282 THE OSAGE TRIBE [btb. ann. 36 



124. When the little ones make of me their bodies, 



125. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age as they travel 



the path of life, 



126. They shall live to see their hair grown scant and yellowish with 



age as they travel the ])ath of life. 



127. Behold the wrinkles upon my skin, 



128. Which I have made to be the means of reaching old age. 



129. The Uttle ones shall make of me the means of reaching old age 



as they travel the path of life. 



130. Behold the base of my trunk from which spread my roots, 



131. It is that part of me that is called the ankle. 



132. The little ones shall live to see in their ankles the sign of old age, 



133. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age as they travel 



the path of life. 



134. O, my grandchildren, 



135. I am not the only being. 



136. The brothers passed on, verily to the shallows of a river where 



the waters rush on noisily. 



137. Close to the shallows they stood, 



138. Then one spake, saying: Behold a Wa-zha'-zhe stands before us, 



139. Verily, a person who has made of the waters his body. 



140. Then the Wa-zha'-zhe spake, saying: O, my grandchildren, 



141. You say the little ones have nothing of which to make their 



bodies. 



142. When the little ones make of me their bodies 



143. They shall cause themselves to be difficult to overcome by death 



as they travel the path of life. 



144. When the little ones make of me their bodies 



145. They shall enable themselves to live to see old age as they travel 



the path of Ufe. 



146. They shall enable themselves to reach and enter the days that 



are beautiful and peaceful as they travel the path of life. 



147. I am not the only being. 



148. The elder brothers spake, saying: Make haste, O, younger 



brothers. 



149. Then, even as these words were spoken, the younger brothers 



hastened forth, 



150. To the sedge (Carex), the grass that never dies, who spake, 



151. Saying: O, my grandchildren, I am a god that is difficult to 



overcome by death. 



152. When the little ones make of me their bodies 



153. They shall make themselves to be difficult to overcome by death 



as they travel the path of life. 



154. I am not the only being. 



