Malecite tales / by W.H. Mechling.

  • Mechling, W. H.
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Malecite tales / by W.H. Mechling. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    three days with his nephew. When the latter appeared on the scene, he was seen to have little stones protruding from his cheeks. His sister was overjoyed to see her little son, whose appearance was so different from what it had been. The little fellow played ’with his youthful companions, and Gluskap noticed that when the other boys would make him angry, he would make a strange noise which sounded like thunder and that there was a flash (of lightning), just as when flint was struck. Thunder then declared his intention of hunting up his brother- in-law. Gluskap advised him that he had gone to the end of the world and would return within a year, and that, therefore, he thought it best to await his return. Thunder agreed to wait. Meanwhile, the girl’s brother would each day give the chief a mighty scare. He would cause lightning to strike the chief’s camp and cause the poles to fly from off his camp\ Mikumwesu at this time made up his mind to begin his return home. Something seemed to tell him that something extraordi- nary had happened in his home, and he became anxious to see his wife again. He completed the journey and arrived at his old camp, and recognized his son who was playing on the outside. Mikumwesu determined to reveal himself to no one but his son. The boy looked up and immediately let out a cry ‘^Father,” which the occu- pants of the ’wigwam heard. They started out, but Mikumwesu already had the boy in his arms and was in'visible to all save to Gluskap. The boy, however, could be distinguished. Gluskap was angered by the tactics of his brother on his return and said to him, ‘‘What is your object in thus trying to hide yourself? You cannot conceal yourself from me, therefore come down. You ought to be thankful for the wife you won.” No one but Mikum- wesu could hear Gluskap. Mikumwesu yielded to his brother and came do-wn. He was happy to see his boy and took the stones out of his cheeks and also freed him from the thunder. He said, “He 'will be powerful enough -without being a Thunder, for his father is powerful.” Mikumwesu then went out and brought in the water that his wife had used on the eventful night of their marriage. He again ^ The outside poles of the wigwam which keep the bark in place.
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