Page 96 - Yellow Feather Book 1

and approaching the lodge. He was clad in rich garments of green and yellow colors. On his head was a tuft of nodding green plumes, and all his motions were graceful and swaying.
“I am sent to you, O Wunzh,” said the sky stranger, “by that Great Spirit who made all things in sky and earth. He has seen your fasting, and knows how you wish to do good to your people, and that you do not seek for strength in war nor for the praise of warriors. I am sent to tell you how you may do good to your kindred. Arise and wrestle with me, for only by overcoming me may you learn the secret.”
Wunzh, though he was weak from fasting, felt courage grow in his heart. He arose and wrestled with the stranger. But soon he became weak and exhausted.
The stranger, seeing this, smiled gently on him and said, “My friend, this is enough for once. I will come again tomorrow.” And he vanished as suddenly as he had appeared.
The next day the stranger came, and Wunzh felt himself weaker than before. Nevertheless, he rose and wrestled bravely. Then the stranger spoke a second time. “My friend,” he said, “have courage! Tomorrow will be your last trial.”
And he disappeared from Wunzh’s sight.
On the third day the stranger came as before, and the struggle was renewed. And Wunzh, though fainter in body, grew strong in mind and will, and he determined to win or perish in the attempt. He exerted all his powers, and, lo! In a while, he prevailed and overcame the stranger.
“O Wunzh, my friend,” said the conquered one, “you have wrestled manfully. You have met your trial well. Tomorrow I shall come again and you must wrestle with me for the last time. You will prevail. Do you then strip off my garments, throw me down, clean the earth of roots and weeds, and bury me in that spot. When you have done so, leave my body in the ground. Come often to the place and see whether I have come to life, but be careful not to let weeds or grass grow on my grave. If you do all this well, you will soon discover how to benefit your fellow creatures.”
Having said this, the stranger disappeared.
In the morning Wunzh’s father came to him with food. “My son,” he said, “you have fasted long. It is seven days since you have tasted food, and you must not sacrifice your life. The Master of Life does not require that.”
“My father,” replied the boy, “wait until the sun goes down tomorrow. For a certain reason I wish to fast until that hour.”
How Indian Corn Came into the World 95 An Ojibwa Legend told to Henry R. Schoolcraft