Legends That Every Child Should Know | Page 3

XI. PRESTER JOHN From "Curious Myths of the Middle Ages." By
Sabine Baring-Gould.
XII. THE WANDERING JEW From "Curious Myths of the Middle
Ages." By Sabine Baring-Gould.
XIII. KING ROBERT OF SICILY From "The Wayside Inn." By Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow.
XIV. THE LIFE OF THE BEATO TORELLO DA POPPI From "Il
Libro d'Oro of Those Whose Names are Written in the Lamb's Book of
Life." Translated from the Italian by Mrs. Francis Alexander.
Originally written in Latin by Messer Torrelo of Casentino, Canonico
of Fiesole, and put into Italian by Don Silvano.
XV. THE LORELEI From the German of Heinrich Heine.
XVI. THE PASSING OF ARTHUR From "Idylls of the King." By
Alfred Tennyson.
XVII. RIP VAN WINKLE Washington Irving.
XVIII. THE GRAY CHAMPION From "Twice Told Tales." By
Nathaniel Hawthorne.
XIX. THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW Washington Irving.

CHAPTER I
WIGWAM LEGEND OF HIAWATHA [Footnote: This story is
ascribed to Abraham le Fort, an Onondaga chief, a graduate of Geneva

College. The poem of Longfellow has given it general interest.
Hiawatha is an example of the intellectual capacity of one of that race
of whom it has been said "Take these Indians in their owne trimme and
naturall disposition, and they bee reported to bee wise, lofty spirited,
constant in friendship to one another: true in their promise, and more
industrious than many others."--Wood's, "New England's Prospect,"
London, 1634.]
On the banks of Tioto, or Cross Lake, resided an eminent man who
bore the name of Hiawatha, or the Wise Man.
This name was given him, as its meaning indicates, on account of his
great wisdom in council and power in war. Hiawatha was of high and
mysterious origin. He had a canoe which would move without paddles,
obedient to his will, and which he kept with great care and never used
except when he attended the general council of the tribes. It was from
Hiawatha the people learned to raise corn and beans; through his
instructions they were enabled to remove obstructions from the water
courses and clear their fishing grounds; and by him they were helped to
get the mastery over the great monsters which overran the country. The
people listened to him with ever increasing delight; and he gave them
wise laws and maxims from the Great Spirit, for he had been second to
him only in power previous to his taking up his dwelling with mankind.
Having selected the Onondagas for his tribe, years passed away in
prosperity; the Onondagas assumed an elevated rank for their wisdom
and learning, among the other tribes, and there was not one of these
which did not yield its assent to their superior privilege of lighting the
council-fire.
But in the midst of the high tide of their prosperity, suddenly there
arose a great alarm at the invasion of a ferocious band of warriors from
the North of the Great Lakes; and as these bands advanced, an
indiscriminate slaughter was made of men, women, and children.
Destruction fell upon all alike.
The public alarm was great; and Hiawatha advised them not to waste
their efforts in a desultory manner, but to call a council of all the tribes

that could be gathered together, from the East to the West; and, at the
same time, he appointed a meeting to take place on an eminence on the
banks of the Onondaga Lake. There, accordingly, the chief men
assembled, while the occasion brought together a vast multitude of men,
women, and children, who were in expectation of some marvellous
deliverance.
Three days elapsed, and Hiawatha did not appear. The multitude began
to fear that he was not coming, and messengers were despatched for
him to Tioto, who found him depressed with a presentiment that evil
would follow his attendance. These fears were overruled by the eager
persuasions of the messengers; and Hiawatha, taking his daughter with
him, put his wonderful canoe in its element and set out for the council.
The grand assemblage that was to avert the threatened danger appeared
quickly in sight, as he moved rapidly along in his magic canoe; and
when the people saw him, they sent up loud shouts of welcome until
the venerated man landed. A steep ascent led up the banks of the lake to
the place occupied by the council; and, as he walked up, a loud
whirring sound was heard above, as if caused by some rushing current
of air. Instantly, the eyes of all were directed upward to the sky, where
was seen a dark spot, something like a small cloud, descending rapidly,
and as it approached, enlarging in its size and increasing in velocity.
Terror and alarm filled the minds of the multitude and they scattered in
confusion. But as soon as he had gained the eminence, Hiawatha stood
still, causing