Native American Legends
Of Glooskap and the three other seekers
A Micmac Legend
Of old time. Now when it was noised abroad that whoever besought
Glooskap could obtain the desire of his heart, there were three
men who said among themselves, "Let us seek the Master." So they
left their home in the early spring when the bluebird first sang,
and walked till the fall frosts, and then into winter, and ever
on till the next midsummer. And having come to a small path in a
great forest, they followed it, till they came out by a very beautiful
river; so fair a sight they had never seen, and so went onward till
it grew to be a great lake. And so they kept to the path which,
when untrodden, was marked by blazed trees, the bark having been
removed, in Indian fashion, on the side of the trunk which is opposite
the place where the wigwam or village lies towards which it turns.
So the mark can be seen as the traveler goes towards the goal, but
not while leaving it.
Then after a time they came to a long point of land running out
into the lake, and, having ascended a high hill, they saw in the
distance a smoke, which guided them to a large, well-built wigwam.
And, entering, they found seated on the right side a handsome, healthy
man of middle age, and by the other a woman so decrepit that she
seemed to be a hundred years old. Opposite the door, and on the
left side, was a mat, which seemed to show that a third person had
there a seat.
And the man made them welcome, and spoke as if he were weleda'asit
kesegvou well pleased to see them, but did not ask them whence
they came or whither they were going, as is wont among Indians when
strangers come to their homes or are met in travel. Erelong they
heard the sound of a paddle, and then the noise of a canoe being
drawn ashore. And there came in a youth of fine form and features
and well clad, bearing weapons as if from hunting who addressed
the old woman as Kejoo, or mother, and told her that he had
brought game. And with sore ado--for she was feeble--the old dame
tottered out and brought in four beavers; but she was so much troubled
to cut them up that the elder, saying to the younger man Uoh-keen!
"My brother," bade him do the work. And they supped on beaver.
So they remained for a week, resting themselves, for they were
sadly worn with their wearisome journey, and also utterly ragged.
And then a wondrous thing came to pass, which first taught them
that they were in an enchanted land. For one morning the elder man
bade the younger wash their mother's face. And as he did this all
her wrinkles vanished, and she became young and very beautiful;
in all their lives the travelers had never seen so lovely a woman.
Her hair, which had been white and scanty, now hung to her feet,
dark and glossy as a blackbird's breast. Then, having been clad
in fine array, she showed a tall, lithe, and graceful form at its
best.
And the travelers said to themselves, "Truly this man is a great
magician!" They all walked forth to see the place. Never was sunshine
so pleasantly tempered by a soft breeze; for all in that land was
fair, and it grew fairer day by day to all who dwelt there. Tall
trees with rich foliage and fragrant flowers, but without lower
limbs or underbrush, grew as in a grove, wide as a forest, yet so
far apart that the eye could pierce the distance in every direction.
Now when they felt for the first time that they were in a new life
and a magic land, he that was host asked them whence they came and
what they sought. So they said that they sought Glooskap. And the
host replied, "Lo, I am he!" And they were awed by his presence,
for a great glory and majesty now sat upon him. As the woman had
changed, so had he, for all in that place was wonderful.
Then the first, telling what he wanted, said, "I am a wicked man,
and I have a bad temper. I am prone to wrath and reviling, yet I
would fain be pious, meek, and holy."
And the next said, "I am very poor, and my life is hard. I toil,
but can barely make my living. I would fain be rich."
Now the third replied, "I am of low estate, being despised and
hated by all my people, and I wish to be loved and respected." And
to all these the Master made answer, "So shall it be!"
And taking his medicine-bag (Micmac: Upsakumoode) he gave
unto each a small box, and bade them keep it closed until they should
be once more at home. And on returning to the wigwam. he also gave
to each of them new garments; in all their lives they had never
seen or heard of such rich apparel or such ornaments as they now
had. Then when it was time to depart, as they knew not the way to
their home, he arose and went with them. Now they had been more
than a year in coming. But he, having put on his belt, went forth,
and they followed, till in the forenoon he led them to the top of
a high mountain, from which in the distance they beheld yet another,
the blue outline of which could just be seen above the horizon.
And having been told that their way was unto it, they thought it
would be a week's journey to reach it. But they went on, and in
the middle of the afternoon of the same day they were there, on
the summit of the second mountain. And looking from this afar, all
was familiar to them--hill and river, and wood and lakes; all. was
in their memory. "And there," said the Master, pointing unto it,--"there
is your own village!" So he left them alone, and they went on their
way, and before the sun had set were safe at home.
Yet when they came no one knew them, because of the great change
in their appearance and their fine attire, the like of which had
never been seen by man in those days. But having made themselves
known to their friends, all that were there of old and young gathered
together to gaze upon and hear what they had to say. And they were
amazed.
Then each of them, having opened his box, found therein an unguent,
rich and fragrant, and with this they rubbed their bodies completely.
And they were ever after so fragrant from the divine anointing that
all sought to be near them. Happy were they who could but sniff
at the blessed smell which came from them.
Now he who had been despised for his deformity and weakness and
meanness became beautiful and strong and stately as a pine-tree.
There was no man in all the land so graceful or of such good behavior.
And he who had desired abundance had it, in all fullness, his wish.
For the moose and caribou came to him in the forest, the fish leaped
into his nets, all men gave unto him, and he gave unto all freely,
to the end.
And he that had been wicked and of evil mind, hasty and cruel,
became meek and patient, good and gentle, and he made others like
himself. And he had his reward, for there was a blessing upon him
as upon all those who had wished wisely even unto the end of their
days.
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