"The boy and his tribe"

Long, long ago, there was a family of the Chippewa tribe, who lived in a wigwam in the woods of North America. Mother and father, brothers and sisters were all very happy and contented for they loved the good things of the earth. They loved the sunshine, the forests, and the cool springs of water. But they were often cold and Hungry, for at this time, the Chippewa people did not know about growing corn. Instead, they lived only by hunting. Now, when the boys of his tribe reached the age of fourteen, it was the custom for them to go into some lonely place, without food , so that they could be alone for several days and think about the life which lay ahead of them. The time came for the eldest son of the family to carry out this custom. "come with me, my son" said his father. The two of them walked far into the woods together. There, the father built a little wigwam for his son. "You will be here for seven days without food" he told the boy. 'at the end of that time, I will return for you and bring you food; while you are here, you should pray to the great spirit that he will send you a gift; a gift for the whole tribe". Left alone, the boy sat for a while and thought. What should he pray for during this week's fast? Perhaps he should pray that his tribe would win glory in battle, or should he pray that they would enjoy hunting, or be sent great wealth? No, he thought. He could ask only that life for his tribe be made in some way a little less hard , and so he began to pray to the great spirit. A day passed, and another. The boy continued to pray, and he ate nothing. By the time of the third day came, he was weak from lack of food. All he could do now was to lie inside his wigwam in a kind of dream. All at once, the curtains of the wigwam parted, and a young warrior entered. The plums of his headress were green, and so were his moccasins and his cloak. When he spoke, his voice was like the rush of the wind through the trees. "The Great spirit has heard your prayers, i have come to test your courage, stand up!" the warrior said to the boy. Trembling a little, the boy stood up. So, the two of them began to wrestle, and they struggled together for a long time in silence. At last the warrior said "that is enough for today, i will come back tomorrow". The next evening, the curtains of the wigwam parted again, and the warrior was back again, the boy wrestled with him. And although he had felt so weak before the warrior came that he could scarcely stand, as soon as he touched the green plumed warrior, he became strong. "Good, you have done well i will come back tomorrow" said the warrior at the end. Each evening, it was same. The warrior in the green headdress and moccasins and cloak came, and the boy's strength returned as soon as he touched him. Each evening they wrestled. By the seventh evening, the boy was utterly exhausted from lack of food. When the warrior came in, he managed to pull himself to his feet. As usual the two of them began to wrestle. Once again, as soon as they came grips, the boy felt his strength come back. "it is strange, but tonight i think i could even through this warrior to the ground " the boy thought. So well did the boy wrestle, that indeed he threw the warrior to the ground. The boy knelt down by his side, to his utter horror, he saw that the warrior was about to die. The warrior smiled at him, "You must not be sad and you must not grieve for me, you shall see my green plumes again, but if you wish to see them, this is what you must do: bury me, and keep my grave covered with fresh damp earth".