with pity beaming in his eyes, and
addressed him as follows: "Regret not, my father, the change you
behold. I shall be happier in my present state than I could have been
as a man. I shall always be the friend of men, and keep near their
dwellings. I shall ever be happy and contented; and although I could
not gratify your wishes as a warrior, it will be my daily aim to make
you amends for it as a harbinger of peace and joy. I will cheer you by
my songs, and strive to inspire in others the joy and lightsomeness I
feel in my present state. This will be some compensation to you for the
loss of the glory you expected. I am now free from the cares and pains
of human life. My food is spontaneously furnished by the mountains and
fields, and my pathway of life is in the bright air." Then stretching
himself on his toes, as if delighted with the gift of wings, he
carolled one of his sweetest songs, and flew away into a neighboring
grove.[52]

[52] See Notes of the Pibbigwun.

SHINGEBISS.

AN ALLEGORY OF SELF-RELIANCE.

FROM THE ODJIBWA.

There was once a Shingebiss, the name of the fall duck living alone, in
a solitary lodge, on the shores of the deep bay of a lake, in the
coldest winter weather. The ice had formed on the water, and he had but
four logs of wood to keep his fire. Each of these would, however, burn
a month, and as there were but four cold winter months, they were
sufficient to carry him through till spring.

Shingebiss was hardy and fearless, and cared for no one. He would go
out during the coldest day, and seek for places where flags and rushes
grew through the ice, and plucking them up with his bill, would dive
through the openings, in quest of fish. In this way he found plenty of
food, while others were starving, and he went home daily to his lodge,
dragging strings of fish after him, on the ice.

Kabebonicca[53] observed him, and felt a little piqued at his
perseverance and good luck in defiance of the severest blasts of wind
he could send from the northwest. "Why! this is a wonderful man," said
he; "he does not mind the cold, and appears as happy and contented as
if it were the month of June. I will try whether he cannot be
mastered." He poured forth tenfold colder blasts, and drifts of snow,
so that it was next to impossible to live in the open air. Still, the
fire of Shingebiss did not go out: he wore but a single strip of
leather around his body, and he was seen, in the worst weather,