LAFLESCHE] EITE OF VIGIL FREE TRANSLATION. 141 



54. He wandered from place to place as the god of day ascended to 



the middle of heaven ; 



55. Still he wandered from place to place as the god of day descended 



to a point midway between the zenith and the western 

 horizon ; 



56. Then, in the evening of the day, 



57. He came to a low hill that resembled the breast of a turkey. 



58. Close to the hill the young brother stood and spake, saying: 



59. Even in this spot, within tliis hill itself, may be an abiding 



place of the god of mysteries. 



60. Upon this very hill I shall recline and sleep, 



61. Lo, I am weary in body and mind, 



62. I feel ready to depart for the spirit land. 



63. My elder brothers 



64. May never find my body in this lonely spot. 



65. After a pause he said : Toward the places where men 



66. Are wont to pass to and fro I must arise and go; 



67. He arose and wearily strode forth. 



68. In time he came to a little brook, 



69. Whose banks were covered here and there with groves of trees. 



70. Close to the brook he paused to rest. 



71. Near by stood a willow, a tree that never dies. 



72. To that tree he slowly moved and sat down, 



73. Then, clinging to the trunk of the tree, he tried to rise for a 



further effort. 



74. He spake as to a responsive being, sajang to the wllow: 



75. Ha ! my grandfather, 



76. It seems impossible for me to go on, O, grandfather. 



77. The tree replied, saying: O, little one! 



78. The little ones shall always cling to me for support, as they 



travel the path of life. 



79. Behold the base of my trunk which sends forth its supporting 



roots. 



80. I have made them to be the sign of old age, O, little one. 



81. When the little ones make of me their symbol of old age, 



82. They shall not fail to live to see old age, as they travel the path 



of life. 



83. Behold my bark that is roughened with age, 



84. That also, 



85. I have made to be the sign of old age. 



86. When the little ones make of me their symbol of old age, 



87. They shall not fail to live to see their faces roughened with, age, 



as they travel the path of life. 



