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diff --git a/43251-0.txt b/43251-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8d2432 --- /dev/null +++ b/43251-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2081 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43251 *** + +[Transcriber's Note: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and italic +text is surrounded by _underscores_.] + + + +YELLOW THUNDER + +Our Little Indian Cousin + + + + +THE + +Little Cousin Series + +(TRADE MARK) + + + Each volume illustrated with six or more full-page plates in + tint. Cloth, 12mo, with decorative cover, + per volume, 60 cents + + + + LIST OF TITLES + BY MARY HAZELTON WADE + (unless otherwise indicated) + + =Our Little African Cousin= + + =Our Little Alaskan Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Arabian Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Armenian Cousin= + + =Our Little Australian Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Brazilian Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Brown Cousin= + + =Our Little Canadian Cousin= + By Elizabeth R. MacDonald + + =Our Little Chinese Cousin= + By Isaac Taylor Headland + + =Our Little Cuban Cousin= + + =Our Little Dutch Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Egyptian Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little English Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Eskimo Cousin= + + =Our Little French Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little German Cousin= + + =Our Little Greek Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Hawaiian Cousin= + + =Our Little Hindu Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Hungarian Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Indian Cousin= + + =Our Little Irish Cousin= + + =Our Little Italian Cousin= + + =Our Little Japanese Cousin= + + =Our Little Jewish Cousin= + + =Our Little Korean Cousin= + By H. Lee M. Pike + + =Our Little Mexican Cousin= + By Edward C. Butler + + =Our Little Norwegian Cousin= + + =Our Little Panama Cousin= + By H. Lee M. Pike + + =Our Little Persian Cousin= + By E. C. Shedd + + =Our Little Philippine Cousin= + + =Our Little Porto Rican Cousin= + + =Our Little Russian Cousin= + + =Our Little Scotch Cousin= + By Blanche McManus + + =Our Little Siamese Cousin= + + =Our Little Spanish Cousin= + By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet + + =Our Little Swedish Cousin= + By Claire M. Coburn + + =Our Little Swiss Cousin= + + =Our Little Turkish Cousin= + + + L. C. PAGE & COMPANY + New England Building, Boston, Mass. + +[Illustration: YELLOW THUNDER.] + + + + +YELLOW THUNDER Our Little Indian Cousin + +By Mary Hazelton Wade + +_Illustrated by_ L. J. Bridgman + +[Illustration] + + Boston + L. C. Page & Company + _PUBLISHERS_ + + + + + _Copyright, 1901_ + BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY + (INCORPORATED) + + _All rights reserved_ + + + Twelfth Impression, March, 1909 + Thirteenth Impression, June, 1910 + + + + +Preface + + +ONCE upon a time, as you doubtless know, there were no white people in +the Western world. In those days our Indian cousins were free to wander +wherever they wished, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. + +Some of them had their homes on the great plains, where herds of wild +buffaloes supplied them with food and clothing. Others dwelt by the +shores of lakes and rivers. Whenever they wished a change, they moved +their camps from one spot to another. They had little to fear except the +attacks of unfriendly tribes of their own race. + +When the white men, with their greater skill and knowledge, came to +America, many troubles began for our red cousins. These troubles were +such as they had never known before. They were driven away from the +homes that were so dear to them. Great numbers were killed. Strong +drink, given to them by the white strangers, was the ruin of thousands. +Still others died from sickness and want. + +The people whom we have called Indians ever since Columbus gave them +that name now think with sadness of the old free and happy days before +the white traders gave them beads and blankets in exchange for large +tracts of land. + +There were then no roads, no cities, no stores or factories in all this +vast continent, and yet our red cousins were freer and happier than they +can ever hope to be again. + +MALDEN, MASS., _May, 1904_. + + + + +List of Illustrations + + + PAGE + YELLOW THUNDER _Frontispiece_ + "SHE SWINGS ON THE BRANCH OF A TREE" 15 + "HE WILL GIVE HIS SON WISE WORDS OF COUNSEL" 29 + "HE SHOOTS DOWN THE RIVER" 49 + "HIS WIFE IS STANDING IN THE DOOR OF THE WIGWAM" 57 + "THEY . . . DANCED IN EVERY HUT IN THE VILLAGE" 75 + + + + +YELLOW THUNDER + +Our Little Indian Cousin + + +THEY call him Yellow Thunder. Do not be afraid of your little cousin +because he bears such a terrible name. It is not his fault, I assure +you. His grandmother had a dream the night he was born. She believed the +Great Spirit, as the Indians call our Heavenly Father, sent this to her. +In the dream she saw the heavens in a great storm. Lightning flashed and +she constantly heard the roar of thunder. When she awoke in the morning +she said, "My first grandson must be called 'Yellow Thunder.'" And +Yellow Thunder became his name. + +But his loving mamma does not generally call him this. When he is a good +boy and she is pleased with him, she says, "My bird." If he is naughty, +for once in a great while this happens, she calls him "bad boy." + +For some reason I don't understand myself, she rarely speaks his real +name. Perhaps it is sacred to her, since she believes it was directed by +the Great Spirit. + +Yellow Thunder lives in the forests of your own land, North America. His +skin is a dull, smoky red, his eyes are black and very bright, his hair +is black and coarse. His body is straight and well formed. He can run +through the woods as quickly and softly as a deer. He lives in a bark +house made by his mother. His father is strong and well, yet he did not +help in building it. He thinks such work is not for men. It is fit only +for women. + +When I tell you how it is made, you will not think it is very hard work. +Yellow Thunder's patient mamma chose the place for her home, and then +gathered some long poles in the forest. She set these poles in a circle +in the ground, bent them over at the top, and tied them. She left a +small hole at the top. The framework of the house was now complete. What +should she have for a covering? She went out once more into the woods +and got some long sheets of white birch bark. At the end of each sheet +she fastened a rim of cedar wood. The sheets of bark were hung on the +framework, with the rim at the bottom of each one, and the house was +finished. The rim would be useful in keeping the bark from being lifted +by the winds. But, if there should be a severe storm, the Indian woman +would lay stones on the rims to keep the bark down more firmly still. + +This is Yellow Thunder's simple home, summer and winter. You would +probably freeze there in the cold days of December, but the Indian boy +was brought up to endure a great deal of cold. + +Let us look inside. We must first lift the deerskin which hangs in the +doorway. Does the family sit on the cold, bare ground, do you think? Oh, +no; Yellow Thunder has helped his mamma make good thick rugs out of the +bullrushes and flags which they gather every autumn. These rugs are very +pretty, for they are woven and dyed with the bright colours the Indian +women know how to make. There are many of these mats, because they are +used for many purposes. Yellow Thunder sleeps on one of them at night. +In the day-time he sits on a mat whenever he is in the house. But he is +such a strong lad, he is out-of-doors nearly all the time, both in +sunshine and in storm. + +In the middle of the house you will notice there is a bare spot covered +with clean sand. This is the place where the fire is made. It is +carefully swept when there is no fire. If you look directly over the +fireplace, you can see the sky. On rainy days, unless the mother is +cooking, she keeps the hole covered with a piece of deerskin, that the +inside of the house may be dry. + +But how does she prepare the food for breakfast, for that is the +principal meal of the day to the Indian? A strong hook is fastened in +the framework of the house, above the fireplace. The Indian mother hangs +a pot on the hook, puts in the meat or fish, and it boils quickly over +the burning twigs which her little boy has gathered. + +Let us look around the wigwam. Of course, you have long ago heard that +name for the Indian's house. What beautiful baskets of rushes those are! +I wonder how the red men discovered the way of making such beautiful +colours. Besides many other things, the jewelry and clothing of the +whole family are kept in these baskets. Look up at the sides of the hut +and notice the bows and arrows. And, yes! there is a real tomahawk, +with its sharp edge sticking in that corner. Ears of corn braided +together are hanging from the framework. + +[Illustration: "SHE SWINGS ON THE BRANCH OF A TREE."] + +But the prettiest thing we see is the baby's cradle, fastened to a peg. +Two bright black eyes are looking out of it, and that is all we can see +of Yellow Thunder's baby sister, "Woman of the Mountain." It took the +loving mother a long time to make that cradle. She was very happy while +doing it, for she loves her baby tenderly. + +It is hardly right to call it a cradle. Baby-frame is a better name. It +was made in three pieces, out of the wood of the maple-tree,--a straight +board about two feet long for the bottom, a carved foot-board, and a bow +which is fastened to the sides and arches over the baby's head. These +are all bound together with the sinews of a deer. It is lined with moss, +and then Woman of the Mountain is fastened in her queer little bed +with straps, which her mamma has made beautiful with bead work. Moss is +placed between her feet, her hands are bound at her side, her feet are +bound down also, and a beaded coverlet is placed over her tiny body. She +looks like a little mummy. + +If it is stormy she is hung up on a peg in the hut to swing, but if it +is a pleasant day, she swings on the branch of a tree and watches the +leaves flutter and the birds sing. She is a happy little baby, although +you would hardly think it possible. She got used to her imprisonment +almost as soon as she was born. She doubtless thinks it is all right. + +When mamma goes out into the forest to gather wood, or into the corn +field to work, Woman of the Mountain goes too. The baby-frame is +fastened on her mother's back by a pretty beaded strap bound over the +woman's forehead. + +When the Indian baby was only two days old, she was fastened into her +cradle and carried all day on mamma's back while she was weeding the +garden. To be sure, the woman stopped two or three times to feed her +baby, but the little thing was not once taken out of her frame. + +Perhaps you would like to hear a lullaby the Indian mamma often sings to +her little one as she swings in her frame. I fear you could not +understand the Indian words, so I will give them as Mrs. Elizabeth Oakes +Smith wrote them in English: + + Swinging, swinging, lul la by, + Sleep, little daughter, sleep, + 'Tis your mother watching by, + Swinging, swinging, she will keep, + Little daughter, lul la by. + + 'Tis your mother loves you, dearest, + Sleep, sleep, daughter, sleep, + Swinging, swinging, ever nearest, + Baby, baby, do not weep; + Little daughter, lul la by. + + Swinging, swinging, lul la by, + Sleep, sleep, little one, + And thy mother will be nigh-- + Swing, swing, not alone-- + Little daughter, lul la by. + +You can understand from this how dearly the Indian mother loves her +baby,--just as dearly, I do not doubt, as your own mamma has always +loved and cared for you. + +But what is Yellow Thunder's stern-looking father doing all the time? He +has no store to keep, no mill to grind, no factory to work in. There are +only three things which deserve his attention. At least that is what he +thinks. He hunts or fishes, goes to war, and holds councils with the men +of his tribe. Everything else he believes is woman's work, and from the +Indian's standpoint, woman is much beneath a man. + +After all, the men's work is really the hardest. Sometimes it is easy +for them to find plenty of food. Then Yellow Thunder's father comes home +rejoicing with the big load he carries. Perhaps he has a red deer +hanging over his shoulder; perhaps it is a bear which he has chased many +miles before he could get near enough to kill it; or it may be some +raccoons for a delicious stew. + +But, again, it may be stormy weather. The rivers are frozen over and +snow covers the ground. Then, perhaps, the hunter has little success +with his bow and arrow, and searches long and far before he can find +anything to satisfy his children's hunger. He feels sad, but not for a +moment does he think of complaining or giving up. It is his duty to +obtain food for his family. It does not matter how cold he gets or how +wet he may be. He keeps travelling onward. He will not give up. If he +does not at last get enough for all, he will insist on his wife and +children satisfying their hunger first. He would scorn to show that he +himself is tired, or hungry, or suffering in any way. + +We can understand now why the Indian baby is pinned down in its cradle +and not allowed to move freely. It is its first lesson in endurance. It +must learn to be uncomfortable and not to show that it is so. It must +learn to bear pain, and neither cry nor pucker its mouth. It must learn +to appear calm, no matter how it feels. + +The hunt is pleasant sometimes, you see, but at others it is work of the +hardest kind. + +The second duty of the red boy's father is war. He must protect his home +from human and wild beast enemies. But I'm really afraid that it is a +pleasure for him to fight. If Indians had not been at war so much among +themselves, it would have been far harder for the white people to +conquer them. I suppose you children have all heard the story of the +bundle of sticks, but I will repeat it. + +A certain man was about to die. He gathered his sons around him to give +them good advice. He showed them some sticks fastened tightly together. +Then he asked each one to try to break the bundle. No one could do it. +When he saw that they failed, he separated the sticks, and showed them +how easy it was to break each one by itself. + +"Take a lesson from this," said the man. "If you are united and work +together, you will succeed in anything you undertake, for no one can +break your strength. If, however, you quarrel among yourselves and try +to work each for himself, you will be like the separate twigs,--easily +broken." + +It has been like this with the Indians. They have fought against each +other, tribe with tribe. They are very brave and have great courage. But +they have not understood that they should work together. So the white +man came and was able to conquer them. + +Besides hunting and going to war, Yellow Thunder's papa is often busy in +the council. All matters of business are settled here. New chiefs are +chosen at the council; wrong-doers are punished according to what it +decides, and treaties with other tribes or the white men are talked over +and agreed upon. Sometimes a council will last many days. It is always +opened with a prayer to the Great Spirit, thanking him for his good +gifts to the people. Each evening, after the business of the council is +over, games are played by old and young. It is a time for feasting and +pleasure. No business with other people is really settled by a council +without gifts of wampum to bind the bargain. Of course you have heard +about wampum. Perhaps you have been told it is the Indian's money. There +are two kinds of wampum. One is purple and the other white. The white +wampum is shaped into beads out of the inside of large conch shells, +while the purple is made from the inside of the mussel shell. These +beads are strung on deer's sinews and woven into belts. A belt of white +wampum is a seal of friendship between two tribes. It is the same as a +sacred promise which must not be broken. It is the most precious of all +things an Indian owns. + +Yellow Thunder's papa is very fond of tobacco. He always carries a +beaded pouch filled with it. He believes that the Great Spirit gave +tobacco to the Indian. When he smokes it, it opens a way through which +he may draw near God, and be taught by him. His pipe and tobacco will be +buried with him when he dies, as he thinks they will be needed on his +journey toward heaven. He smokes at the council. He smokes around the +camp-fire when he is away hunting. He smokes in the evening time as he +sits with his friends and tells stories of the chase or listens to +legends of his people. + +I hardly know what this Indian father would do without his pipe, as it +seems to give him so much comfort and pleasure. + +See! here he comes now. Yellow Thunder is at the door of the lodge, +watching him as he walks quickly down the forest path. He is truly +called a "brave." He looks as though he would fear no danger. How +straight is his body, and how strong are his muscles! + +He wears leggings of deerskin, finely worked with beads. They are +fastened just above his knees. A short kilt is gathered around his +waist. It is also made of deerskin, but is worked around the edge with +porcupine quills stained in several colours. It is bitterly cold to-day, +so he wears a blanket over his shoulders. His head is shaved bare, +excepting the scalp-lock at the back. It must be this which makes him +look so fierce. + +I want you to notice his feet. They step softly and yet firmly. You +could not walk as he does. Perhaps you have pointed shoes with high +heels. The Indian would look with scorn upon these. What! Cramp the toes +with such uncomfortable things! Impossible! He covers his feet in the +most sensible manner with the soft moccasins made by his wife. They fit +his feet exactly. He can run like a deer, or creep along the ground like +a wildcat in these coverings, and no one will hear him coming. Each +moccasin is made of a single piece of deerskin, seamed at the heel and +in front. The bottom is smooth and without a seam, while the upper part +is worked with beads. + +Yellow Thunder's good mamma uses a curious needle and thread. The needle +is made from the bone of a deer's ankle, and her thread is of the sinews +of the same animal. What would the Indian have done without the deer in +the old days before the white man came to this country? I can't imagine, +can you? + +This animal furnished much of his food and clothing; ornaments were made +of his hoofs; needles and many other things came from his bones. Even +the brains of the creature were used in tanning skins of animals. They +were mixed with moss, made into cakes, and dried in the sun. This +mixture will keep a great length of time. Whenever it is needed, a piece +of this brain-cake is boiled in water, and the skin is soaked in it +after the hair is scraped off. Then it is wrung out and stretched until +it is dry. But even then the skin is not ready for use. It will tear +very easily. It must be thoroughly smoked on both sides. This work all +belongs to Yellow Thunder's mamma. His father has nothing to do with it. + +Suppose we follow the red man into his home. Ugh! What a smoke there is +inside! We can hardly see across the wigwam. We shall need to lie down +on the mat as the Indian does. Our eyes will be blinded unless we do +this. The wife has a good meal waiting for her husband, but she will not +eat till he has finished. That is Indian good manners. + +His wooden bowl and plate, together with a boiled corn-cake, are placed +on the mat in front of the man. Venison stew is served him out of the +big pot, and a dish of sassafras tea is also set before him. There is no +milk to put into this queer drink, but if he wishes to sweeten it, he +can add some delicious maple syrup. This is certainly not a bad meal for +any one. + +The red man eats and drinks, while scarcely a word is said to his +waiting family. When he has finished his meal, he will light his pipe +for a quiet smoke, after which his wife and child satisfy their hunger. + +Yellow Thunder's mamma knows how to prepare many a good dish. She can +make several different kinds of corn bread. She prepares soups of deer +and bear meat. She boils the hominy, on which our little red cousin +pours the maple syrup. She makes teas of wild spices and herbs which +grow near the hut. But these drinks are not likely to keep Yellow +Thunder awake at night. Neither is there danger of his starving, so long +as his father can hunt and his mother can gather her crops. His food is +suited to make him strong and healthy, and he does not miss the dainties +of which you are so fond. + +The stern-looking father never thinks of interfering in the management +of the home. That is his wife's right. She gives him his sleeping-place +and the corner in which he shall put his belongings. She decides on what +shall be cooked, and what shall be stored away. She is the ruler in the +home. + +But, on the other hand, he does not expect her to scold. She should +always be obliging and happy in entertaining his friends. She should be +ready to furnish him a good meal whenever he comes home. + +As yet, he does not take much notice of his only son. He does not +correct the boy's faults. He seldom takes him on his hunts. He has left +all care of the boy to his wife up to this time. + +But Yellow Thunder is now twelve years old. He will soon be a man. In a +year or two, at most, his father will begin to make a companion of his +son in hunting and fishing. He will teach him the ways of a brave Indian +warrior. Then there will be no more woman's work for Yellow Thunder. + +When the time comes for this great change in his life, he will go out +into the forest to fast. No one will insist on his doing this. He will +himself desire it. It is the same as a baptism to a young Indian. His +father will go with him to the lonely spot where he decides to stay. He +will give his son wise words of counsel. He will urge him to be brave +and keep his fast as long as possible. He will be able to show by this +how much courage and spirit he possesses, and how great a man he desires +to be. Then he will leave his son alone and go back to the village. + +[Illustration: "HE WILL GIVE HIS SON WISE WORDS OF COUNSEL."] + +A day passes by, and Yellow Thunder grows faint. Two days now are gone, +and the boy's thirst is intense. At the end of three days his father +comes back and finds his son lying weak and dizzy beneath the trees. He +gives him a little water, but no food, for Yellow Thunder says he can +fast still longer. + +The father goes away again, leaving the son to watch for the visions +which will surely come. It will be decided now what the red boy's +future will be. The longer he can fast, the greater man he will become +among his people. No one can be a chief unless he has fasted many days +at the beginning of his manhood. + +We cannot tell what Yellow Thunder will be, but we know that his visions +will always be remembered. He believes that his guardian spirits will +appear in some form or another to him, and he will get instruction about +his future life. He will endure his fast bravely as long as possible. + +It sometimes happens that Indian boys die at this time of fasting, but +we feel sure that Yellow Thunder will live and be a joy to his parents +to the end of their lives. + +But how is the Indian mother preparing him for this great test? She +teaches him, first of all, to _obey_. In no other way would it be +possible for him to become a great man. He must heed everything that +his father and mother tell him. He must always be ready to do their +bidding. It is the greatest token of rudeness to appear curious, +therefore he must ask no questions. He must love the truth. A lie is +almost unknown among the Indians; they scorn it as the mark of a +cowardly and mean nature. He must be brotherly to all creatures, and +ready to give to others always. + +Yellow Thunder has never seen a pauper or beggar in his life. Whenever +any one comes to his home, his mother hastens at once to prepare food +for the visitor. It is almost a law to her to do so. If relatives should +come for a visit, they will be made welcome and allowed to stay as long +as they desire. If they should remain for the rest of their lives, they +would never be asked to leave. "Be hospitable to all," is a maxim +planted in the heart of every Indian child. + +Yellow Thunder is taught that everything should be shared in common. +The Indian does not say, "My land." It is always "Ours." The people of a +tribe are truly brothers to each other. + +The red boy's mamma does not need to teach him that theft is wrong. It +is almost unknown among his people. The idea of doing such an +unbrotherly thing does not enter their heads. No wonder there are +neither poorhouses nor prisons among these people. We call them savages, +but there are many things we could copy with profit from them. Don't you +think so, children? "Live and learn," is an old saying, and I think we +would do well to remember it when we read the lives of our cousins in +many lands. + +Yellow Thunder does not go to church or Sunday school. I doubt if Sunday +is any different to him from any other day. But his mamma has taught him +that there is one loving Heavenly Father for all. If Yellow Thunder is +good and brave, he will go to the "happy hunting-grounds" when he dies. +At least, this is what he is taught to believe. There will be enough +food and an abundance of animals to kill. Everything that the Indian +loves best to do in this life, he thinks can be found in his heaven. But +there is no place there for the white man. George Washington was the +only white man who ever lived whom they thought fit to enter their +paradise. The exception was made in his case because he was brave and +good, and treated the Indians fairly and justly. + +Yellow Thunder's mother often tells him of a prophecy which was made +long ago by the wise men of her tribe. They said that a great monster, +with white eyes, would come out of the East and consume the land. Did +the prophecy come true, you ask? Yes, my dears, it was the white race. + +When Yellow Thunder thinks of the great forests which his people once +owned, and of the numbers of animals roaming there, when he remembers +the wars which have been fought and lost with the "great monster," his +heart grows bitter. + +Don't blame him, children, but feel sorry for your little Indian cousin. +His people have certainly had a hard time. They have been very cruel in +warfare with us, but they felt they were treated unjustly, and we were +taking their homes away from them. + +Yellow Thunder believes in the Great Father, as I have told you. His +mother has also taught him that there are many spirits, both good and +bad. God made the good spirits to help him in his care of this great +world. The Indian believes that the wind is a spirit of great power. The +thunder is another spirit, whom he calls Heno. Heno makes the clouds and +the rain. It is he who forms the thunderbolt and sends it to destroy +the wicked. + +The Great Spirit is very kind to give men such a helper, and when the +harvest time comes, Yellow Thunder gives him thanks and prays to him +that he will continue to send Heno into the world. + +There is an old legend among the Indians that Heno once dwelt in a cave +behind Niagara Falls. The mighty rushing noise of the water was pleasing +to him. + +Yellow Thunder pictures the Spirit of the Winds to himself. This spirit +has the face of an old man who is always in the midst of discord, for +the four winds are never at peace with each other. + +Then there are the spirits of Corn, of Beans, and of Squash. Each one of +these is looked upon as a friend of the red race, for these vegetables +are prized by them above all others. + +It is believed that these spirits have the forms of beautiful women, and +that they dwell happily together and are very fond of each other. + +There are many other good spirits. The red boy feels their presence in +the forests and out upon the waters. They are ever around him to protect +him when he is good. But, if he should be bad? Ah! There are many evil +spirits, too, who are only too ready to work mischief and harm among +men, if they have the chance. + +Yellow Thunder believes that animals have souls, only they are not as +wise as men. Sometimes, when they have done great wrongs, men have been +changed into animals. Our cousin thinks the wolf was once a little boy +like himself, but the poor little fellow was neglected by his parents, +and was transformed into an animal. The raccoon was once a shell on the +seashore. What curious ideas these are! Where do you suppose they came +from before they lived in the minds of the red race? + +While we are speaking of these things, I will stop and tell you of +something that happened at Yellow Thunder's house the other day. His +father, Black Cloud, came home from the hunt bringing a big black bear. +It was so heavy that two other men had to help in carrying it. They had +discovered the creature in a hollow tree and had easily killed it. But +now comes the amusing part of the story. As soon as the bear was laid +down in front of the hut, Yellow Thunder and his mamma went up to it and +began to kiss and stroke the dead animal's head. Black Cloud did the +same, and then they all begged the bear's pardon for having killed it. +Black Cloud said, "I would not have done so, had we not needed food, so +I know you will forgive me." + +Then the head of the bear was cut off and laid on one of the best mats. +It was decorated with all the jewelry owned by the family. There were +silver armlets and bracelets, as well as belts and necklaces of wampum. +Tobacco was placed in front of its head, while each one in turn lighted +a pipe and blew the smoke into the bear's nostrils. This was to turn +away its anger from those who had killed it. Black Cloud then made a +speech to the bear. + +I suppose these people believed that the spirit of some human being had +come to live in the animal's body, and they looked upon it as a friend +whom they were forced to kill. + +After all this ceremony, the fat of the bear was boiled down to oil, the +meat was cut up and dried for future use, while the head was put into +the pot to cook for dinner. I do not doubt that when the bear stew was +served, Yellow Thunder did not give a single thought to the idea of +eating a friend. He had done his duty in asking its forgiveness, and +that was enough. + +What kind of a school does Yellow Thunder attend? It is a very large +one. It covers the forests, the rivers, and the lakes. And who is his +teacher? The very same one who gives so many lessons to Anahei in the +hot land of Borneo, so far away. Dame Nature is her name. She is usually +loving and kind, but sometimes she shows her anger in the storms and +winds which rage about our little cousins. + +The lessons which Yellow Thunder learns are very different from those +given Anahei, for they live in vastly different climates. Anahei, you +remember, is near the equator, while Yellow Thunder lives in the +temperate lands. He learns from the ice and the snow, he sees different +animals, plants, and trees. + +He is quicker, stronger, and brighter than Anahei, for the cold winters +make him so. His eyes are very sharp, his ears will hear sounds that +yours would not notice, his feet can travel many miles without his +having a thought of being tired. + +He has no compass, and yet he can journey in the forest in any direction +he may choose without losing his way. How does he do it? He has learned +to notice that the tops of the pine-trees generally lean toward the +rising sun. He has discovered that moss grows toward the roots of the +trees on their north side, while the largest branches of trees are +usually found on the south side of their trunks. + +In fact, Yellow Thunder has learned so many of Nature's secrets that, if +he should reveal them all, they would fill many books. + +This cousin of yours knows nothing about writing as you understand it. +He puts all his stories into pictures. He could send you a letter with +two or three pictures, telling a long, long story, but I don't believe +you could understand one-quarter of it. His little Indian friends would +be able to read it all at a glance. + +Their eyes are well trained, although they know nothing about your +alphabet or vertical penmanship. + +Black Cloud often finds a bark picture hanging to some tree while he is +hunting. It is better than any guide-post such as we make, because it +will tell him so much. He will know from it that other red men have +journeyed this way, and what kind of experience they had. Perhaps it +will warn him of danger, or explain to him the best direction to go if +he wishes to find more game. + +You may like to see such a picture. I will copy one which Mr. Henry Rowe +Schoolcraft saw while he was living among the Indians. He was exploring +the country with a party of white men and two Indian guides. They lost +their way during the day and camped out all night in a deep forest. +Before they went away on the next morning, the Indian guides hung this +picture on a tree: + +[Illustration] + +They thought it might be of use to others passing there. + +Figure I. is the officer who commanded the party. You may know this +because he carries a sword. II. has a book in his hand. This shows he is +the secretary. III. carries a hammer, because he is a geologist. IV. +and V. are attendants. VI. is the man who interprets to the party the +words of the Indian guides. The group of eight figures marked IX. +consists of soldiers. Their muskets stand in the corner, and are marked +X., VII. and VIII. are the two Indian guides. You will notice that they +are drawn with no hats, which shows at once that they are not white men. +XIII., XIV., and XV. represent fires, showing that each separate +group--officers, soldiers, and Indian guides--had a separate one. +Figures XI. and XII. are the pictures of a prairie-hen and a tortoise, +which were the only game they had been able to kill that day. The pole +to which the piece of bark was fastened leaned in the direction which +the party was going to travel. There were three notches in the pole to +show the distance they had already journeyed. + +Yellow Thunder learns to read these bark pictures, and also to make +them himself. He enjoys this work very much, and can tell a long story +quickly. If I were you, I would write him a letter and ask him to answer +it in his own way. + +This cousin of yours has many things to keep him busy. I have already +told you of the mats and baskets which he helps his mother in making. He +goes with her to get the bark which she will use in mending the wigwam +and making many useful things. + +He makes barrels out of red elm bark in which to store groundnuts, corn, +and beans. He cuts ladles out of wood, which the family will use in +eating their soup and hominy. On the end of each ladle Yellow Thunder +carves the figure of some animal. Perhaps it is a beaver or a squirrel. +He does it very neatly. Whatever the Indian boy does, he does well. + +Yellow Thunder makes sieve-baskets out of splint. His mother can sift +the corn-meal through one of these as nicely as your mamma can do it +with her wire sieve. + +He makes salt-bottles out of corn-husks, wooden bowls and pitchers, and +many other things for the simple housekeeping. All this work is done +during the cold winter months, while his mother is making moccasins and +kilts for his father and himself. + +When spring opens, she must till the ground for her corn, and Yellow +Thunder can now be of great help. She will miss him greatly when he +begins to hunt with his father. She will then have all this work to do +alone. + +I wish you could see the Indian woman's garden. It is kept so carefully, +I don't believe you would be able to find a weed. Yellow Thunder's +mother did a queer thing the first night after it was planted. She stole +out of the wigwam alone into the darkness. She went behind a bush, and +took off all her clothing. Taking her skirt in her hand, she ran +swiftly around the field of corn, dragging the garment after her. She +believed this would keep away all insects which might destroy the crop, +and that now it would be sure to yield well. For what a sad thing it +would be if winter should come with no bread to eat through the long +months! + +Yellow Thunder is very fond of his mother's corn bread. The corn is +first hulled by boiling in ashes and water. The tough skin will now slip +off easily. After being washed and dried, it is pounded in a mortar into +flour. Then it is sifted and made into cakes about an inch thick. These +cakes are dropped into boiling water, and are quickly made ready for our +red cousin to eat. Since he was a baby, he has lived almost entirely on +corn bread, together with the game and fish which his father brings +home. + +Yellow Thunder eats something on his corn cakes which you like as much +as he does himself. It is maple syrup. The sugar which his mother makes +from it is the only kind he has ever tasted in his life. It is his work +to tap the trees in the spring, and bring home the jars of sap, which +his mother will boil down to syrup and sugar. + +When her husband goes out on a long hunt, he must take food with him, as +it may be a long time before he gets any game. He cannot carry the +boiled corn cakes, as they would soon crumble and grow sour. His good +wife roasts some corn until it is quite dry. She pounds it into powder +and mixes it with maple sugar. It is packed away in Black Cloud's +bearskin pocket. He need not worry about hunger now, even if he is away +from home many days. He has everything he needs to keep hunger away. + +Yellow Thunder is very proud of the beautiful canoe he has just +finished. He had to search a long time before he was able to find a +tree which suited him. He wanted to make his canoe of birch bark because +it is much lighter than the bark of the elm-tree, of which his father's +boat is made. + +He needed a strip at least twelve feet long, because the canoe must be +made of one piece. Two of his boy friends went with him and they at last +obtained a strip which was just right. They helped him bend it into +shape, until the side pieces came together in two pointed ends. How do +you suppose they fastened the edges together? They made thread out of +the bark itself, and with this Yellow Thunder sewed the pieces together. + +He next got strips of white ash for the rim of his canoe, because the +wood of that tree is very elastic. The boat must be made stronger still +with ribs of the ash, and the work is done. + +The canoe is a little beauty. It is so light that the red boy can lift +it out of the water and carry it with the greatest ease from place to +place. I wish you could see him as he shoots down the river in his boat. +He moves so rapidly, he will be out of sight in a few minutes. + +[Illustration: "HE SHOOTS DOWN THE RIVER."] + +The Indians of the northwestern part of our country used to make their +canoes of cedar logs. The cedar trees there grow so large that canoes +eighty feet long, and large enough to hold one hundred men, were made of +a single piece. One was exhibited at the Columbian Exposition at +Chicago. It was twelve feet wide. + +Yellow Thunder has taken his bow and arrows with him to-day, as he may +come upon a flock of wild ducks. He would like to surprise his mother +with some birds for supper. + +He can shoot well. He will not fail to secure some game. He has +practised archery ever since he was a tiny little fellow. He would feel +himself disgraced for ever if he should disappoint his father when they +go out to hunt. + +I can't tell you how many bows and arrows he has already made in his +lifetime. He has now grown so large and strong that he uses a bow three +and a half feet long. It has such a difficult spring that I fear you +could not bend it far, but Yellow Thunder can set his arrow to the head +with ease. But it takes skill and great strength to do it. + +Perhaps you wonder why the arrow is feathered at the end. This will make +it go straight ahead in the direction in which it is sent. Sometimes +Yellow Thunder uses arrow-heads cut out of flint. They are dangerous +things, and will kill deer and even men. Indians have often been known +to place poison on the arrow-heads they used in warfare. The agonies of +the men who were shot by them were terrible indeed. + +Black Cloud has not been to war since Yellow Thunder was born. There +are so few of the red race now, and the numbers of the white men are so +great, that there is not much chance of warfare. + +However, many stories are told in Black Cloud's lodge of the good old +days when the war-whoop was commonly heard and the tomahawk and +scalping-knife were in constant use. Yellow Thunder often passes by the +grave of a great Indian chief, and thinks about that hero's bravery in +battle. This grave is reverently marked and carefully fenced in. The boy +wishes he had a chance to leave such a memory. + +At the head of the grave there is a stick with the figure of a wolf +carved upon it. It is the symbol, or "totem" of the chief's tribe. Below +the wolf there are many strokes of red paint, which Yellow Thunder likes +to count, for each stroke tells of a scalp taken in warfare. + +Not many miles up the river above Yellow Thunder's home, beavers are +hunted. Black Cloud likes to catch them, because their flesh is good to +eat, and the skin is covered with fine fur. Last winter he allowed his +son to go with himself and a party of men to hunt for this clever little +creature. + +Yellow Thunder believes that the beavers were once people and able to +speak like himself. But they were too wise, so the Great Spirit took +away this power and changed them into these animals. + +I wonder if you have ever seen a beaver's house. He usually makes it of +the young wood of birch or pine trees, and builds it a short way out in +the river, so that it is surrounded by water. He shows a great deal of +skill in making his home. It has a roof shaped like a dome. It reaches +three or four feet above the surface of the water. + +There are generally only two young beavers in the family. The first year +they live with their parents. The second year they have a room built +next to the main house for their special use. By this time they are old +enough to help their father and mother get food. They eat great +quantities of roots and wood, but they like the wood of the birch and +poplar trees best of all. + +When the young beavers are two years old, they leave their old home, and +choose a new place in which to build houses for themselves. Once in a +great while, hunters find beavers that the Indians call "old bachelors." +This is because they live alone, build no houses, but make their homes +in holes they find, or dig out for themselves. + +The beaver always makes holes in the banks of the river near his house. +The entrance to such a hole is below the surface of the water, so that +if the beaver is attacked in his house, he can flee for safety to his +hiding-place in the bank. + +Now let us return to Yellow Thunder and his beaver hunt. It was a bitter +cold day and the river was frozen over in some places, but that would be +so much the better if the hunters hoped to secure their game. They +journeyed by the riverside for several miles. There was a heavy fall of +snow, but they moved along quickly with the help of their snowshoes, +till one of the men whispered: "I see it. Stop!" + +Sure enough! A few feet away from them and from the bank rose the roof +of a dam above the ice. One of the men tried the ice and found it was +thick enough to bear them. + +Yellow Thunder was told to remain where he was on the bank, while the +rest of the party took heavy tools in their hands and went over to the +beavers' house. They quickly destroyed it. But the beavers? What had +become of them? They did not stay in their house to have it broken down +over their heads. They were too wise. When the first alarm was given, +they hurried through the water, under the icy covering of the river, to +a hiding-place in the bank. They had made it long ago to be ready in +case of danger. + +Would the Indians succeed in finding them? Remember that nothing could +be seen to show where the beavers had gone. The hunters crept along the +ice on the edges of the river, and kept striking it with their mallets. +If they should hear a hollow sound as they struck the ice, they would +know they had discovered the beavers' hiding-place. + +Ah! sure enough! It is Yellow Thunder himself who says: "Quick, father, +come here; I have found it. I know this is a hole because of the noise +the water makes underneath. Beavers are breathing there, or it would not +move so quickly." + +Black Cloud hurries to the spot and the ice is cracked in an instant. +Yes, his son is right. A family of beavers is inside the hole. They must +be taken quickly, or they will escape. There is but one way to do it. +The hunter must reach his hands into the hole and pull the animals out. +Their teeth are very sharp, and they will do their best to bite him, but +Black Cloud does not think of that. He is quickly at work and pulls out +one after another. + +There are four beavers in all,--two old ones and their young about two +years of age. They are soon killed and ready to be skinned. How +beautiful and glossy the fur is! It is at its very best in midwinter. + +This has been a fine day's sport, and Black Cloud has received only one +bad bite in his wrist. It must cause him a good deal of pain, yet he +does not show that he feels any. He binds up his wrist, and nothing is +said about it. + +[Illustration: "HIS WIFE IS STANDING IN THE DOOR OF THE WIGWAM."] + +When they reach home Yellow Thunder's mamma will take the tails of the +beavers and put them in the pot to boil. The Indians think they are a +great delicacy. They will make a feast, to which Black Cloud has gone to +invite his friends. + +His wife is standing in the door of the wigwam, waiting for the return +of her husband and son. She has dressed herself with great care to-day, +and has a really beautiful costume. Just imagine your mamma in a dress +like hers. She wears long leggings of red cloth reaching from above her +knees down over her moccasins. They are worked with beads around the +edges. + +A long time ago the Indian women made their clothing of deerskins and +embroidered them with porcupine quills, but nowadays they buy cloth and +beads of the white traders in exchange for furs. + +Over the woman's leggings a long blue skirt reaches from her waist +nearly to the ground. This, also, is embroidered with beads in a flower +pattern. And last, but not least, she wears a bright calico overdress +which reaches from her throat to a short distance below her waist, is +also beaded, and is gathered in at the belt. + +I must not forget to mention her glass necklace, large silver earrings, +and the shoulder ornaments of woven grass and beadwork. + +She is a graceful woman, and it is pleasant to look at her with the +sunset light upon her black hair and eyes. + +When her little boy was six years old he was very sick. His cheeks +burned with fever. He could not lift his head from the mat on which he +lay. His dear mamma scarcely left his side through the long hours of the +day. She tried to soothe him with low, sweet songs, but it was in vain. +The fever grew stronger and fiercer. Black Cloud came home at night. +Looking at his little son, he said, "The medicine-man must come. He will +cure him." + +The medicine-man was at once sent for. He is a very important person +among the Indians. He is considered very wise. He is thought to have +wonderful dreams and to get instruction from the Great Spirit. The red +people think he can cure sickness, unless it is the will of the Great +Spirit for the patient to die. + +The medicine-man always carries a bag of charms to help him in making +his cures. I do not doubt you would laugh at the collection in the bag, +if you had a chance to peep in, but no good Indian has a thought of +doing such a thing. It is believed to be holy, and nothing inside should +be looked upon except as the medicine-man draws it out to work his +cures. + +There are medicines, the carved figures of different animals, the bones +of others, and I don't know how many other queer things. + +Poor little Yellow Thunder looked up with delight as the great man +entered the hut. He believed that he would soon be well and ready to +work and play once more. + +The medicine-man ordered first that a dog be sacrificed. Next, that the +family prepare a great feast for themselves. These things would help to +satisfy the Great Spirit and turn away his anger. But this was not all. +He took out a rattle from his bag. It was made of the dried hoofs of +deer fastened to a stick. He began to sing, beating time with his +rattle, and striking himself violent blows. The singing grew louder and +louder. The rattle made a fearful din. + +How did our poor sick cousin stand it? I'm sure I can't tell. The little +fellow lay with closed eyes and hardly moved. This queer doctor at +length stopped his song and got ready to go away. He told Yellow +Thunder's papa that his son would be sure to get well. And you know +already from my story that our red cousin did get over his sickness, and +grew to be a big, strong boy. Whether the treatment he got was any help, +or whether Mother Nature did all the work, I leave you to decide for +yourselves. I have my own opinion in the matter. + +Yellow Thunder is very fond of music. I wonder what he would think of a +church organ or grand piano. His own instruments are very simple. He +made them himself. He has a tambourine on which he often plays in the +evening while other children dance. He cut a section of wood from a +hollow tree and stretched a skin over it, and his instrument was made. + +He also has a flute. It was a little more work for the red boy to make +this. He carved two pieces of cedar in the shape of half cylinders, and +fastened them together with fish glue. He next hunted about in the woods +for a snake. After he had found one and killed it, he took off the skin +and stretched it over the wood. Eight holes were then made in the +instrument, as well as a mouthpiece like that of a flageolet. + +When Yellow Thunder blows upon this flute, it makes soft and sweet +music. It lay by his side when he was sick with the fever, and as soon +as he was strong enough to sit up, he amused himself by playing some +simple tunes his mamma had taught him. + +Our little friend is very fond of dancing. His people have so many +dances that I shall have to tell you about some of them. + +They believe the Great Spirit gave them the gift of dancing. They have a +Dance for the Dead, a Medicine Dance, the War-dance, the Dance of +Honour, and I don't know how many others. In some of them only men take +part, and they have special costumes, while in others there are none but +women. It seems as though there were always something happening among +the Indians to give them a good reason to dance. + +The War-dance is only performed in the evening and always on some +important occasion. + +Fifteen or twenty men are usually chosen, one of whom must be the +leader. All appear in costume and wear knee rattles of deer's hoofs. +When the time draws near, the people gather in the council-house and +wait quietly for the dancers to arrive. A keeper-of-the-faith rises and +makes a short speech on the meaning of the dance. Hark! The war-whoop +sounds outside! It is heard again, and still again. The band is drawing +near. Ah! here they come at last. + +To our eyes they look hideous in their war-paint and feathers, but to +the crowd of eager Indians who are waiting, they appear very fair, +indeed. + +They march in and form a circle. The war-whoop is sounded again by the +leader, and answered by the rest of the dancers. At a given sign, the +singers commence the war-song, the drums beat, and the dancers begin to +move. They come down on their heels again and again with the greatest +force, keeping time to the beating of the drums. The knee rattles make +noise enough of themselves. The din is fearful. + +The dancers change their positions continually. At the same moment you +will see some of them with their arms raised as though to attack, others +in the act of drawing the bow, others again appear to be throwing the +tomahawk, or striking with the war-club. Every position possible in +battle is taken. + +Each one is full of the excitement of the moment. The wild music and +dancing last for about two minutes. For the next two minutes the dancers +walk around in a circle to the slow beating of the drums. Then there is +another war-whoop, which is followed by another dance and song. + +The dance is often stopped by a tap upon the ground by one of the +audience. He wishes to make a short speech. It, maybe, is a funny one to +make everybody laugh. Or perhaps the speaker wishes to inspire the +people to nobler lives or to greater love for their race. He can say +anything he chooses, on condition that at the end of the speech he makes +a present to one of the dancers. This speech gives the dancers a chance +to rest, and at the same time keeps the people interested. + +The evening is full of entertainment, and passes only too quickly. I'm +afraid, however, if you were present you would be more frightened than +amused by such wild music and motions. + +Another strange dance which is performed among Yellow Thunder's people +is called the Dance for the Dead. Only women take part in it. It is +generally given every spring and fall, in honour of those of the tribe +who have died. The Indians believe that at these times their dead +friends come back and join in the dance. + +The music is sad, and the movements of the dancers are slow and +mournful. This strange dance is kept up from dusk till the early +morning. It is believed that the dead friends who have been present must +then go back to the happy hunting-grounds. + +I haven't said very much as yet about our red cousin's playmates and +sports. They have many good times together. They have a great number of +games and many matches of strength and quickness. + +Yellow Thunder loves his ball game as much as you boys love baseball. He +and his friends often prepare for a game by a special diet and training +for days beforehand. Crowds gather from neighbouring tribes and villages +to see the sport. Those who take part wear no clothing except a +waist-cloth. The ball is small and is made of deerskin. + +A large open field is chosen, and two gates are made on opposite sides +of it. Each gate is made by setting two poles three rods apart. Six or +eight boys play on a side and own one of the gates. The game is won by +the side which first carries the ball through its own gate a certain +number of times. The white men learned this game from the Indians, and +it is a great favourite with them in some parts of the country, +especially in Canada. It is now called "lacrosse," but its name in the +language of the Iroquois Indians was O-ta-da-jish-qua-age. + +Black Cloud has as much interest as Yellow Thunder in the game, and +often takes part in it with his friends. You can hardly believe how +excited these red men get when they are preparing for a set game of +ball. + +The javelin game is another of the boy's favourites. It is quite simple, +and yet one needs to be very skilful. Rings about eight inches across, +and javelins five or six feet long are needed in playing it. While a +ring is set rolling upon the ground by one person, a player on the other +side throws the javelin and tries to hit it. If he succeed, the ring is +set up as a target, and each one on the opposite side must throw a +javelin and try to hit it. If he fail, he loses his javelin. Victory +belongs to the side which wins the most javelins. + +The favourite game in winter is that of snow snakes. The snakes are made +of hickory. They are from five to seven feet long. The head of the +snake is round and pointed with lead. It is about an inch wide and +slightly turned up. The snake is made so that it tapers toward the tail, +which is only about half an inch wide. + +Yellow Thunder has practised so much that he can throw his snake with +great skill. It skims along the snow crust like an arrow. He has won +many a game this winter and his father is very proud of him, because it +takes a great deal of strength and training to be a good player. + +There are many other games played by the Indian men and boys, but I +shall have to tell you about them some other time. + +I hear one of my little friends say: "I wonder if my red cousin has any +holidays. He certainly cannot understand the glorious Fourth, and I +don't believe he ever heard of Christmas. How does he get along?" + +Why, my dear children, I can't stop to tell you of all the feasts and +festivals to which the boy is invited. On every possible occasion a +feast is given by some one in the village. For instance, if the men are +very successful in one of their hunts, and come home laden down with a +good supply of deer, raccoon, or bear, some one of them prepares a +feast. + +How you would laugh to see them gathering at a party. Each one carries +his own wooden bowl and plate, for that is the custom. I mean that each +_man_ does this, for the women are not expected to sit down. They only +stand around and laugh at the bright sayings they hear. They must not +even join in the conversation. They seem to think that they are having a +good time, however, and when the feast is over go back to their own +wigwams, repeating to each other the good things they have heard. The +men remain to smoke and tell more stories. + +Sometimes a feast is prepared on purpose for the young people. At such +a time some one who is much older than themselves makes a speech. He +encourages his young friends to be nobler, braver, and better than ever +before. It seems as though Yellow Thunder could never forget the good +words he has heard at these feasts. Whenever he feels like showing pain +or being ill-tempered, he recollects them, and they help to keep him +calm. + +Each season of the year has its special festival. The longest of all is +the new year jubilee, which lasts seven days. It takes place in the +middle of the winter, about the first of February. Several days before +the beginning of the celebration, our little cousin gathers with his +people in the council-hall. They must confess their sins to each other +before the new year opens. Yellow Thunder thinks over everything which +he has done, or not done as he ought, during the past year. He does not +wish to forget anything. + +When the great day arrives, two keepers-of-the-faith come to his home +early in the morning. It is their duty to go to every other wigwam, too. +They are dressed up in such a way that Yellow Thunder cannot tell who +they are. They wear bear or buffalo skins wrapped around their bodies, +and fastened about their heads with wreaths of corn husks. They also +wear wreaths of corn husks around their arms and ankles. Their faces are +painted in all sorts of queer ways. They carry corn pounders in their +hands. + +As they enter the hut, they bow to the family, and one of them strikes +the ground with his corn pounder. When every one is silent, he makes a +speech, urging them to clean their house, put everything in order, and +prepare for the festivities of the next few days. If any one in the +family should be taken sick and die, he urges them not to mourn till the +ceremonies which the Great Spirit has commanded are over. You can see +from this that the Indian's religion is carried into everything he does. + +After a song of thanksgiving, the keepers-of-the-faith leave Yellow +Thunder's home and pass on to the next one. In the afternoon they come +back again, and urge the family to give thanks to the Great Spirit for +the return of the season. + +The little boy is most excited on this first day of the festival by the +strangling of the White Dog. It must be spotless, if possible. White is +the emblem of purity and faith. A white deer or squirrel, or any other +animal that is pure white, is thought to be sacred to the Great Spirit. + +The dog, which has been carefully kept for this purpose, is killed with +the greatest care. Otherwise it would not be a fitting sacrifice. Not a +drop of blood must be shed. Not a bone must be broken. When it is quite +dead, it is trimmed with ribbons and feathers, and spotted in different +places with dabs of red paint. Then it is hung up by its neck on a pole. +It must stay there till the fifth day. At that time it will be taken +down to be burned. + +On the second day, Yellow Thunder is dressed up in his very best, and +goes out with his father and mother to make calls on his neighbours. The +keepers-of-the-faith come to his house three times during the day. They +are now dressed up as warriors with all their war-paint and feathers. +One of them stirs up the ashes in the fireplace and sprinkles them +about. As he does this, he makes a speech, thanking the Great Spirit +that the family, as well as himself, have been allowed to live another +year to take part in the festival. There is another song of thanksgiving +and they go away. + +On the third and fourth days small dancing parties go from home to +home. One party will perform the war-dance, another the feather-dance, +still another the fish-dance, and so on. This year Yellow Thunder's +father let him join a party of boys to give the war-dance. They had +great fun dressing up as warriors and decking themselves with paint and +feathers. They went from home to home till they had danced in every hut +in the village. They were tired enough to sleep soundly when night came. + +[Illustration: "THEY . . . DANCED IN EVERY HUT IN THE VILLAGE."] + +I must tell you of some more sport they had during the festival. Some of +the boys dressed in rags and paint, put on false faces and formed a +"thieving party," as it was called. They went about collecting things +for a feast. An old woman carrying a large basket went with them. If the +family they visited made them presents, they handed them to the old +woman and gave a dance in return for the kindness. But if no presents +were given, they took anything they could seize without being seen. If +they were discovered, they gave them up, but if not, it was considered +fair for them to carry the things away for their feast. + +Yellow Thunder had great fun hiding the stolen articles in his clothing. +He was not once caught. + +Every night was given up to dancing and other entertainments. Our Indian +cousin got time for a game of snow snakes nearly every day. + +On the morning of the fifth day the White Dog was burned. A procession +was formed, the men marching in Indian file. Listen! A great sound is +heard. It is something like the war-whoop. It is the signal to start. +The dead dog is carried to the altar on a bark litter in front of the +procession. The sacrifice is laid upon the altar. The fire is kindled. +As the flames rise, a prayer is made to the Great Spirit for all his +good gifts to the Indians. The trees and the bushes, the sun and the +winds, the moon and the stars,--none are forgotten that have helped to +make the world better to live in. + +As the sacrifice burns upon the altar, Yellow Thunder listens to the +long prayer with reverence. He believes that the dog's soul is now +rising to the Great Spirit. It will be a proof to Him of the faith of +His people, for the day itself is the day of faith and trust. + +During the rest of the festival there is more dancing and more feasting, +while favourite games are played by old and young. + +"Oh, what a good time it is," thinks Yellow Thunder; "how happy we all +should be that the new year has come." And what a tired boy sleeps on +Yellow Thunder's mat when the seven days of this glorious time are over. +The Fourth of July celebration is slight indeed compared with it. + +Yellow Thunder begins already to look forward to the first festival of +the springtime. It is called by the Indians "Thanks to the Maple." I +don't dare to give it to you in their own language. You would only scowl +and say, "Oh, dear! what's the use? I can't pronounce those long words, +and I will not try." + +Just as soon as the first warm days arrive, the red boy's eyes begin to +watch the maple-trees. He wishes to be the first one to discover that +the sap has started and is beginning to flow. Then hurrah for a holiday +for old and young! Thanks must be given to the tree that gives so much +sweetness to boys and girls. The Great Spirit must be thanked, also, for +he gave the maple to the poor Indian. + +There must be more feasting and story-telling, more games and dancing. +Tobacco must be burned as an offering to the Great Spirit, and prayers +must be said. The great feather dance will be the best thing of all. It +is very graceful and beautiful, and the band of dancers will wear +costumes which belong only to this dance. + +You certainly cannot wonder that Yellow Thunder enjoys this festival. I +don't doubt you would like to be there, also, as well as at the green +corn feast, and many others. + +At these times your red cousin's heart is full of gladness and gratitude +for the great gifts the Great Spirit has given him. + +It is evening time. Let us creep up softly behind him as he listens to a +legend one of the story-tellers of the tribe is repeating. It is the +tale of the Lone Lightning. + +Once upon a time there was a poor little boy who had no father or +mother. He lived with an uncle who did not love him. This cruel man made +the child do many hard things and did not give him enough to eat. Of +course the child did not grow properly. He was very thin and pitiful to +look upon. After awhile the cruel uncle grew ashamed of the appearance +of the boy. Every one could see that he was ill-treated. + +He said to himself, "I will give the child so much to eat that he will +die. I hate him!" Then he went to his wife and said, "Give the boy +bear's meat, and choose the fat of it for him." + +They kept cramming the child. When they were stuffing the food down his +throat one day, he almost choked. Poor little fellow! There was no one +who cared for him or wished him to live. He knew it only too well. + +The first chance he obtained, he ran away. He did not know where to go, +but wandered around in the forest. Night came. Wild beasts would now +begin to roam about. They would get him and eat him. The little boy was +afraid when he thought of all this. He climbed up in a tree as far as he +dared, and went to sleep in a fork of the branches. He had a wonderful +dream. It was an omen given to him by the spirits. + +It seemed as though some one appeared to him from out of the sky. He +spoke to the orphan, and said, "Poor child, I know all about your hard +life and your cruel uncle. Come with me." + +The boy awoke instantly. There was his guide. He began to follow him. +Higher and higher he rose up in the air till they were both in the upper +sky. Then his guide placed twelve arrows in his hands and told him that +there were many bad manitos (spirits) in the northern sky. He must go +forth and try to shoot them. + +He did as he was told. He travelled toward the north and shot one arrow +after another, vainly trying to kill the manitos. He now had only one +arrow left. As each one had sped forth from his bow, there had been a +long streak of lightning in the sky. Then all had grown clear again. + +The boy held the last arrow in his hand for a long time and tried again +to discover the manitos. But these beings are very cunning if they +choose, and they can change their forms at any moment. They were afraid +of the boy's arrows, for they had magic powers and had been given him by +a good spirit. If the child aimed them straight, the bad manitos would +be killed. + +At length the boy gained courage and shot his last arrow. He thought it +was aimed at the very heart of the chief of the spirits. But before it +reached him, he had changed himself into a rock. The head of the arrow +pierced this rock and fastened itself within it. + +The manito was enraged. He cried out, "Your arrows are gone now. You +shall be punished for daring to strike at me." As he said these words, +he changed the boy into the Lone Lightning, which is still seen in the +northern sky to this day. + + + =THE END.= + + + + +THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS + +(Trade Mark) + + +_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_ + + + _Each 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per vol._ $1.50 + + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES= + (Trade Mark) + +Being three "Little Colonel" stories in the Cosy Corner Series, "The +Little Colonel," "Two Little Knights of Kentucky," and "The Giant +Scissors," put into a single volume. + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOUSE PARTY= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOLIDAYS= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HERO= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING SCHOOL= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHRISTMAS VACATION= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOUR= + (Trade Mark) + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S KNIGHT COMES RIDING= + (Trade Mark) + + =MARY WARE: THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHUM= + (Trade Mark) + + _These ten volumes, boxed as a ten-volume set._ $15.00 + + =THE LITTLE COLONEL= + (Trade Mark) + + =TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY= + + =THE GIANT SCISSORS= + + =BIG BROTHER= + + +Special Holiday Editions + + Each one volume, cloth decorative, small quarto, $1.25 + +New plates, handsomely illustrated with eight full-page drawings in +color, and many marginal sketches. + + +=IN THE DESERT OF WAITING:= THE LEGEND OF CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN. + + +=THE THREE WEAVERS:= A FAIRY TALE FOR FATHERS AND MOTHERS AS WELL AS FOR +THEIR DAUGHTERS. + + +=KEEPING TRYST= + + +=THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART= + + +=THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME:= A FAIRY PLAY FOR OLD AND YOUNG. + + +=THE JESTER'S SWORD= + + + Each one volume, tall 16mo, cloth decorative $0.50 + Paper boards .35 + +There has been a constant demand for publication in separate form of +these six stories, which were originally included in six of the "Little +Colonel" books. + + + +=JOEL: A BOY OF GALILEE:= BY ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. Illustrated by L. +J. Bridgman. + + New illustrated edition, uniform with the Little Colonel + Books, 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative $1.50 + +A story of the time of Christ, which is one of the author's best-known +books. + + +=THE LITTLE COLONEL GOOD TIMES BOOK= + + Uniform in size with the Little Colonel Series. $1.50 + Bound in white kid (morocco) and gold 3.00 + +Cover design and decorations by Amy Carol Rand. + +The publishers have had many inquiries from readers of the Little +Colonel books as to where they could obtain a "Good Times Book" such as +Betty kept. Mrs. Johnston, who has for years kept such a book herself, +has gone enthusiastically into the matter of the material and format for +a similar book for her young readers. Every girl will want to possess a +"Good Times Book." + + +=ASA HOLMES: OR, AT THE CROSS-ROADS.= A sketch of Country Life and +Country Humor. By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. + +With a frontispiece by Ernest Fosbery. + + Large 16mo, cloth, gilt top $1.00 + +"'Asa Holmes; or, At the Cross-Roads' is the most delightful, most +sympathetic and wholesome book that has been published in a long +while."--_Boston Times._ + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS:= OR, THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY BURNS. By RUEL PERLEY +SMITH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +A story of a party of typical American lads, courageous, alert, and +athletic, who spend a summer camping on an island off the Maine coast. + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS AFLOAT:= OR, THE PRIZE YACHT VIKING. By RUEL PERLEY +SMITH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +This book is a continuation of the adventures of "The Rival Campers" on +their prize yacht _Viking_. + + +=THE RIVAL CAMPERS ASHORE= + +By RUEL PERLEY SMITH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"As interesting ashore as when afloat."--_The Interior._ + + +=JACK HARVEY'S ADVENTURES:= OR, THE RIVAL CAMPERS AMONG THE OYSTER +PIRATES. By RUEL PERLEY SMITH. + + Illustrated $1.50 + + +"Just the type of book which is most popular with lads who are in their +early teens."--_The Philadelphia Item._ + + +=PRISONERS OF FORTUNE: A TALE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY.= By RUEL +PERLEY SMITH. + + Cloth decorative, with a colored frontispiece $1.50 + +"There is an atmosphere of old New England in the book, the humor +of the born raconteur about the hero, who tells his story with the +gravity of a preacher, but with a solemn humor that is +irresistible."--_Courier-Journal._ + + +=FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS.= By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON. + + Large 12mo. With 24 illustrations $1.50 + +Biographical sketches, with interesting anecdotes and reminiscences of +the heroes of history who were leaders of cavalry. + +"More of such books should be written, books that acquaint young readers +with historical personages in a pleasant informal way."--_N. Y. Sun._ + + +=FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS.= By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON. + + Large 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +In this book Mr. Johnston gives interesting sketches of the Indian +braves who have figured with prominence in the history of our own land, +including Powhatan, the Indian Cæsar; Massasoit, the friend of the +Puritans; Pontiac, the red Napoleon; Tecumseh, the famous war chief of +the Shawnees; Sitting Bull, the famous war chief of the Sioux; Geronimo, +the renowned Apache Chief, etc., etc. + + +=BILLY'S PRINCESS.= By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL. + + Cloth decorative, illustrated by Helen McCormick + Kennedy $1.25 + +Billy Lewis was a small boy or energy and ambition, so when he was left +alone and unprotected, he simply started out to take care of himself. + + +=TENANTS OF THE TREES.= By CLARENCE HAWKES. + + Cloth decorative, illustrated in colors $1.50 + +"A book which will appeal to all who care for the hearty, healthy, +outdoor life of the country. The illustrations are particularly +attractive."--_Boston Herald._ + + +=BEAUTIFUL JOE'S PARADISE: OR, THE ISLAND OF BROTHERLY LOVE.= A sequel +to "Beautiful Joe." By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "Beautiful Joe." + + One vol., library 12mo, cloth, illustrated $1.50 + + +"This book revives the spirit of 'Beautiful Joe' capitally. It is fairly +riotous with fun, and is about as unusual as anything in the animal book +line that has seen the light."--_Philadelphia Item._ + + +='TILDA JANE.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS. + + One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 + +"I cannot think of any better book for children than this. I commend it +unreservedly."--_Cyrus Townsend Brady._ + + +='TILDA JANE'S ORPHANS.= A sequel to 'Tilda Jane. By MARSHALL SAUNDERS. + + One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 + +'Tilda Jane is the same original, delightful girl, and as fond of her +animal pets as ever. + + +=THE STORY OF THE GRAVELEYS.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "Beautiful +Joe's Paradise," "'Tilda Jane," etc. + + Library 12mo, cloth decorative. Illustrated by E. B. + Barry $1.50 + +Here we have the haps and mishaps, the trials and triumphs, of a +delightful New England family, of whose devotion and sturdiness it will +do the reader good to hear. + + +=BORN TO THE BLUE.= By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. + + 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25 + +The atmosphere of army life on the plains breathes on every page of this +delightful tale. The boy is the son of a captain of U. S. cavalry +stationed at a frontier post in the days when our regulars earned the +gratitude of a nation. + + +=IN WEST POINT GRAY= + +By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. + + 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"Singularly enough one of the best books of the year for boys is written +by a woman and deals with life at West Point. The presentment of life in +the famous military academy whence so many heroes have graduated is +realistic and enjoyable."--_New York Sun._ + + +=FROM CHEVRONS TO SHOULDER STRAPS= + +By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. + + 12mo, cloth, illustrated, decorative $1.50 + +West Point again forms the background of a new volume in this popular +series, and relates the experience of Jack Stirling during his junior +and senior years. + + +=THE SANDMAN: HIS FARM STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. With fifty illustrations by Ada Clendenin +Williamson. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover $1.50 + +"An amusing, original book, written for the benefit of very small +children. It should be one of the most popular of the year's books for +reading to small children."--_Buffalo Express._ + + +=THE SANDMAN: MORE FARM STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 + +Mr. Hopkins's first essay at bedtime stories met with such approval that +this second book of "Sandman" tales was issued for scores of eager +children. Life on the farm, and out-of-doors, is portrayed in his +inimitable manner. + + +=THE SANDMAN: HIS SHIP STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS, author of "The Sandman: His Farm Stories," etc. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 + +"Children call for these stories over and over again."--_Chicago Evening +Post._ + + +=THE SANDMAN, HIS SEA STORIES= + +By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. + + Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 + +Each year adds to the popularity of this unique series of stories to be +read to the little ones at bed time and at other times. + + +=THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL= + +By MARION AMES TAGGART, author of "Pussy-Cat Town," etc. + + One vol., library 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +A thoroughly enjoyable tale of a little girl and her comrade father, +written in a delightful vein of sympathetic comprehension of the child's +point of view. + + +=SWEET NANCY= + +THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE DOCTOR'S LITTLE GIRL. By MARION AMES +TAGGART. + + + One vol., library, 12mo, illustrated $1.50 + +In the new book, the author tells how Nancy becomes in fact "the +doctor's assistant," and continues to shed happiness around her. + + +=THE CHRISTMAS-MAKERS' CLUB= + +By EDITH A. SAWYER. + + 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +A delightful story for girls, full of the real spirit of Christmas. It +abounds in merrymaking and the right kind of fun. + + +=CARLOTA= + +A STORY OF THE SAN GABRIEL MISSION. By FRANCES MARGARET FOX. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00 + +"It is a pleasure to recommend this little story as an entertaining +contribution to juvenile literature."--_The New York Sun._ + + +=THE SEVEN CHRISTMAS CANDLES= + +By FRANCES MARGARET FOX. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00 + +Miss Fox's new book deals with the fortunes of the delightful Mulvaney +children. + + +=PUSSY-CAT TOWN= + +By MARION AMES TAGGART. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors $1.00 + +"Anything more interesting than the doings of the cats in this story, +their humor, their wisdom, their patriotism, would be hard to +imagine."--_Chicago Post._ + + +=THE ROSES OF SAINT ELIZABETH= + +By JANE SCOTT WOODRUFF. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Adelaide Everhart $1.00 + +This is a charming little story of a child whose father was caretaker of +the great castle of the Wartburg, where Saint Elizabeth once had her +home. + + +=GABRIEL AND THE HOUR BOOK= + +By EVALEEN STEIN. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Adelaide Everhart $1.00 + +Gabriel was a loving, patient, little French lad, who assisted the monks +in the long ago days, when all the books were written and illuminated by +hand, in the monasteries. + + +=THE ENCHANTED AUTOMOBILE= + +Translated from the French by MARY J. SAFFORD. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Edna M. Sawyer $1.00 + +"An up-to-date French fairy-tale which fairly radiates the spirit of the +hour,--unceasing diligence."--_Chicago Record-Herald._ + + +=O-HEART-SAN= + +THE STORY OF A JAPANESE GIRL. By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL. + + Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated + in colors by Frank P. Fairbanks $1.00 + +"The story comes straight from the heart of Japan. The shadow of +Fujiyama lies across it and from every page breathes the fragrance of +tea leaves, cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums."--_The Chicago +Inter-Ocean._ + + +=THE YOUNG SECTION-HAND:= OR, THE ADVENTURES OF ALLAN WEST. By BURTON E. +STEVENSON. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +Mr. Stevenson's hero is a manly lad of sixteen, who is given a chance as +a section-hand on a big Western railroad, and whose experiences are as +real as they are thrilling. + + +=THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"A better book for boys has never left an American press."--_Springfield +Union._ + + +=THE YOUNG TRAIN MASTER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"Nothing better in the way of a book of adventure for boys in which the +actualities of life are set forth in a practical way could be devised or +written."--_Boston Herald._ + + +=CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER.= By WINN STANDISH. + + Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +Jack is a fine example of the all-around American high-school boy. + + +=JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS:= OR, SPORTS ON LAND AND LAKE. By WINN +STANDISH. + +Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"It is exactly the sort of book to give a boy interested in athletics, +for it shows him what it means to always 'play fair.'"--_Chicago +Tribune._ + + +=JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS:= OR, MILLVALE HIGH IN CAMP. By WINN STANDISH. + + Illustrated $1.50 + +Full of just the kind of fun, sports and adventure to excite the healthy +minded youngster to emulation. + + +=JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE:= OR, THE ACTING CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM. By WINN +STANDISH. + + Illustrated $1.50 + +On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling, +tobogganing, but it is more of a school story perhaps than any of its +predecessors. + + +=CAPTAIN JINKS:= THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SHETLAND PONY. By FRANCES HODGES +WHITE. + + Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +The story of Captain Jinks and his faithful dog friend Billy, their +quaint conversations and their exciting adventures, will be eagerly read +by thousands of boys and girls. The story is beautifully written and +will take its place alongside of "Black Beauty" and "Beautiful Joe." + + +=THE RED FEATHERS.= By THEODORE ROBERTS. + + Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"The Red Feathers" tells of the remarkable adventures of an Indian boy +who lived in the Stone Age, many years ago, when the world was young. + + +=FLYING PLOVER.= By THEODORE ROBERTS. + + Cloth decorative. Illustrated by Charles Livingston + Bull $1.00 + +Squat-By-The-Fire is a very old and wise Indian who lives alone with her +grandson, "Flying Plover," to whom she tells the stories each evening. + + +=THE WRECK OF THE OCEAN QUEEN.= By JAMES OTIS, author of "Larry Hudson's +Ambition," etc. + + Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +"A stirring story of wreck and mutiny, which boys will find especially +absorbing. The many young admirers of James Otis will not let this book +escape them, for it fully equals its many predecessors in excitement and +sustained interest."--_Chicago Evening Post._ + + +=LITTLE WHITE INDIANS.= By FANNIE E. OSTRANDER. + + Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25 + +"A bright, interesting story which will appeal strongly to the +'make-believe' instinct in children, and will give them a healthy, +active interest in 'the simple life.'" + + +=MARCHING WITH MORGAN.= HOW DONALD LOVELL BECAME A SOLDIER OF THE +REVOLUTION. By JOHN L. VEASY. + + Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 + +This is a splendid boy's story of the expedition of Montgomery and +Arnold against Quebec. + + + + +COSY CORNER SERIES + + +It is the intention of the publishers that this series shall contain +only the very highest and purest literature,--stories that shall not +only appeal to the children themselves, but be appreciated by all those +who feel with them in their joys and sorrows. + +The numerous illustrations in each book are by well-known artists, and +each volume has a separate attractive cover design. + + Each 1 vol., 16mo, cloth $0.50 + + +_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_ + + +=THE LITTLE COLONEL= (Trade Mark.) + +The scene of this story is laid in Kentucky. Its heroine is a small +girl, who is known as the Little Colonel, on account of her fancied +resemblance to an old-school Southern gentleman, whose fine estate and +old family are famous in the region. + + +=THE GIANT SCISSORS= + +This is the story of Joyce and of her adventures in France. Joyce is a +great friend of the Little Colonel, and in later volumes shares with her +the delightful experiences of the "House Party" and the "Holidays." + + +=TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY= WHO WERE THE LITTLE COLONEL'S +NEIGHBORS. + +In this volume the Little Colonel returns to us like an old friend, but +with added grace and charm. She is not, however, the central figure of +the story, that place being taken by the "two little knights." + + +=MILDRED'S INHERITANCE= + +A delightful little story of a lonely English girl who comes to America +and is befriended by a sympathetic American family who are attracted by +her beautiful speaking voice. By means of this one gift she is enabled +to help a school-girl who has temporarily lost the use of her eyes, and +thus finally her life becomes a busy, happy one. + + +=CICELY AND OTHER STORIES FOR GIRLS= + +The readers of Mrs. Johnston's charming juveniles will be glad to learn +of the issue of this volume for young people. + + +=AUNT 'LIZA'S HERO AND OTHER STORIES= + +A collection of six bright little stories, which will appeal to all boys +and most girls. + + +=BIG BROTHER= + +A story of two boys. The devotion and care of Stephen, himself a small +boy, for his baby brother, is the theme of the simple tale. + + +=OLE MAMMY'S TORMENT= + +"Ole Mammy's Torment" has been fitly called "a classic of Southern +life." It relates the haps and mishaps of a small negro lad, and tells +how he was led by love and kindness to a knowledge of the right. + + +=THE STORY OF DAGO= + +In this story Mrs. Johnston relates the story of Dago, a pet monkey, +owned jointly by two brothers. Dago tells his own story, and the account +of his haps and mishaps is both interesting and amusing. + + +=THE QUILT THAT JACK BUILT= + +A pleasant little story of a boy's labor of love, and how it changed the +course of his life many years after it was accomplished. + + +=FLIP'S ISLANDS OF PROVIDENCE= + +A story of a boy's life battle, his early defeat, and his final triumph, +well worth the reading. + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Yellow Thunder, Our Little Indian +Cousin, by Mary Hazelton Wade + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43251 *** |