green plumes coming through the ground; and the
more careful he was to obey his instructions in keeping the ground in
order, the faster they grew. He was, however, careful to conceal the
exploit from his father. Days and weeks had passed in this way. The
summer was now drawing towards a close, when one day, after a long
absence in hunting, Wunzh invited his father to follow him to the quiet
and lonesome spot of his former fast. The lodge had been removed, and
the weeds kept from growing on the circle where it stood, but in its
place stood a tall and graceful plant, with bright-colored silken hair,
surmounted with nodding plumes and stately leaves, and golden clusters
on each side. "It is my friend," shouted the lad; "it is the friend of
all mankind. It is _Mondawmin_.[50] We need no longer rely on hunting
alone; for, as long as this gift is cherished and taken care of, the
ground itself will give us a living." He then pulled an ear. "See, my
father," said he, "this is what I fasted for. The great Spirit has
listened to my voice, and sent us something new,[51] and henceforth our
people will not alone depend upon the chase or upon the waters."

He then communicated to his father the instructions given him by the
stranger. He told him that the broad husks must be torn away, as he had
pulled off the garments in his wrestling; and having done this,
directed him how the ear must be held before the fire till the outer
skin became brown, while all the milk was retained in the grain. The
whole family then united in a feast on the newly-grown ears, expressing
gratitude to the Merciful Spirit who gave it. So corn came into the
world.

[50] The Algic name for corn. The word is manifestly a trinary
compound from _monedo_, spirit; _min_, a grain or berry; and
_iaw_, the verb substantive.

[51] The Zea mays, it will be recollected, is indigenous to
America, and was unknown in Europe before 1495.

NEZHIK-E-WA-WA-SUN,

OR

THE LONE LIGHTNING.

ODJIBWA.

A little orphan boy who had no one to care for him, was once living
with his uncle, who treated him very badly, making him do hard things
and giving him very little to eat; so that the boy pined away, he never
grew much, and became, through hard usage, very thin and light. At last
the uncle felt ashamed of this treatment, and determined to make amends
for it, by fattening him up, but his real object was, to kill him by
over-feeding. He tol