Why do you think people began to live in places where there were no
caves? Can you think what kind of a shelter they might find?
Find out all you can about the difference between the winter and
summer coat of some animal you know.
Which skins do you think would be used for curtains and beds? Which
skins would be used for clothing? Which for the heavy winter coats?
_Willow-grouse_
Soon after the salmon feast, Willow-grouse saw her people again. When
they went away, no one knew why she stayed behind. When they returned,
no one noticed how eager she was to hear all that was said. So
Willow-grouse kept her secret from every one in the clan.
Many days the people hunted; but, at length, there were signs of the
coming cold. It was then that the wise men gave an order to prepare
for the journey to the winter home.
All but Willow-grouse obeyed; but she heeded not what was said. It was
not because she did not hear the command. It was not because she did
not care to live with her own people. It was simply because she
remembered Fleetfoot and was waiting for his return.
And so, when the women chided her for being a thoughtless girl, they
little thought that Willow-grouse was making plans of her own. In the
confusion of packing, nobody noticed that she stayed behind, and many
moons passed before they learned what Willow-grouse did.
As soon as her people were out of sight Willow-grouse began to make
ready for Fleetfoot. There was no cave near at hand, but there were
high overhanging rocks. Under one of these the people had camped. They
found the roof and back wall of a dwelling ready-made. So they simply
camped at the foot of the rock and built their camp-fire.
Willow-grouse knew that the bare rock was a good shelter in summer.
But she also knew that it would soon be too cold to live in such an
open space. So she cut long poles and braced them under the roof so as
to make a framework for front and side walls. Then she covered the
framework with plaited branches, and left a narrow doorway which she
closed with a skin.
It was hard work to make the rock shelter, but Willow-grouse did not
mind it. She kept thinking of Fleetfoot all the time, and she hoped
the rock shelter would be their new home.
[Illustration: _An Eskimo drawing of reindeer caught in snares._]
When Willow-grouse looked at her dress, she saw it was much the worse
for wear. So she set snares in the reindeer trails and caught two
beautiful reindeer.
[Illustration: "_A piece of sandstone for flattening seams._"]
The soft summer skins of the reindeer had short, fine hair.
Willow-grouse scraped and pounded them and then polished them with
sandstone.
Willow-grouse took great pains in making her new garments. She
flattened the seams with a piece of sandstone until they were nice and
smooth. Then she gathered fossil shells from the rocks and trimmed the
neck and sleeves. And she made a beautiful headband and belt, and
pretty moccasins for her feet.
[Illustration: _A reindeer snare._]
And when the time drew near for Fleetfoot's return, Willow-grouse
dressed in her new garments. She put on the necklace of fossil shells
and thought of Fleetfoot's last words.
Fleetfoot kept his promise. When the new moon came he appeared. Then
Willow-grouse became his wife and he lived with her in their new home.
#THINGS TO DO#
_Look at the picture of a rock shelter on page 14._
_Find some large rocks and put them in your sand-box so as to show
a natural rock shelter. Make a framework for front and side walls,
and see if you can make it into a warm hut. Model the upper
valley._
_Find a piece of sandstone which you can use in polishing skins._
_Dress a doll the way you think Willow-grouse dressed. Dress a doll
the way you think Fleetfoot dressed._
_Find pretty seeds and shells which you can use in trimming belts
and headbands. Before sewing the seeds or shells on the band, lay
them so as to make a pretty pattern. After you have made your
pattern draw it on paper, so that you can look at it while you are
trimming the band._