and envied his brother.Schoolcraft.[141]
XX.THE PRAIRIE DANDELION
(Algonquin)In the Southland, flat upon the ground, lies the spirit of the south wind. He is a very fat and very lazy old man. His eyes are always toward the cool north, but he will not stir from his resting place.When he sighs the air is filled with warm breezes. In the autumn his breath is filled with the odor of apples and all manner of fruits. He sends the golden Indian Summer to the Northland. Shawondasee is the name of this spirit of the south wind.One day, while looking toward the prairies of the north, he saw a beautiful girl with yellow hair standing on the plains in the west. Every morning for days he saw this maiden, and she seemed more lovely each day.But another morning when he opened his sleepy eyes and looked, the yellow locks on the maiden’s head were changed to fleecy white.“Ah! my brother, the strong north wind, has been more swift than I, as he ever is. He has put his frost crown on the maiden’s head. I will mourn for her.”[140]Shawondasee heaved a number of warm sighs, and as the pleasant south breezes reached the maiden the air seemed filled with tiny feathers. The maiden had vanished with her crown.It was no Indian maiden. It was only the prairie dandelion, and the crown that Shawondasee thought the north wind had given her was only her crown of feathery seeds; but the lazy Shawondasee never knew the secret, and mourned for his loss and envied his brother.Schoolcraft.[141]
(Algonquin)
I
n the Southland, flat upon the ground, lies the spirit of the south wind. He is a very fat and very lazy old man. His eyes are always toward the cool north, but he will not stir from his resting place.
When he sighs the air is filled with warm breezes. In the autumn his breath is filled with the odor of apples and all manner of fruits. He sends the golden Indian Summer to the Northland. Shawondasee is the name of this spirit of the south wind.
One day, while looking toward the prairies of the north, he saw a beautiful girl with yellow hair standing on the plains in the west. Every morning for days he saw this maiden, and she seemed more lovely each day.
But another morning when he opened his sleepy eyes and looked, the yellow locks on the maiden’s head were changed to fleecy white.
“Ah! my brother, the strong north wind, has been more swift than I, as he ever is. He has put his frost crown on the maiden’s head. I will mourn for her.”[140]
Shawondasee heaved a number of warm sighs, and as the pleasant south breezes reached the maiden the air seemed filled with tiny feathers. The maiden had vanished with her crown.
It was no Indian maiden. It was only the prairie dandelion, and the crown that Shawondasee thought the north wind had given her was only her crown of feathery seeds; but the lazy Shawondasee never knew the secret, and mourned for his loss and envied his brother.
Schoolcraft.[141]