nce. As an Indian believes that
every thing, even trees, and rivers, and mountains, have souls, or
spirits, and are all worthy to be adopted as his protecting _okkis_,
the warrior addressed the strange creature, and besought it to become
his intercessor with the Great Spirit, his _okki_ in peace and war.
What was his surprise when it made reply to him, in a tone very nearly
like the tone of a human being, and in a dialect of the Ottawas, as
follows!

"I cannot be thy guardian spirit, for I am about to throw off my
spiritual nature, and to become as thou art, a mortal, or rather I am
to assume my former nature and state. Though I wear a form which is
neither fish nor flesh, yet have I not always been thus. Once, many
years ago, I was a human being. Gazing one evening on the blue sky,
filled with shining lights, a passion came over my soul to behold them
nearer. I besought the Master of Life to suffer me to ascend to the
land of those bright things, and to visit the beautiful rainbows which
had been equally the objects of my fond contemplation. My prayer was
heard; I fell asleep, and, when I awoke, found myself where I wished
to be. I was among the stars, sailing with them as an eagle or a cloud
is wafted along on the winds which sweep the lower world. I beheld
them glorious as you behold them from the earth, bright, round, and
twinkling balls of every size, all endued with life, and all busily
engaged in dancing their intricate dances, to music which came from
unseen hands. My words cannot describe the splendour of the scene. Yet
shall I tell the Ottawa warrior that the scene and the dances soon
ceased to give pleasure. Who would wish to gaze for ever on the sun,
bright and dazzling though he be? What one of all the fair things of
the earth may be looked on for ever with delight? Its lakes, its
rivers, its mountains, its bold youths, and lovely maidens, and many
other things, are very fair, but each would tire were the eye to be
chained to that alone. I was soon tired of the splendour of the starry
world, and wished myself again upon the earth. I asked the Master of
all for permission to return. He said, 'Thou hast been disembodied,
thy flesh is decayed--thou art but a spirit, it may not be.' 'May I
not', said I, 're-animate some form from which the breath has just
departed? may I not enter the corse of some child, and live out the
remainder of the days of a favoured mortal?'

"The Great Spirit answered, 'It cannot be.