The Chemawa American, February 17, 1926, Page 4, Image 4

THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
PAGE 4
SELF HELP
AN INDIAN STORY
(Continued from page 1)
The following story was written as a test in English
by Josephine Albert, a junior:
There once lived an old Indian man by the name of
Wesheakashock who, at one time, sat near a lake
beating a drum. As he beat on the drum he sang a
song calling all the ducks to come to dance.
In a few minutes he had a whole flock of ducks
dancing around him while he sang this song, “Pasha-
qua Pishemook,” which means “Dance with your eyes
closed.” After they had danced for a few minutes he
began wringing their necks and singing at the same
time so that the ducks wouldn’t know what he was
doing. Finally one of the ducks “peeped” and said,
“Wesheakashock Malcheconon, ” which means, “He
is killing us all,” and the few ducks that were left
flew away.
Wesheakackock was well pleased with the large
number of ducks he got and he took them to a place
which was fixed with stones in a circle and in the
center he had wood piled up. He put all of the ducks
in there and started a fire. While the ducks were
cooking he fell asleep and along came many wolves
and they ate the ducks.
After the wolves had gone he awakened and, seeing
only the legs and wings, he became very angry, and
concluded that he would punish himself for going to
sleep. So he took some of the hot stones and placed
them in a row and then laid down upon them and
burned his back. He suffered a great deal, but
thought he had given himself a good lesson.
of indifference to his interests, a selfishness that meas­
ures every demand by personal interest. The people
who have done great things have been prodigious
workers. The principle of advancement, of growth,
of progress, is the same whether in employer or em­
ploye.
If you want to be something more than an average
worker you must do something more than average
work. If you expect to become an important figure
in any line of work or business, instead of just a com­
mon laborer, you must put your shoulder to the wheel
and push, and keep pushing, until you make the wheel
turn. It is astonishing how many people are trying
to get a living without hard work. We see people of
all ages and kinds looking for easy jobs, short hours,
and the least possible work for the greatest possible
salary. Why, do you know that we have had people
employed here who had just that way of looking at
things, who felt that they were mistreated when they
were required to earn their salaries and conform to the
rules of the school, and who finally were discharged
on account of their failing to measure up to the re­
quirements of the position?
The kind of people wanted are those who not only
can do things, but who accomplish things willingly.
Now, if you boys and girls will endeavor to put into
effect all that which I have suggested in this talk, it
will be worth thousands of dollars to each of you in
forming character and avail you valuable experience,
and if kept up throughout your school days—the forma­
tive period—persistently, and made a part of your very
self, it will render you a comparative success right
from the time you go out after completing you educa­
tion at school. It will enable you to command a rea­
sonable salary from the start—put you in line to hold
a responsible and paying position. It is said that
there is nothing impossible. You can put anthing
over if you go about it right and work hard enough.
A young man once wrote to a friend, asking for fi­
nancial help. He said: “I am in a hole and if you do
not help me out I am stuck.” His friend replied:
“Sorry I can’t help you, old fellow, but if you are in a
hole that you cannot get out of I am going to see the
hole. It must be a whopper and a wonder.” The
man got out himself, without help; so I say to you
tonight, I shall expect you young people to keep out
of holes that you cannot get out of yourselves, either
while at school preparing for the future or after you
are men and women standing on your own responsi­
bility.
____
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THE RABBITS TAIL
Ferol Porter, a Junior, wrote the following Indian
Legend as a test in English:
The Chippewa Indians say that years ago the rabbits
had long tails. The chief of the Chippewa tribe often
tells how the rabbit got his short tail. The Indians
in olden times did a lot hunting and trapping and once
an old man set a snare for a rabbit, and instead of
catching the rabbit’s head or foot in the snare, as he
intended to do, he caught him by the tail.
On visiting his snare he found only a tail, instead
of a rabbit, and for this reason, the Indians declare,
the rabbit has a short tail.
DOMESTIC ART NOTES
Interesting news, folks!
The tenth grade girls are completing their construc­
tion dresses this week.
The ninth grade girls will complete their children’s
clothing at the close of this week.
Wait until we get our new dresses completed up
here—you won’t know us.