"THE FIRE BRIBERS"
Ey George *T. Masury
• ’’VJa-see-fct-tu-et-tee?" queried an old voice from the other side of the
alder bxmsh' tha& screened my camp from the governnent road near luckwa^.
Looking up from my seat on a log by the camp fire-1 saw an old Oh ilk at In
dian friend of nine whom I had nicknamed nJimnie", approaching, moving over
1 motioned him to' a seat along si ie me and invited him to'the warmth of the
fire. ‘Ihanking me with a nod of his head, he seated himself slowly,being
burdened with the weight of years, strethhed his * thin old hands toward the
; ‘ welcoming warmth of the1 fire, for it ms |anuary and the -air was keenly cold,
and lapsed into silence, with his eyes tinseeingly fixed on the dancing flames.
' "Jimmie, before the white man came, where did the Indians get their^
matches to build their fires and do their cooking?" I asked, for "Jimmie
had knowledge both deep and true of the lore of the ancient Cnilkats and was
my instructor in their elder ways and customs.
Slowly bringing his mind back from those far thoughts that only the
aged seem to have, he glanced toward me, snuggled closer to the fire, and
told me the following tale:
"A long time ago, when thi3 country was new, there lived a greax. cniei
of the Chilkats named. Yeshl* who owned the skin of a kutzghatusftl* This
kutzghatushl was a bird so large and strong that it could fly so high in the
air that it could reach Heaven, but ^eshl slew it and carefully removed,the
skin and by putting bn this skin was able to fly himself* One day Y'eehl
heard that far out to sea was an island that had fire on it and desiring
this fire for his tribe, he put on his bird skin, took lea,7e of his people
and flew for days out over Hie sea until he saw the island with the fire*
kicking up a brand which was burning fiercely, he flew back with it* The
distance was so far that by the time he arrived near home the brand had been
reduced to a small coal* This he dropped on land, where it broke, scatter
ing sparks over the rocks and woods, where it was absorbed*
’'From that time on Hie Chilkats were able to obtain fire by striking
the rocks together or by rubbing the wood. These, my friend, were our fiust
matches, thanksto Yeshl, the Fire Bringer*"
"But, Jimmie," I questioned, "In what did they do their cooking?"
"Tn those old day3," continued Jimmy, £LA he stirre^^he fire with his
foot, "The Chilkats wove water tight baskets from roots* which they placed
hot rocks until the water boiled* The whiteman* s kettles have now taken the
" place of those Indian baskets, astheir customs have ours."
Again we lapsed into silence, each to his own thoughts, while the flames
from the fire continued to throw out sparks as they had since the time of
Yeshl, the Fire Bringer*
CHURCH NOTICE:
The Sunday School, assisted by the Choir, has prepared its Easter pro
gram to be given Sunday evening at the hour of regular evening service, 7:00
p„m. Everyone will want to hear the children. ‘They are at their best in
j&aster dongs Chat express triumph. The songs and readings contain a note of
victory that awakens hope and that strengthens even a strong man’s faith.
Everyone is cordially invited. The regular Sunday School will be held as
usual .at one 6 clock, and the above mentioned program will be given at 7:30.
E.E.Bromley, Minister.
REMEMBER THE BENEFIT DANCE FOR THE SIUG UY SCHOOLS NEXT SAIURDAY-TOIiORROW