PAGE 4
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
SOMETHING TO REFLECT UPON
ready to make a journey to where the snakes lived
(Continued from page 1)
and kill every one of them. It was afternoon when
he arrived at the place where these snakes were in
this stream for those to follow. He would “build a a big Indian tepee. As soon as the brave Indian ap
bridge for him.”
proached the tepee the chief of these snakes came
The workers in Indian Education have had exper out and asked the Indian what he wanted, looking
iences that follow closely along the lines of this poem. fiercely at the Indian. The Indian was not afraid
They are all constructing bridges at different points and said, “I’m here to talk over an important subject
along the highway of life. We are building a bridge. with your tribe.”
Our bridge is this splendid school, Chemawa. The
Then the chief of the snakes invited the Indian into
early workers here had the same vision and the same his tepee to talk the matter over. So he went in and
motive of service as had the old man of the poem. started to tell stories.
They saw the need and gave the best in themselves
This brave Indian could put anyone to sleep by tell
for the foundation of the present structure. Some of ing a certain story. He finished the first story, but
them have passed on, others are with us today, and the snakes were only interested and did not get sleepy.
to all of them we owe a debt that can never be repaid. So he continued to tell his second story, after which
Perhaps you are not all familiar with the efforts of some of the snakes were sound asleep. The brave In
Mr. D. E. Brewer and those associated with him who dian wTould not take any chance, so he continued with
came to this site when it was covered with timber and his stories. At this time the majority of the snakes
brush. They felled trees and built log houses in which were asleep. After he finished his third story he
to live. Do you know that the land on which the started his forth story, telling it so forcefully that
building stands in which you are seated at this mo every snake went to sleep. Then the Indian arose
ment was bought and deeded to the Government by and started cutting off the snakes’ heads. The last
the students of Chemawa? They picked hops and did snake woke up and the Indian grabbed the snake and
any other work they could find to do to raise the ground his head against a rock until it was almost
money to buy the land. Is it any wronder that they worn off, and then the snake begged him to quit.
love Chemawa? Why does it mean so much of life to Finally the brave Indian let loose and from that time
them? Because they put so much of life into it. We the snake became round faced and short headed.
may take out of life only as much as we put into it.
THE DARK DAY
We may get from our education only the correspond
ing benefit proportionate to the effort expended.
An English test written by Percy Woodcock, as
The Superintendent who is retiring upon the arrival follows:
This is a story about a tribe of Indians a great num
of Mr. James H. McGregor, has done much toward
the building of this bridge. I well remember the first ber of years ago who were fishing on the Columbia
Christmas I spent at Chemawa, six years ago. I re river. While on this trip there came an eclipse,
member what a joyful time it was for all the students. but known among the Indians as “The Dark Day.”
It seemed to me that no effort was spared to make the
This tribe had their wigwams pitched on the north
season one to be remembered. Each succeeding year side of the Columbia river. They were having a good
has brought an even fuller measure of joy and it has time on this trip and also storing a large quantity of
been through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Hall that this dried fish for winter.
has been possible. They have never failed to keep in
The chief’s daughter, a very beautiful girl, was in
mind the spirit of this poem: “I am building this love with a cripple. This was against the ideas of all
bridge for him.”
the other tribes. They said, “She is made for a
brave warrior, not a cripple. ’ ’ One of the tribe proph
HOW SNAKES BECAME SHOBT-HEADED
esied something would happen on account of the chief’s
Following is an Indian story written as an English daughter being in love with a cripple. Even the
test by William Wall:
chief could not change the mind of his daughter.
Once upon a time many snakes lived together in
There came a “dark day”—the sun did not shine.
one place. At this time their heads were four or five Something had made the sun god angry. The people
inches long and very fearful. They killed many peo said, “He is so mad he will not show his face.” So
ple and animals. Finally an Indian who was very a council was held to decide the guilty parties. They
brave decided to find some way to get rid of those decided it was the lovers—the chief’s daughter and
the cripple.
fearful snakes or do something to keep them from
Their fate was very sad. They were bound and
killing people.
placed in a canoe and left to the mercy of the strong
One bright spring morning this brave Indian was tides that would carry them to the broad Pacific.