He  carefully  weeded  the  ground  around  them,
and  kept  it  fresh  and. soft,  and  in  due  time  his
eyes  were  charmed  at  beholding  a  full-grown
plant  bending  with  fruit  that  soon  became  gold-
en just  as  the  frost  touched  it.  It  gracefully
waved  its  long  leaves  and  its  yellow  tassels  in
the  autumn  wind.  The  young  man  called  his
parents  to  behold  the  new  plant.  "  It  is  Men-
du-vdn,"  said  his  father;  "it  is  the  gniiu  of  the
Great  Spirit."  They  invited  their  friends  to  a
feast  on  the  excellent  grain,  and  there  were
great  rejoicings.  Such  is  the  legend  of  the  or-
igin of  Indian  com,  or  maize.
