salty tears poured over it. Then the girl blew her nose violently to
call magic, and poured the remainder of her tears over the covering that
held the treasures.
"This last rite performed, the maiden carried the blanket to her couch
behind the screen and sat down to wait. After many days she opened the
blanket again and there she found a babe. It had a small shaving stuck
to its forehead. She took the babe out and tied the blanket corners
together again. Then she mothered the babe till it grew strong and as
fine as her brother had been before it.
"After a time, she opened the blanket again and lo! there she found
another fine child, but a bit of cedar bark was stuck to its forehead.
The boy was also mothered and grew to be a fine lad.
"The third time the girl opened the blanket she found a boy with a
feather stuck to his forehead. The fourth child had a clod of mud on the
sole of each foot, and so on, the children came until nine fine lads had
been mothered and reared, and then came a little girl who carried a
crab-apple blossom in her hand.
"The ten children were carefully reared and taught many wise things that
all Indians should know. They had plenty of food and clothing as every
house in the town was there to take from.
"One day, the eldest lad inquired: 'Mother, why lies yonder village so
empty?'
"And she replied: 'My child, it is your uncle's town that lies empty
because of idle curiosity. And this is what happened to everyone living
in the village.'
"Then she told the children the story as I have told it to you, even the
punishment that comes with curiosity and the payment demanded from any
who deem they can do what others cannot.
"And the boy asked: 'Where is the ball, mother?'
"She replied sadly: 'Ah, my son, I may not show you the hidden place of
that ball for it contains magic that brings evil to anyone touching it.
Better leave _skitq! a'-ig. adAn_ in the tree where it grows.'
"But the boys were overcome with curiosity to see and try this magic
they were warned against. So, secretly they found the right bole of the
tree where an excrescence grew and it was cut out. They worked it smooth
and round until it was polished enough to play ball with.
"The little sister had not been told of her brothers' mischief or she
would have dissuaded them--or at least, she would have warned the mother
that the boys had disobeyed her wishes.
"They tossed the ball gleefully back and forth and soon a tiny red
feather floated over their heads but little sister warned them not to
touch it as it was the same evil magic that had drawn all their kin away
from earth.
"But the oldest lad scoffed at her fears and clutched at the feather.
Instantly, he was turned to mucus, right before their eyes! And this
mucus was waved violently back and forth till it was stretched out into
a long thread. As it was pulled up to the black cloud overhead, one end
of the mucus still stuck fast to the ground and the red feather tugged
and tugged to tear it loose.
"The second brother caught hold of the mucus and was turned to a
shaving. But this was whirled around and around until it spun dizzily
and one end of the shaving reached the cloud but the other still whirled
on the ground.
"The third boy ran up and caught hold of it and was instantly turned
into a strip of cedar bark. After being rolled and pulled the bark began
to stretch and finally one end was up in the clouds and the other still
remained upon the earth.
"When the boy with the mud soles caught hold of the red cedar chip, he
was turned to mud. As this was spun out, some of it was carried up to
the cloud while some of it still clung to the earth but a fine thread of
mud stretched between the two mud-lumps.
"But the next boy caught the wild crab-apple blossom from his sister's
hand and stamped upon the mud from his brother's sole that lay upon the
ground. As he stamped he called to his sister: 'I am strong! Hurry--make
medicine to save us.'
"And the sister cried: 'Be a man! Be strong and I will save you!'
"But he was turned to a crab-apple tree right before her eyes. He was
being dragged up to the cloud but the red feather had great difficulty
to tear it away from the earth, as the roots had quickly grown down into
the ground. One strong root still held in the earth and red feather was
tugging hard to loosen it from its hold when little sister ran up and
jumped upon this root. She then climbed up the long-drawn-out crab-apple
tree, all the while making strong medicine and slashing out with a long
sharp sword.
"The red feather flew madly about and when, at a mighty slash of the
sword, the evil magic fell to earth, its power was gone forever!
"Then immediately after it came the nine brothers who were not hurt for
red feather had lost its magic to hurt any more.
"And on top of the children came down the whitened bones of the
villagers, and last of all crashed down the remains of the dogs and cats
and donkeys that had lived in the village in the long-ago.
"The wild crab-apple tree had not had its root pulled from the ground
before red feather was slashed down to earth, so little sister slid down
that root and reached the place where all the brothers, and villagers,
and creatures lay in a heap together.
"She spat medicine upon her brothers and they each took a natural form
again, and were over-joyed at seeing themselves at home. Then she spat
medicine upon the bones of her kins-people and they all returned to
life. Next the villagers were brought back and then the dogs, because
they are man's best friends; then the donkeys, for they help carry the
burdens of man; and lastly the cats for they kill vermin but are in
themselves no other good to man.
"So the people and every creature thanked little sister for the strong
medicine she had made to bring them all safe back home. Then she told
them that they need never have been dead or kept up in that cloud had
they known themselves and their power over all evil magic.
"And from that day, the people taught their children first, above every
other knowledge, 'Know Thyself,' then the next thing the children were
taught was, 'Know that evil has no power or magic for one who Knows
Himself!'"
As Miss Miller concluded the story the Woodcrafters cried "How! How!"
"What a strange story--it sounds almost like an allegory with a deep
meaning," said Jane.
"It is, and has hidden in its fanciful pictures described, the story of
the Adam creation, of the Fall of Man, the New Birth of a Saviour, and
the final resurrection from the dead when evil has been thrown to earth.
At least, that is what I found in it as I studied its text and realised
how much was buried in the words," replied Miss Miller.
"Miss Miller," came from Zan warningly, "remember--I too have that book
from the Smithsonian!"
The Guide laughed. "Well, what if you have?"
"I fear you will be drawn up to the black cloud by black magic unless
you hasten to make amends for your deception," threatened Zan.
"O Chief! I move that you tell us what evil deed the Guide has forced
upon us!" cried Jane, watching the two eagerly.
"O Brothers--or in this case, I should say 'O sistern,' our hitherto
revered Guide wove magic before your eyes as you did not know that her
tale was but half the story in the book. Now I shall make strong
medicine and you shall see the magic leave her in our power," spoke Zan,
in a thundering tone, meantime, weaving a spell in the air with her
hands and fingers, to the amusement of the girls.
Miss Miller, laughing, knew Zan would give her no peace until she had
accomplished her purpose--in this particular case, the conclusion of the
legend. So she stood up and saluted.
"Ha! the medicine worked quickly, sistern!" laughed Zan, seating
herself.
"The second half of this tale may be applied by each one here to some
profit," remarked Miss Miller, as a prelude to her legend.
"The day following the one the people had been returned to their homes
and living, the boys found the little red feather in the dust where it
had fallen when slashed down from the cloud.
"In great anger and spite they began to tear it to bits and throw the
down hither and thither. When they could find no further evidence that
the evil magic had once been powerful, they suddenly found themselves in
a snow-storm.
"It snowed and snowed until everything was covered. It piled up
everywhere--on houses, stalls, town, and trees--all were snowed under
and no day-light could peep in at the air-holes or doorways.
"Then little sister, who had been sleeping a long time, awoke and got
up. She heard the cries of her people who wanted air and light, and she
knew she must make medicine to help them overcome the evil they had
brought upon themselves through spite and mistaken punishment.
"So she made strong medicine and gave it to her brothers to rub on the
door-posts. They did and the snow melted instantly so that they could
breathe and see, but the snow still lay piled up in the streets and over
the other houses. And it also covered the smoke-hole of their house so
that no fire could burn to prepare the food. Still the snow fell and
fell until it seemed that the doorway would again be blocked up.
"Then little sister called upon her mother for help, and together they
made medicine and then called upon the birds to help.
"A blue jay soon flew over the smoke-hole of the house and dropped a
ripe elder-berry down through the opening. As the berry touched the
snow, the ice and sleet melted and soon vanished so that the roof was
clear.
"Now little sister took the berry and wherever it touched ice or sleet
or snow, the frozen magic melted and left off being.
"The blue jay flew over the other houses and dropped a berry down each
smoke-hole. In many homes the berry was used as advised and these
families were soon out of the ice and cold. In other places the people
were too busy shoveling snow to bother with the blue jay's berry and
they remained frozen still. Some used the berry to melt a way out of the
house and then wasted no more effort so the smoke-hole never worked
right and nourishment was scarce.
"When the bird had dropped a berry down every smoke-hole it flew back to
little sister's home and said: 'Now I must be on my way again. Who will
come with me to visit heaven, where I go?'
"Most of the children were eager to go so they climbed upon the bird's
back or clung to his wings and feet until he came to the clouds where
heaven was hidden away from earth-dwellers' sight.
"Once in heaven, the blue jay flapped his wings and rolled the children
off and told them he had to leave them for a short time to report what
he had done on the earth.
"Left alone, the children walked about enjoying the novel sights, until
one of the boys saw a _djo'lgi_ sniffing about. He threw a rock at the
animal and stunned it, then he ran over and tore it to bits and
scattered the fragments about, although the poor _djo'lgi_ had not done
anything to merit this cruelty.
"The children now felt hungry and said they would go and seek for
something to eat, as the blue jay had failed to return to help them find
bread.
"As they walked, they came to a house where a woman stood looking
anxiously about as if in search for someone.
"The children drew near and she said: 'Have you seen my child playing
about?'
"And they answered: 'We saw nothing but a _djo'lgi_ and it we killed.'
"'Oh, oh! You bad children! You have killed my child!' cried the woman.
Then she suddenly caught the children and pushed them in through the
open door and when they were all in she turned and said, 'Door, bolt
yourself.'
"Then the children trembled when they saw the door shut and bolt itself
and they knew they were again in the power of black magic.
"But little sister had had nothing to do with the killing of the
_djo'lgi_ and she now whispered to the brother who had held a firm root
in the earth when red feather tried to tear the crab-apple tree from the
ground: 'I will make medicine and smear some on you. That will turn you
into a cinder so that you can fly up the smoke-hole and get out. Then
find Blue Jay. With the medicine I smear on your head you can bring the
_djo'lgi_ back to life and let Blue Jay bring it home to the old woman.
When she finds her child alive and happy she will let us all go.'
"The boy did as sister told him, and when he was outside the smoke-hole
he flew about heaven until he found Blue Jay.
"So medicine was rubbed on the _djo'lgi_ and he was brought back to life
and carried home. There, a loud rap on the door made the old woman cry:
'Who's there?'
"And the _djo'lgi_ answered: 'It is your _djo'lgi_, mother, let me come
in.'
"She ran and unbolted the door and was so happy to have her child back
in her arms that she forgot to bolt the door again. Then the Blue Jay
led the children forth and they all went to the big house on the Cliff
where Blue Jay's grandmother lived. Here a fine feast was spread for the
visitors and after they had had all the juicy venison they could eat,
Blue Jay said: 'Come now, let us go to heaven.'
"But the grandmother said: 'How can all these children crawl through
safely when the clouds open and shut?'
"I'll show them how and if they mind they will get in,' replied the Blue
Jay.
"Then they said good-by to the grandmother and followed after Blue Jay
to the place where they had to creep in under the clouds if they wished
to see the great Bill-of-Heaven who was known everywhere as the
Power-of-the-shining-clouds.
"When they came to the edge of the blue sky where the clouds open and
shut continually, Blue Jay dipped his feathers in the blue to make them
brighter and meantime, some of the boys tried to run under the cloud and
so get into heaven first. But the cloud came down and caught them, so
they were turned into rain and poured down to help the earth blossom.
"Then some of the other children tried to rush through, and of these two
were caught under the edge of the cloud and were turned to thunder, and
the others who only got a glimpse of heaven were turned to lightning
from the brightness of the glory they saw.
"Blue Jay came back after a time and was sorry to hear some of the
children had not followed his advice but risked their happiness by being
rude and disobedient. Then he turned to the remaining children and said:
'I will watch for the time when you must rush in. I will call "Fly!"
then all must fly back and forth along the edge of the cloud till a
little rift of blue where a cloud lifts is seen. Dart through that but
never try it unless you see the rift of blue.'
"The little sister was told to follow with Blue Jay as he would see her
through. Then cinder brother and a few of the others waited and watched,
flying back and forth until they saw a rift break through a thick cloud,
and quickly they rushed through and found the glory of the sun and lived
happy in heaven ever after."
"How! How" cried the girls, some clapping their hands.
Eleanor sat and looked scornfully at the girls applauding. Then she
said, "If that isn't the silliest nonsense ever! Besides, _I_ think it
is positively sacrilegious to talk in that way about heaven!"
"Sacrilegious! Why should it be? It is the simple ancient beliefs of the
Indians who had no Bible as we have, and handed down these legends from
one generation to another to teach their children respect and obedience
to the Great Spirit," replied Zan.
"You certainly can't say that calling the Power above by the name of
'Bill-of-Heaven' is respect! I almost shivered when I heard Miss Miller
use such blasphemy!" retorted Eleanor.
"Why Eleanor, you are mistaken! The name is interpreted from the
original language where the Indians never even heard the name of 'Bill,'
so they could not use it in disrespect. In their tongue the term 'Bill'
means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not
condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses," said the Guide,
calmly.
"Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,"
begged Jane.
"I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves. I
can sit down and find a suitable lesson in it for the short-comings of
each one present," laughed Miss Miller, rising to close the Council
Meeting.
As the Woodcrafters left the building, Zan called after them: "Remember
to bring a finished product of your carpentry for the next Council!"
CHAPTER FIVE--A PRIZE CHEST
The following week, every member of Wickeecheokee Band was busy after
school, working hard on their carpentry. Some had decided to make wooden
toys for the little ones, some preferred odd pieces of furniture, such
as a foot-stool, a tabouret, a waste-paper-basket, etc. The older
Woodcrafters were busy making more difficult things as they had had some
practise in the handling of tools and wood. May Randall, not to be
outdone by the older members, wanted to manufacture a Woodcraft Chest to
hold the papers, beads, and other things she would collect in her
Woodcraft work as time went on.
"I never dreamed this work could be so tedious," sighed Ethel Clifford,
whittling away at a bit of wood that had to dove-tail into the other
section. She was making a set of fire-boards.
"One never realises how long a time hand-made articles take. That is why
they always cost more than machine made objects," added Anne Mason.
"I hope my tilting stools will look like the picture given in the
Manual," now said Mildred Howell. "If they don't work I shall give up in
despair."
"I think they look great, Mil. Maybe you'll get a _coup_," remarked Zan,
who looked up from the elaborate bead-loom she was decorating, having
constructed the entire machine of wood.
"I just adore that bead-loom you made, Zan," now said May Randall,
working industriously at the chest she was etching in pyrography.
"I'll tell you what, May! If the bead-loom you expect to make turns out
half as fine as that chest, it will be better than mine," praised Zan.
"I never saw a girl handle tools as naturally and deftly as you do--for
a greenhorn, too!"
May laughed in a pleased tone for honest praise is sweet.
"What is Eleanor Wilbur making, girls?" asked Hilda.
"I don't know--she hasn't been with us yet, you know," replied Anne
Mason, evasively.
"Is she doing anything else besides making trouble?" asked May Randall,
in her blunt way.
"I'll thank you to mind your own business, Miss May Randall," called a
voice from the door.
The girls flushed guiltily as they looked up and found Eleanor herself
trembling with anger. She had stopped at Zan's house to leave a borrowed
book and the maid told her the girls were on the back-porch working. So
she happened there unannounced.
"Well, are you, Eleanor?" persisted May, defiantly.
"I'll tell you what's troubling you, all right--you dog-in-the-manger,
you! You're afraid I'll win out ahead of you in the test for membership,
so you go to work in an underhanded way to prejudice the others against
me," declared Eleanor.
"Hardly, Miss Wilbur, for Zan just told us that Ethel handed her a
letter to be read at the weekly Council. She is to go to California next
month to be gone all Winter so she has withdrawn her application till
Spring," snapped May, with satisfaction.
"Then there are only five after all," said Eleanor, a gleam of pleasure
on her face.
"There may be only four--if one of the new members keeps on the
undesirable pathway she has trodden since applying for membership!"
taunted May, who had a sharp tongue at times.
"Pooh!" sounded from Eleanor and Jane banged her work down loudly upon
the floor and said angrily:
"For pity's sake, forget it--you two! We never had a single scrap like
this when we were at Camp!"
"I'm not scrapping a bit," defended Eleanor. "It is that hateful old
thing over there. But as I am going now anyway, don't bother to shut her
up. I'm on my way to visit Miss Miller, so I will just mention the fact
that Miss Randall is running the Tribe now, and she as old Guide can
resign gracefully or be ousted by the new Guide!" sneered Eleanor,
slamming the door as she left the porch.
"Can't we put her out, girls! I am getting to hate her," cried May,
spitefully.
"You're letting your anger get the best of you, May. It has already made
you lose out in one test--same as Eleanor has. Besides, Eleanor may need
Woodcraft more than any of us, because the work isn't a matter of
pastime as much as for improvement," said Zan, who had had a private
talk with the Guide and to her questions about ousting Eleanor, had been
told some truths that made her think of Nita and the impatience the
girls felt at her in Camp that Summer.
"Girls, since Zan spoke of May's Woodcraft box I have been thinking--why
can't we have contests in work and give a prize to the one having the
best product to show with the others at the exhibit?" said Elena, trying
to change their current of thought.
"Let's do it! The one to win this Saturday, to have a suitable prize
awarded for the different points covered," said Zan.
"It will be for neatness, utility, beauty, and time taken in the
making," suggested Jane.
"I wonder if Headquarters ever started contests with the Woodcrafters
for certain requirements well-done?" wondered Nita.
"Let's have Miss Miller write to find out. Maybe we can give them a new
idea," commented Hilda.
Silence followed for a few moments after that decision and Nita began
humming a new Hawaiian air.
"That reminds me, Nita, did you find any new folk songs that we might
adapt for dancing?" asked Jane.
"Oh, yes, I have a dandy! Want to see me do it while you take a little
rest from work?" cried eager Nita.
Nita never lost an opportunity to dance, and it was her greatest delight
to show her friends any new steps or figures she had improvised for a
Woodcraft Folk Song or Dance, which really is true dancing from
over-flowing joy in the heart--but not the so-called wanton dances in
vogue at the present time.
The girls always enjoyed watching the graceful form as it bent low or
whirled around in the Indian Acting Songs, so to-day they approved the
suggestion to rest and be entertained by Nita.
"I shall have to sing the words in French as Miss Miller and I haven't
translated them yet. The air is familiar to most of you and you must hum
it with me. Now I will sing and slowly step the bars while you try to
study the action and practise it at home," announced Nita.
SUR LE PONT D'AVIGNON
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse;
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond,
Les beaux messieurs font comm' ga,
Et puis encor comm' ga:
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse
Sur le pont d'Avignon
Tout le mondey danse en rond.
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse;
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond.
Les belles dames font comm' ga,
Et puis encor comm' ga:
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond.
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse;
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond,
Et les capucins font comm' ga,
Et puis encor comm' ga,
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse
Sur le pont d'Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond.
----
Thereupon Nita danced The Bridge song to the satisfaction of her
audience. They applauded and encored until she laughingly consented to
treat them to their favourite dances. Many of these were steps invented
by Nita to improve upon the old folk dances. When the girl, breathless,
finally sat down, the other girls complimented her to her heart's
content.
"I wish we could learn that bridge song and dance it for Miss Miller as
a surprise," suggested Zan.
"Let's do it!" abetted Elena.
"We ought to complete our carpentry work first," ventured May.
"We haven't any extra class studies at home this week so we might
carpenter in the afternoons and dance at night," eagerly said Nita.
"Why not come over to my house at eight and I will have the rugs and
furniture moved out of the living-room. Anne and I will be all alone
this evening as the others are going out," added Frances Mason.
"That's fine! Who can meet at the Masons' at eight to-night?" called
Zan, looking about at the Woodcrafters.
"We surely will--every one of us," accepted Hilda.
"Well, don't waste our time making us wait for you. If someone can't
come let her telephone before meeting-time," advised Anne Mason.
"Hoh! Anne doesn't know us yet! Catch a Woodcrafter being late when
there's any fun going!" laughed Jane.