My Strange Rescue, and Other Stories of Sport and Adventure in CanadaOxley, J. Macdonald (James Macdonald)
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My Strange Rescue, and Other Stories of Sport and Adventure in Canada
Oxley, J. Macdonald (James Macdonald)
Canada -- Juvenile fiction; Canada -- Juvenile literature
Oo-chig-e-asque had no fine clothes to put on. A few beads given her by
a compassionate squaw were her only ornaments. But this did not deter
her. Gathering a quantity of birch-bark, she fashioned for herself an
odd, misshapen gown, that was ill-fitting enough to give even an Indian
_modiste_ "a turn;" an old pair of her father’s moccasins were soaked to
soften them, and drawn over her bruised feet; and then, with a queer
head-dress to hide her singed poll, and her scanty beads arranged to the
best advantage, she set off quietly one afternoon toward the camp on the
Point. Her big sister, seeing the direction she was taking, screamed
after her to come back; but she only hastened her steps forward. The
people of the village stared rudely at her as she passed, and, divining
her purpose, hooted derisively after her; but she kept steadily on, and
paid no heed to them. Her whole heart was in her enterprise, and she
felt as though she would die rather than turn back. At length she
reaches Tee-am’s lodge. Tee-am’s sister comes to the door, and receives
her pleasantly. At the proper time she conducts her to the
landing-place, where they await the hunter’s return, the sister soothing
her visitor’s throbbing pulse by gentle inquiries as to her life and
kindly sympathy for her woes. Just at dusk a canoe comes toward them,
shooting swiftly over the water, and the sister says,—
"That’s my brother’s canoe. Can you see him?"
"Yes," murmurs Oo-chig-e-asque, her heart beating high with hope.
"Of what, then, is his carrying-strap made?"
"Muncwan," is the quick reply. "It is a piece of rainbow."
"Very good," responds the sister, with a brilliant smile. "You have
indeed seen my brother. Let us go home and prepare for him."
So they hasten back to the wigwam, Oo-chig-e-asque’s heart palpitating
betwixt delight at her success and anxiety lest Tee-am, when he found
what an insignificant little creature she really was, might refuse to
keep his promise to marry the girl who should first be able to see him.
As soon as they reach the tent the sister proceeds to prepare her
visitor for the nuptial ceremony, and the young girl gives herself
unhesitatingly into her hands. The uncouth birch-bark dress is stripped
off and flung into the fire, and a handsome robe, richly adorned with
beads, takes its place. Pure spring water is brought, and as the kind
sister dashes it over the girl’s face, and rubs the scarred features
softly with her hands, lo! every scar and spot and blemish vanishes, and
the face comes out fair and beautiful as it never was before. Realizing
the wondrous change, the young girl utters an exclamation of delight;
then checks herself, and puts her hand to her head.
"Ah!" she says sadly, "I have no hair. Tee-am will despise me when he
sees I have no hair."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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