the old woman (Wa-wa-be-zo-win legend)

Role: orphan boy's caregiver · First appears: Wa-wa-be-zo-win; or, the Swing on the Pictured Rocks

In Wa-wa-be-zo-win; or, the Swing on the Pictured Rocks, the old woman was bringing up the orphan boy (Wa-wa-be-zo-win legend) as her foster-child. One day, she cut the swing cords and dropped her daughter-in-law into the lake; in the dusk, she put on her daughter’s clothing and impersonated her at home.

When her son returned to the lodge with his wife and child, the old woman looked up in despair, then leaped out and was never heard of again.

Relationship record

Life events

• The old woman cut the swing cords and dropped the daughter-in-law into the lake.(Wa-wa-be-zo-win; or, the Swing on the Pictured Rocks · 📍 lake)
  • With: the daughter-in-law (Wa-wa-be-zo-win legend)
  • “When the swing had got in full motion and well a-going, so that it went clear beyond the precipice at every sweep, the old woman slyly cut the cords and let her daughter drop into the lake.”
• The old woman disguised herself in her daughter's clothing and impersonated her at home.(Wa-wa-be-zo-win; or, the Swing on the Pictured Rocks)
  • With: the daughter-in-law (Wa-wa-be-zo-win legend)
  • “She then put on her daughter's clothing, and thus disguised went home in the dusk of the evening and counterfeited her appearance and duties.”
• When her son brought his wife and child home from the lake, the old woman looked up in despair, then leaped up, flew out of the lodge, and was never heard of again.(Wa-wa-be-zo-win; or, the Swing on the Pictured Rocks · 📍 the lodge)
  • With: the son-in-law (Wa-wa-be-zo-win legend) the daughter-in-law (Wa-wa-be-zo-win legend)
  • “When they entered the lodge, the old woman looked up, but it was a look of despair; she instantly dropped her head. A rustling was heard in the lodge, and the next moment she leaped up and flew out of the lodge, and was never heard of more.”

Wa-wa-be-zo-win; or, the Swing on the Pictured Rocks

• foster-child: the orphan boy (Wa-wa-be-zo-win legend) “and a little orphan boy, whom she was bringing up.”
• enemies with the daughter-in-law (Wa-wa-be-zo-win legend) “When the swing had got in full motion and well a-going, so that it went clear beyond the precipice at every sweep, the old woman slyly cut the cords and let her daughter drop into the lake.”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of The Myth of Hiawatha, and Other Oral Legends. Made with Rho MD.