  THINGS TO THINK ABOUT 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 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. image An Eskimo drawing of reindeer caught in snares. image “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. image 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 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. |
|
