192 THE IRR GA 1IION A GE. 



to educate the Indian into agricultural habits as a means to his civili- 

 zation. Here is a tribe of Indians who have for centuries been en- 

 gaged in agriculture by irrigation, and who were, until recently the 

 only successful irrigators in Arizona. They are now deprived of their 

 water through the agency of the white man, directly encouraged by 

 the United States government. Is it not an imperative obligation of 

 honor upon the American people that their supply should be restored 

 to them? The only means lies through the construction by the gov- 

 ernment of a storage reservoir on the Gila. And instead of the un- 

 certain possibility, of elevating a savage or hostile tribe the necessity 

 presents itself of preventing the destruction of a civilization already 

 attained among a friendly and in times past, hospitable people. 



A WEB. 



BY ETHEL E. BEERS. 



Though strive I with the utmost care 

 To keep the pattern firm and fair, 

 The threads will break, the figures 



blend, 

 Before I reach the purposed end. 



But when, at length, at close of day, 

 The finished fabric I survey, 

 Shall I discern a larger plan 

 Than saw the weaker mind of man ? 



Or will there be but broken lines, 

 Confusion, half wrought out designs, 

 Dim hints of what a stronger hand 

 Had done, with more of stern com- 

 mand ? 



I cannot know, I only weave, 

 And hope, nor wholly disbelieve, 

 That plan there may be, plan there 

 must, 



Though hid by this gray smoke and 

 dust. 



