160 THE OSAGE TKIBE. [eth.ann.39 



171. And sat undisturbed, 



172. Until six moons had passed, 



173. Then, following this lapse of time, 



174. He made a close examination of his body, 



175. Looking carefully over all its parts. 



176. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



177. He thought: "Lo, my flesh has shrunken to nothing, in the 



time I have here sat." 



178. Verily, at that time and place, it has been said, in this house, 



179. He thought: "Verily, I am a person of whom the little ones 



should make their bodies, 



180. They should make of me an emblem of okl age," it has been 



said, in tliis house. 



181. They said, it has been said, in this house, 



182. Wliile he was yet in this contemplative mood, 



183. He thought: "The little ones shall make of me their bodies. 



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

 18.5. These my toes that are folded together, 



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



187. Wlien the little ones make of me their bodies, 



188. They shall live to see their toes folded together with age, as they 



travel the path of life. 



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



190. They shall be free from all causes of death, as they travel the 



path of life. 



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



192. They shall cause themselves to be difficult to overcome by 



death," it has been said, in this house. 



193. They said, it has been said, in this house, 



194. That he spake again, saying: "These words shall forever stand» 



195. Behold the wrinkles of my ankles, 



196. I have made them to be the sign of old age. 



197. When the little ones reach old age, 



198. They shall see their ankles wrinkled with age, as they travel the 



path of life, 



199. When the little ones make of me their bodies," it has been said, 



in this house. 



200. They said, it has been said, in this house, 



201. That he spake again, saying: "Behold the muscles of my thigh, 



loosened with age. 



202. Those loosened muscles also, 



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



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



