AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
185 
unins (New Series Numbers 27 to 30,) one 
of the most complete articles on cranberries 
yet published in this country. His questions 
are there answered in full we believe. 
WANT OF EMPLOYMENT-GREAT DISTRESS IN 
CITIES. 
So many laborers and mechanics are now 
out of employment in our cities and towns, 
that great distress already exists among 
them; and this is constantly inceasing by 
the daily suspension of various enterprizes 
which were undertaken in more prosperous 
times. To aggrevate their sufferings, a long 
winter is before them; provisions, fuel and 
house-rent are exorbitantly high ; and pecu¬ 
niary difficulties have overtaken thousands 
of our most enterprizing and active business 
men, rendering it impossible to get up any 
new employment with a view of assisting 
them. In fact so far from commencing new 
operations, the great majority are obliged to 
curtail the old ; and too many, we regret to 
add, have closed their work-shops entirely, 
for an indefinite time. We fear there will 
be almost as much suffering among laborers 
and mechanics the present winter, as there 
was in that of 1836, ’37 and ’38. 
Many a worthy laborer and mechanic we 
fear will have to draw upon his precious lit¬ 
tle savings to carry him through the coming 
winter, while others not so provident or for¬ 
tunate, must depend on charity for a precari¬ 
ous existence. Who will volunteer now to 
assist their brethern in distress by giving 
them useful employment 1 We look to the 
agricultural class with more hope than any 
other. They have gained largely by the high 
price of provisions and the enterprize of 
mechanics and others. Let them now cast 
about to see what they can do in the way of 
improving their lands, their buildings, their 
implements, &c.,this winter, to give em¬ 
ployment to those who would willingly work 
if they could find anything to do. We are 
certain they will not soon find hands so plen¬ 
ty, nor wages so easily paid for in the produce 
of their land as now. 
We shall be highly gratified to receive 
suggestions and communications from far¬ 
mers on this subject for publication, and let 
these be as practical and immediate in their 
operations as possible. We do not care 
about their going into the origin of these 
troubles, as they are unhappily too apparent 
to us all. Extravagant importations and liv¬ 
ing—too many railroad enterprizes—specu¬ 
lations inland and buildings—together with 
a partial failure this year in the corn and 
cotton crops &c. &c. 
Wheat from California. —A recent Cali¬ 
fornia correspondent states, that an effort 
was being made among the large wheat, 
growers, to charter a clipper ship, and load 
her with 50,000 bushels of wheat and barley 
for New-York. It was thought that after 
paying freight and charges of about one cent 
per pound, there would be a small margin 
still left for profit. 
Some descendant of Solomon has wisely 
remarked that those who go to law for dam¬ 
ages are sure to get them. 
INDIAN LEGEND-THE ORIGIN OF CORN. 
BY MINNIE MYRTLE. 
In looking over various books concerning 
Indian literature, I have found two or three 
legends connected with the origin of corn 
and other vegetables, which will not be like¬ 
ly to fall under the eye of general readers 
without my assistance, and ivhich I have 
thought worth transcribing. They sound 
very much like the fairy tales, to which we 
have all loved to listen in childhood, and are 
wor.hy a place among the fables of any 
people. 
MANDAMIN; 
OR 
THE ORIGIN OF INDIAN CORN. 
A poor Indian was living with his wife and 
children in a beautiful part of the country. 
His children were too young to give him any 
assistance in hunting, and he had but ill luck 
himself. But he was thankful for all he re¬ 
ceived from the forest; and although he was 
very poor, he was very contented. 
The eldest son inherited the same dispo¬ 
sition, and had been ever obedient to his 
parents. He had now reached the age at 
which it is proper to make the initial fast, 
which the Indian lads all do at about four¬ 
teen or fifteen. As soon as the spring ar¬ 
rived, his mother built him a little fasting 
lodge, in a retired spot, where he would not 
be disturbed ; and, when it was finished, he 
went in and began his fast. 
He amused himself a few mornings by 
rambling about in the vicinity, looking at the 
shrubs and wild flowers—for he had a taste 
for such things—and brought great branches 
of them along in his hands, which led him 
often to think on the goodness of the Great 
Spirit, in providing all kinds of fruit and 
herbs for the use of man. This idea quite 
took possession of his mind, and he earnest¬ 
ly prayed that he might dream of something 
to benefit his people, for he had too often 
seen them suffering for want of food. 
On the third day he became too weak and 
faint to walk about, and kept his bed. He 
fancied, while thus lying in a dreamy state, 
that he saw a handsome young man, dressed 
in green robes, with green,^waving plumes 
on his head, advancing toward him. 
The visitor said : “lam sent to you by 
the Great Spirit who made all things. He 
has observed you. He sees that you wish 
to procure a benefit to your people. Listen 
to my words, and follow my instructions.” 
He then told the young man to rise and 
wrestle with him. Weak as he was he tot¬ 
tered to his feet and began, but after a long 
while the handsome stranger said : “ It is 
enough for once. I will come again.” He 
then vanished. 
On the next day the celestial visitor re¬ 
appeared, and renewed the trial. The young 
man knew that his physical strength was 
even less than the day before, but as his 
strength declined he felt that his mind be¬ 
came stronger and clearer. Perceiving this, 
the stranger in plumes again spoke to him. 
“ To-morrow,” he said, “ will be your last 
trial. Be strong and courageous ; it is the 
only way in which you can obtain the boon 
| you seek.” He then departed. 
On the third day, as the young faster lay 
on his pallet, weak and exhausted, the pleas¬ 
ing visitor returned, and as he resumed the 
contest he looked more beautiful than ever. 
The young man grasped him, and seemed to 
feel nbw strength imparted to his body, while 
that of his antagonist grew weaker. 
At length the stranger cried out: “ It is 
enough; I am beaten. You will win your 
desire from the Great Spirit. To-morrow 
will be the seventh day of your fast, and the 
last of your trials. Your father will bring 
you food, which will recruit you. I will then 
visit you for the last time, and I see that 
you will prevail. As soon as you have 
thrown me down, strip off my garments and 
my weaving plumes, and bury me on this spot. 
Come often to the place, and keep the earth 
clean and soft. I shall soon reappear, with 
all the wrappings of my garments and my 
waving plumes. Once a month cover my 
roots with fresh earth. By following these 
directions your triumph will be complete.” 
He then disappeared. 
The next morning the youth’s father came 
with food, but he asked him to set it by, for 
a particular reason, till the sun went down. 
Meanwhile the sky-visitor came for his final 
trial, and though the young man had not par¬ 
taken of his father’s food, he engaged in the 
combat with his visitor with a feeling of su¬ 
pernatural strength. 
He threw him down, and then stripped off 
his garments and plumes. He buried his 
body in the earth, carefully preparing the 
ground, and removing every weed ; and then 
returned to his father’s lodge. He kept eve¬ 
ry thing to himself, revealing nothing to de¬ 
note his visions or trials. He partook spar¬ 
ingly of food, and soon recovered his perfect 
strength. But he never for a moment for¬ 
got the burial-place of his friend. He care¬ 
fully visited it, and would not let even a wild- 
flower grow there. 
Soon he saw the tops of the green plumes 
coming out of the ground ; at first in spiral 
points; then expanding into broad leaves, 
and rising in green stalks, and finally assum¬ 
ing their silken fringes and yellow tassels. 
The spring and summer had now passed, 
when one day towards evening he asked his 
father to visit the spot where he had fasted. 
The old man stood in amazement! The 
lodge was gone, and in its place stood a tall, 
graceful and majestic plant, waving its taper 
leaves and displaying its bright-colored 
plumes and tassel. But what most attracted 
his admiration was its golden ears. “ It is 
the friend of my dreams and visions,” said 
the youth. 
“ It is Mandamin ; it is the Spirit’s grain,” 
said the father. 
And this is the origin of Indian Corn ! 
THE THREE SISTERS. 
The Spirit of Corn, the Spirit of Beans, 
and the Spirit of Squashes, were regarded 
by the Indian as the special gift of the Great 
Spirit ; and that each was entrusted, for the 
benefit of the Indian, to a separate Spirit. 
They give them the forms of beautiful fe¬ 
males, and represent them as loving each 
other and delighting to dwell together. This 
flection is manifested by the clinging of the 
