170 THE HAKO, A PAWNEE CEREMONY [eth. ann. 22 



II 



81-2 Ho-o-o-oo! An introductory exclamation. 



813 'Hare, 'hare, ilia're! See line 807. 



814 See line 813. 



81.5 Re whari 'hare, re 'hare, 

 re, they. 



whari, moving, walking, 

 'hare, part of iha're, young, 

 re 'hare. Translated above. 



816 Whari 'hare, re 'hai'e. See line 815. 



817 See line 815. 



Explanation, hy the Ku'rahns 



One day a man whose mind was open to the teaching of the powers 

 wandered on the prairie. As he walked, his eyes upon the ground, 

 he spied a bird's nest hidden in the grass, and arrested his feet just 

 in time to prevent stepping on it. He paused to look at the little 

 nest tucked away so snug and warm, and noted that it held six eggs 

 and that a peeping sound came from some of them. While he 

 watched, one moved and soon a tiny bill pushed through the shell, 

 uttei'ing a shrill cry. At once the parent birds answered and he looked 

 up to see where they were. Thej^ were not far off; they were flying 

 about in search of food, chirping the while to each other and now and 

 then calling to the little one in the nest. 



The homely scene stirred the heart and the thoughts of the man as 

 he stood there under the clear sky, glancing upward toward the old 

 birds and then down to the helpless young in the nest at his feet. As 

 he looked he thought of his people, who were so often careless and 

 thoughtless of their children's needs, and his mind brooded over 

 the matter. After many days he desired to see the nest again. So 

 he went to the place where he had found it, and there it was as safe 

 as when he left it. But a change had taken place. It was now full 

 to overflowing with little birds, who were stretching theii- wings, bal- 

 ancing on their little legs and nuiking ready to fly, Avhile the parents 

 with encouraging calls were coaxing the fledglings to venture forth. 



"Ah!" said the man, "if my people would only learn of the birds, 

 and, like them, care for their j'oung and provide for their future, 

 homes would be full and happy, and oui- tribe be strong and pros- 

 perous." 



\Vhen this man became a priest, he told the story of the bird's nest 

 and sang its song; and so it has come down to us from the days of our 

 fathers. 



