said it would be a good plan to begin regular work on the bead trimmings
as she wished every girl to complete a handsome set of banding for a
ceremonial costume in which to appear at Grand Councils.
This motion was agreed upon and Elena entered the vote in the Tally
Book, that each girl was to present the results of her bead-loom work a
month from that day.
Later in the evening the Guide spoke of the many ways Woodcraft girls
had in the city of following pursuits they little dreamed of.
"For instance: when you are on the streets and the wind is blowing the
dust about, always keep your mouth closed and breathe through the
nostrils. Also keep your toes nearly straight when walking and expand
the chest. In crossing a street, always look both ways, especially in a
crowded thoroughfare, before attempting to cross. Most of the accidents
to pedestrians are caused by people in a hurry, or impatient, and not
obeying the traffic laws. When one is mindful of law one is always
protected and safe. Now I wonder how many of you know the meaning of the
coloured lights on the street lamps, or other places? How many girls are
familiar with the signals of policemen, particularly the traffic squad?"
Very few of the girls could answer correctly to these vital questions,
and the Guide explained, then continued her talk to them.
"Besides the city signs and laws every girl should know where the parks,
museums, libraries, and other public buildings are located so anyone
inquiring for them can be directed without loss of time or
confusion--also for our own convenience.
"In the museums we can study the national costumes and customs of every
nation in the world, from the collections on exhibit of different
periods in history. Any interested person can find in the wonderful free
exhibits, the pictures, statuary, carvings, relics, and many other
things impossible to find elsewhere, a liberal education in itself.
"Besides these treasures, gathered at great cost of time, life, and
money, for us to enjoy at our leisure, we also have the aquarium at
Battery Park, Zoological Gardens, Horticultural Gardens, and many
interesting streets and structures of old New York that one never thinks
of being in existence. The public lectures given gratis every week to
anyone who will avail themselves of the privilege, the great Community
Chorus founded to train voices in the best music, the singers giving
public concerts for all at different times each year, and numerous other
sources of educational interests where you are invited and welcomed as
warmly as if you paid an exorbitant fee to attend--all these places can
be found by referring to the daily papers.
"In speaking of the many advantages girls had without using a third of
them, Mrs. Remington mentioned that her Tribe went to the New York Parks
last year and actually found one hundred different kinds of trees, a
hundred wild flowers, sixty kinds of birds flying about, furry
four-footed animals, turtles, snakes, and other things mentioned in the
Manual for _coups_ and grand _coups_."
"I never thought of that!" declared Zan, thoughtfully.
"Neither did I. Can't we go, too, Miss Miller, and make up our hundred
for grand _coups_?" asked Jane.
"Of course we can, and that is why I mentioned it. Even the new members
can find what they need right in Central Park. Then there is the Bronx
and Van Courtlandt Parks should you exhaust the 'happy hunting grounds'
of Central Park," replied the Guide, pleased.
"Oh girls, can't we go right soon?" exclaimed Anne Mason.
"Gracious! There seems more to do than one Winter can ever find time
for!" sighed Nita.
"I know that sigh by this time--Nita thinks we won't bother to dance if
we adventure about the wilds of New York!" laughed Zan.
"Everything in its own place, you know. We will have as much time for
steps and songs as ever, for the evenings at home can be devoted to
indoor fun, you know," explained the Guide.
"I'm glad we won't have any extra studies to catch up with this year.
When we had to forge ahead to make room for scholars last year, we
couldn't possibly have had any Woodcraft fun in the evenings," ventured
Hilda, gratefully.
"And so the completion of the new High School on the other side of the
city is a blessing to you Woodcrafters," said Miss Miller.
"We ought to have our individual Tally Books all ready for entries if we
go off on trips like the ones you mentioned," suggested May.
"Yes, and I want you to each have your totems completed so that
important incidents or progress can be depicted on the pole. Besides the
totems and Tallies, each girl must make a good set of rubbing sticks and
the bag and other adjuncts to complete a fire set. We ought to make and
decorate articles of useful furniture, to make a garment, to cook and
preserve, and many other pursuits that can be best done in the Winter
indoors."
"Miss Miller, I am going to follow Elizabeth Remington's idea. She made
a bead band trimming on which the story of a Summer in camp was
pictured. I shall do the same, and in symbolic pictures tell the story
of our camp on the farm," said Zan.
"Oh Zan, that will be fine! Call it the costume of the 'Woodcraft Girls
at Camp,'" said Jane.
"Do you mind if we girls make one that way?" asked Elena.
"Of course not! It isn't likely that any of you will work out the same
idea in beads as I will," replied Zan.
"I think the plan is good and the ceremonial dresses ought to look
beautiful," approved Miss Miller.
Thus an incentive for beading and sewing was offered the original
members of Wickeecheokee Band. But the new members thought they could
design Indian figures and symbols that would be pretty and answer the
present need for trimming, and when they had had practise and
experiences to picture they could add to their bead-work.
That evening the girls learned that Woodcraft was not so much a matter
of camps and meetings as of individual study and growth--and application
of the highest and best that one was possible of doing.
"O Chief! Will you try and see Eleanor to-morrow and tell her of our
plans for the Winter? Possibly the very fact of your seeking her to
mention this meeting as an item of Tribe business will assure her that
we all wish her to do her share in the undertaking," said Miss Miller,
as the meeting adjourned.
Zan sought out the wayward member although she disliked an errand like
this one. She reported the different plans the Guide outlined for the
girls and then told Eleanor to "get busy" on her bead trimming for a
leather costume.
"Dear me, it is nothing but work, work, work, in your Lodge. Now I heard
from a girl who is a Woodcrafter in Plainfield, and _she_ says they have
the jolliest times! They go to entertainments, have candy pulls,
parties, and almost every week they all go to some place of amusement
together. _You_ never do that!" complained Eleanor.
"If that girl tells the truth and is a real Woodcrafter she combines
pleasure with advancement. Maybe she considers a hike or a Council a
party, and you misunderstood her. She may think she 'is having the best
of times' going to a lecture which you misconstrue as a place of
amusement. Anyway, it doesn't matter what some folks think or do, Wako
Tribe has a pattern of its own and it cuts its cloth accordingly,"
replied Zan, not too humbly, for she felt impatient at the reception
given her message from Miss Miller.
Eleanor shrugged her shoulders and Zan left her without another word,
both feeling the occasion had been given for a better understanding but
the result of it was a failure.
After the meeting at which the girls realised the many free resorts
where Woodcraft _coups_ could be won, they took new interest in
home-work as well. Zan completed a set of rustic furniture made of the
timber from the farm, and this set of table, two chairs, and two stools
was decorated with Indian emblems.
"Dad, isn't this a peachy set?" asked she when it was finished and
standing on the wide rear porch for exhibition.
"It certainly is, Daughter. Now the question is, where shall we keep it
until next Spring when we can ship it to the farm?" answered the doctor.
"Keep it? Why, in the parlour, of course!" declared Zan, frowning at the
implied meaning in her father's question.
"And sell the junk mother has there to a second hand dealer! Of course!
how could I have been so stupid as to think otherwise," replied Dr.
Baker meekly. Zan studied his face but his expression was inscrutable.
"We-el-1--I s'pose I _might_ keep it in the library!" ventured she, as
she pictured her mother's
solid-mahogany-frames-upholstered-silk-velour-furniture thrown on a
scrap wagon.
"Maybe--I am only suggesting, of course--maybe we could ship it to the
farm this Fall and store there until next Summer," said the doctor.
"But I expect to use it all the time, Dad. Right this week I shall sit
on the chair and use the table," cried Zan.
"Then let us leave it just where it is for the time being as you need
all the fresh air you can get during the fine Indian Summer weather.
When the snow blows we can freight it to Wickeecheokee."
Everyone Zan knew was brought to the house to admire the rustic
furniture, but after a week of exhibiting she grew weary of repeating
verbally the methods of manufacturing the set, and then she settled down
to use it when at work on the bead-loom.
The table and a chair were carried to the birches still green, growing
in one corner of the grass-plat, and here Zan wove the banding, her
nimble fingers flying in and out, back and forth, as the bead trimming
began to take on unique and pretty pictures of camp-life.
Now and then some of the other girls would join Zan and work on the
looms, and at these visits tongues would talk of the many plans for
Tribe activities that Winter.
"Do you see any improvement in Eleanor?" asked Jane, one day.
"Funny that you should ask me that. I asked Miss Miller the same thing
this morning," replied Zan.
"What did she say?" from Jane.
"She thought the change wrought for the better was more mental and
spiritual than in material expression, but the results were bound to be
apparent to everyone in time."
"Guess it will be a long time, then!" retorted Jane.
"Miss Miller says we mustn't feel that way about it. That we are killing
the frail child of a weak but higher aspiration. If we train our
thoughts to consider the motives and yearnings for a more harmonious
life that the girl _must_ have, we will not condemn and criticise her
acts. It is the _human_ judgment of _things_ that makes obstacles in the
road of one's advancement, she told me."
"Dear me, I wish I was as good and wise as Miss Miller," sighed Jane,
gazing skyward.
"Say, you're not the only one holding a mortgage on that wish! Every
blessed girl of Wako Tribe tries to copy the model Guide," said Zan,
smilingly, as she remembered Fiji's words: "If you knew as much as your
Guide, what a wonderful sister you would be."
Miss Miller had reports to make out that week-end so there was no hope
of camping, but the girls felt they had so much to do in the city that
the outing would not be missed. A plan was made for the following week,
however, to camp on the Palisades. The Guide invited the girls to meet
her for a short time in the gymnasium that Friday, to decide upon a
location for the camp.
Miss Miller was not in the room when the girls gathered together, but
she came in shortly afterward. Her face beamed with pleasant news and
Zan immediately said:
"We know from your expression that you know something good!"
"Yes, I do, and the letter just came on the last mail. I just received
the pass for our Band admitting us to the lectures and cinematograph
pictures given at the National Museum of History in New York. They start
next week and the course, which is on Indian Crafts and Folk Lore
beginning with the Zuni Indians, will be of great interest and help to
us. I want every one of you girls to try and attend these lectures with
me, so better ask permission from your parents."
"Oh, that _is_ good news!" cried Elena.
"We sure are indebted to you, Miss Miller, for all the trouble you take
for our enjoyment," added Zan.
The other girls expressed their gratitude, too, and then the talk
centered on the expectations of what these lectures would bring forth.
Miss Miller saw the condition that often exists when folks are given
something to look forward to in the near future--their thoughts fill
with outlines and ideas of that which is to be, instead of living and
making the best of that which is offered at the immediate present. The
wise Guide knew that this form of mental picturing and outlining of
things, still misty and indistinct to the individual, was an undesirable
state of imagination so she quickly changed the current of their
thoughts by saying:
"Girls, I have an odd Indian legend founded on the constellation of
'Charles Wain.' Want to hear it?"
Naturally every girl cried for the story and they sat down in a circle
to listen.
CHAPTER ELEVEN--CAMP AT ALPINE FALLS
"This myth comes from the Tlingit Indians of Alaska and is named 'The
Wain House People,'" began Miss Miller.
"Certain Indians came to a fort to live, and after a time began killing
bears, ground-hogs, porcupines, mountain sheep, and other animals for
food. After they had killed them, they cut off the heads and set them up
on sticks about the village, then the people sang to these objects.
"Now there was a young man among them who was to be Chief. When he was
born he had been placed in a sheep's skin instead of cradle. As he grew
older he was able to follow the mountain sheep to places on the cliffs
where no one else could go, hence he killed more sheep than anyone else.
"After he had cut off and mounted the heads of his sheep he, too, would
sing and dance about them, saying tauntingly: 'I wish I was a sheep! I
wish my head was cut off too!'
"Meantime, the mountain sheep were becoming angry at losing so many of
their flocks and one day, when the villagers went up for a great hunt,
they met a flock of sheep that led them up the steep mountain-side to a
place where they appeared to be herding together.
"But once near the sheep, the people were surprised to see them race
still higher up the side of the steep rocks. The young hunter who wished
to be a great chief ran after them and became separated from his
companions. When on the very top of the peak he was met by a fine
looking young man who shone like the sun and had a long white beard like
the mountain ancients. This stranger turned to the youth who had been
cradled in a sheep's skin and invited him to his home. He led the way
inside of the mountain where everything looked weird and strange. Great
heaps of horns were piled everywhere, and the stranger said: 'These are
the horns I am keeping to fit to the heads of the villagers.'
"When the young man's friends missed him they sought day and night
without success, then they went home to plan how to rescue him. For many
days the search was resumed until finally they discovered his horn-spear
stuck in the ground near the top of the peak. But no other clue could
they find although they kept up a search for many days.
"Then the villagers declared that he was lost to them and they wailed
and beat the drums for the hunter who came not back.
"Now the shining stranger tried to fit a pair of horns on the young
hunter's head. They were heated and, when taken from the terrific fire
that burned continually in the pit of the mountain, they were put upon
and held to his head so that the poor hunter thought the insides of his
head would be burnt out.
"During this trial, a few of the hunter's friends still sought for him
whenever they hunted on the mountain-side, and after a year's time, a
young man climbed up the peak after a flock of mountain sheep, and there
he heard someone shout to him. He knew it was the friend who had been
lost. He shouted back, but the lost friend began singing and saying: 'I
must go now, the shining stranger comes and will find me.'
"The young man ran back to the village and told everyone what he had
heard. They were surprised to hear that a stranger lived on top of the
mountain, but one old villager said: 'It must be the
Man-of-the-Sun-shining-on-the-Mountain-Peaks.'
"So they set out to capture all the sheep that lived on that mountain,
knowing that the Man-of-the-Sun would try to prevent his sheep from
being killed. Then they would bargain for the life of their friend in
exchange for the sheep.
"Now the sheep that lived on the very peak of the mountain could see
down into the valleys when the villagers went out to hunt. And they said
to the young man: 'Your people come again to kill all the sheep. Tell
them, therefore, that if they will throw away their weapons we will let
you go, but if they persist in killing our flocks we will also kill
you.'
"The young captive then went out on the very edge of the cliff and
called down to his people: 'The sheep say they will send me back if you
will give up the chase of their flocks. Now you must hear them or I
shall be thrown into the pit of fire.'
"But the young hunter who heard the voice called back: 'We must have
food. What shall we do without sheep?'
"Then an old ram came up to the captive and said: 'Tell them if they
must have us for food, they can at least hang up our sheep-skins on the
poles which hold our heads. If the heads and skins are faced toward the
rising sun our Chief will bring us all safely home again for another
time. If you stick eagles' feathers on our skins we can fly from your
village without trouble. You should mount the heads of grizzly bears on
poles and face them toward the night. For they are wicked animals.'
"So the captive repeated the words of the ram and when he had finished
speaking he was hurried back inside the mountain for fear his friends
would shoot at and kill the sheep waiting on the peak.
"And the people did try to kill the sheep and recover their friend, and
so many of the flock were killed and carried away that the
Man-of-the-Shining-Sun came out and spoke.
"'This is the last time the mountain sheep will talk with you. If your
people will not do as we say, then I will kill you. But if they will
listen to you and will not make war on the sheep till Fall, when we
always go down from the peaks to graze in the timber lands below the
glacier, then they can come with their dogs and save you.'
"In the Autumn, therefore, the people prepared to make a great hunt and
kill sheep for Winter food. The sheep were already in the timber lands
below the glacier and when the villagers came up the side of the
mountain the Man-of-the-Shining-Sun sent the captive down the steep
cliff to meet his friends. As he stood there with horns on his head and
a sheep-skin covering his body, the dogs thought he was a sheep and
charged upon him. But they soon recognised a friend and ran back to bark
for the hunters.
"When the villagers heard the story they promised they would not kill
any sheep that year, but hunt for grizzlies and deer for food. They
broke their spears and other weapons and threw them over the side of the
cliff, and as they did so the horns fell off and the sheep-skin
disappeared from the young man's form. And he stood forth strong and
courageous as ever; his people found he smelled like the things that
grow up on top of the mountains where the wind and sky and earth are
pure and sweet.
"The people were happy and escorted him to the village. The moment he
saw the sheep-skins lying about he said: 'Dampen these and hang them up
on poles with feathers stuck to them. Place them facing the rising sun
as I promised the ram we would do.'
"When the skins were ready to mount the young man painted each face red
and stuck eagles' down on the backs. As he hung each skin facing the sun
he said: 'You are in just the position your Chief ordered, now fly
away.'
"Early the next morning the fort shook as with a mighty earth-quake and
every piece of flesh that had been eaten from the sheep-skins was
replaced by new flesh, and as the young chief opened the door of his
wigwam the sheep-skins, now plumped out and alive again, ran away
towards the mountain.
"But, strange to say, the sheep-skins had been so long with the people
that many of them had beards when their skins filled out again. And many
of the sheep forgot their mountain habits and wandered about at the foot
of the cliffs, so that they became tame and lived with men ever after.
"After the sheep were sent back to the mountains, the
Man-of-the-Shining-Sun on the Mountain Peak sent a good spirit to the
young chief who had obeyed and kept his promise. The spirit would be his
strength so that he could do anything he wanted done.
"At the gift presented to their young chief the people rejoiced greatly,
and made him a pair of snowshoes, a shaman's mask, and many bows and
arrows. Then the chief ordered the people to come to him. They were then
at Fort-by-a-small-lake, which was west of Juneau City, and there they
built a big house for the chief with a good spirit. On the door-posts of
this house they carved the signs of the Great Dipper. Then the shaman
fasted four days and four nights and when the constellation appeared and
blessed the people, those people were called Wain House People and have
been so called ever since."
"There isn't much hidden truth in that legend," said Zan, who felt
disappointed with the story.
"I liked it, all right," said Elena.
"It's a queer tale--some of those Indian stories are so impossible as to
be ridiculous," commented Hilda.
"In our translations perhaps, but we must remember that many words in
the Eskimo are impossible to translate properly and still retain beauty
and sense. But the story goes to show that at a remote age the Alaskan
Indians knew and named the 'Wain,' even as the present age does."
The week-end determined upon for a camp on the Hudson proved to be
perfect October weather, and great was the buzzing about the gymnasium
as the girls packed their outfits and waited for the three autos to
carry them to the nearest place for the Alpine camp.
Miss Miller had heard much about the wild grandeur and beauty of Alpine
in the Autumn, and she had pictured a beautiful place of Nature. But she
was disappointed when the cars stopped on the Fort Lee road and Jim
said:
"This is as far as we can safely go."
The girls were compelled, therefore, to carry their outfits across the
stubbly fields to reach the woods that fringed the river cliffs. The
chauffeurs gave all the assistance they could, and when the woods were
reached they left to return home, while the campers struggled on to find
a suitable site.
The entire area along the Palisades had been purchased as city property
and was being ploughed over; diseased timber was cut down, and down
timber chopped up ready to remove, when the Tribe first caught a glimpse
of the place. Wherever a clearing had been, was now used for piling up
refuse, stones, and brushwood. The day was unusually warm for the season
and the heavy packs which had to be carried to camp did not help anyone
to feel more cheerful.
"Oh, this is awful! I wish I had never come!" complained Eleanor,
stopping every other moment to gasp and rest.
"It isn't very alluring, I must admit," said Miss Miller, as
disappointed as the others.
"Great Caesar's ghost! _What_ are they going to do with this upside-down
area!" finally cried Nita, as she caught her toe in some half-buried
trash and fell head-long into a rut newly ploughed that week.
"It's in the throes of being transformed into a Park!" laughed Zan.
"Oh no!" called Jane, "this is the evolution of a dancing floor for
Nita."
After many stumblings and grumblings, the Tribe reached the cool shadows
of the woodland where they found a plain trail running along the crest
of the river bank. Zan led the way and after they had gone some distance
through the dense woods she came to a natural clearing that projected
far over on the cliff. She went out there and instantly dropped her
pack.
"Oh! Come here and see the wonderful view!" shouted she.
Everyone dropped the tiresome luggage and gladly ran out to join Zan.
"Ah! This repays us for all the toil and hardships endured," exclaimed
Miss Miller, with clasped hands, admiring the view.