  Mewanee was a brave little Indian boy. He lived in a forest of North America with his father and mother and his baby brother. There were many other Indian people who lived in the same forest, and Mewanee’s father was chief of them all. Mewanee was very proud to be the chief’s son, for the chief was always the bravest of all the Indians of his tribe. Baby brother was swinging in his cradle from the branches of the tall cedar tree. Mother had made this cradle from the bark of the linden tree. It was lined with soft rushes so that baby might be quite comfortable as he lay in it. The little boy could not fall out of his queer cradle because he was tied in by means of strong deer sinews. At first baby brother seemed quite contented as the gentle wind rocked the cradle to and fro. How tall and slender and straight Mewanee’s body was! Mewanee had only a small piece of deer skin thrown about his copper-colored body. The wind tossed his coarse black hair about his face and shoulders as he played. Suddenly Mewanee stopped running and stood very still. He looked intently at a little hare as it scampered about the trees. Now the hare saw Mewanee. Playfully it approached him, then slyly Mewanee dashed after it, forgetting all about baby brother, who was swinging in his linden cradle. How lightly he ran and how swiftly! His legs went as fast as the wind. On and on scampered the hare, in and out among the trees, seeming to enjoy the race. Now it stopped, and Mewanee almost caught up to it. Away it ran again, faster and faster. Mewanee called to it by making sounds that hares understand, but the little hare did not stop. MEWANEE DASHED AFTER IT Again and again he called, but the hare ran on and on. Mewanee sat down on the ground for a moment to rest. The little hare ran deep into the forest and was soon lost from sight. Suddenly Mewanee put his ear to the ground and listened. Baby brother was crying because he had been left alone. He wished Mewanee to play with him. Mewanee shouted to his brother as he ran along. He shouted again and again, for he wished baby brother to know that he was coming. Baby brother heard Mewanee’s call and stopped crying. He could not answer Mewanee because he was only a baby and could not talk. Mewanee soon reached the tree where baby brother’s cradle hung. Mewanee peeped into the cradle and spoke to the little boy. Baby brother smiled at Mewanee. His tiny face wrinkled all up and Mewanee could hardly see his little black eyes. Baby brother looked very much like Mewanee, but of course he was only What fun the two brothers had as they watched the little grey squirrels frisk in and out among the branches of the very tree from which baby brother’s cradle hung! Mewanee gathered some nuts, and the little squirrels hopped about him saying, “Chip, chip, chip! Please give us the nuts!” How eagerly they took the nuts from Mewanee’s hand! Then they sat up on their hind legs and nibbled the nuts with great glee. The birds, too, sang happily from their nests in the tree-tops. They seemed to be singing to Mewanee and baby brother. Mewanee answered the song. Indian people could talk to all the animals of the forest. These two Indian boys were having a happy time together when their mother came from the field. She swung her tiny papoose on her back, and away they went, Mewanee, mother and baby brother. Mewanee’s mother looked like all of the other Indian women. She had long black hair and copper-colored skin. A MOCCASIN She had a light weight skin wound about her waist, for it was summer time and she did not need the heavier fur skin which she wore in winter. There were moccasins on her feet, and long chains of beads and shells about her neck. Mewanee wished to go more quickly, so he ran on ahead of his mother and baby brother. He was very happy and gay as he ran onward. Finally he reached the opening in the forest where were the many wigwams which made the Indian village. Mother and baby brother soon reached the village. Father Sun was bidding them welcome as he shone so brightly from above. Mother was very tired from her hard work in the field and her long walk, Mewanee stayed outside to watch some of the Indian women at work near by. He asked if he might help them, but they laughed as they said, “You are too young, Mewanee; you could not lift these heavy poles.” |
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