THE PRAYER STICK
Bah was making a prayer stick. The prayer stick is an old custom among
the Indians, and every Indian child knows about it. But Bah had never
wanted anything badly enough to try the charm. Now, it was the only
thing left for her to do.
She took the branch of a tree, a straight branch which she cleaned, and
then she took the feather of an eagle. She tied the feather to the end
of the stick with a bit of wool from her loom. She wrapped the wool
around and around, and when the feather was secure in place she made a
hole in the ground and put the other end of the stick into the hole.
The stick stood up straight and the feather on top of it waved slightly
in the breeze.
[Illustration: THE PRAYER STICK]
Bah stood over her handiwork, raised her two arms skyward and prayed:
"Oh, Prayer Stick," she chanted in Navajo, "please take my prayer to
the sky on this eagle's feather! My prayer is for a doll!"
Now, you may think that Bah was idol-worshipping--that she didn't know
better than to pray to a stick and a feather! But this was not the
case. She knew very well that it was the Great Father who saw and heard
all, but her ancestors had all used the eagle feather to convey to the
Great Father their prayers and to tell Him their needs.
It was only a method of reaching her God. When her people wanted the
rain to fall they danced the great Eagle Dance for rain, and the Great
Father saw and understood. This prayer of Bah's was only her way of
asking what you would no doubt ask with your eyes closed and your hands
folded together.
She did not know that she was being watched. As she started her prayer,
Billy had approached the hogan. His first thought had been to call to
her, but somehow he had felt that what she was doing was not to be
interrupted, so he stopped.
It was not his intention to listen secretly to something he had no
right to hear. But as he stopped, she prayed so loudly that he could
not help hearing and, anyway, she did not seem to care for she went on
and on, regardless of the fact that she was out in broad daylight, in
front of her hogan, and anyone might pass before her door.
The prayer was repeated, and it was not until she had recited it many
times that she lowered her arms and with them her gaze from the
heavens, and beheld the white boy standing a few yards away. He stood
holding his pony's bridle with one hand, and the other hand was behind
his back. He looked at her questioningly and then at the Prayer Stick,
whose feather was waving back and forth. Bah smiled and said: "I make
this prayer stick to pray for doll."
[Illustration: "THEN BAH GIVE IT TO YOU."]
It was hard for the boy to grasp her meaning, for he knew so little
about the Indians and their queer customs. However, he smiled back at
her and, keeping his hand behind him, asked: "Where is the blanket you
made, Bah?"
"You like to see?" she questioned sweetly.
"Yes, please," said Billy.
Bah went towards the hogan and took from a nail the blanket she had
failed to sell. It was hanging on the outside wall of the hogan, a
proof that it was appreciated here if not at the Trading Post. Bah
brought it over and held it up for Billy to see.
"You like?" she asked innocently, cocking her head on one side like a
little sparrow.
"I like very much, Bah," answered Billy eagerly. "I like to--"
Bah did not allow him to finish his sentence, but, starting to drape
the blanket about his shoulders, she smilingly said: "Then Bah give to
you!"
The boy stood amazed while the little Indian girl patted the blanket
into place on his shoulders. She was giving him the blanket which she
had tried so hard to trade. It was really spoiling everything for him.
He had hoped to make quite a dramatic scene out of the trade, and the
doll was to be a genuine surprise. Now it looked as though Bah had
forgotten the doll and even the blanket, for she gave it up so easily
and was standing in front of him smiling sweetly.
"I'll trade you something for the blanket, Bah," he began.
"Oh, no--Bah give--no trade!"
It was settled. Billy could see that by the look in her eyes. He
brought forth his package.
"Then Billy will give Bah this," he exclaimed, holding out the bundle
to her. Solemnly Bah looked into his face. Her eyes seemed to ask many
questions but she said nothing. Billy understood. He tore the string,
undid the package, and the girl's eyes never left his face. It was as
though she had guessed what was there. She looked down and beheld in
his hands--the doll!
Her mouth opened and she formed only the word "Oh"--Billy put the
papoose doll into her arms. Slowly and solemnly she kissed it. Then,
turning quickly she ran to her mother who was weaving in the
accustomed place--
"Ma Shima, oh, Ma Shima! The papoose doll! She is mine. The Great
Father has sent her!"
[Illustration: "AND BILLY GIVE BAH THIS."]
It was all in Navajo and Billy did not understand. He watched her as
she sat down beside her mother and held up her new treasure. He heard
her mother emit sounds, though he could hardly see her lips moving. Had
he been able to understand Navajo he would have heard some very sweet
and happy words.
Then Bah's mother looked over at Billy. She beckoned him to come and he
came. Her black, beady eyes followed him until he stood before her. He
did not know what to think of the smile she gave him. Was it friendly,
or was she mocking him?
Billy had never before met an Indian woman, and he was puzzled by the
black eyes so deep and mysterious. Billy found himself staring, and
was suddenly aware of himself standing before a lady with his hat on.
He doffed his sombrero and in doing so he smiled. Bah's mother smiled
back, and said in a musical voice, "Sit down."
[Illustration: BAH AND THE PAPOOSE DOLL]
He sat beside her. Bah was on her other side, absorbed in her doll.
Billy smiled into the face of the Indian woman and she put her arm
about him and said:
"White boy good friend to Indian!"
[Illustration: "WHITE BOY GOOD FRIEND TO INDIAN!"]