Sometimes they painted patterns on it with paint that they made of colored earth. Then they learned to dye the splints and reeds in a very simple way. They soaked them in water before they used them, so as to make them pliable. They found that willow stems that were soaked in water were colored light brown by the bark of the stem. Splints buried in the leaf-mold of the brooks and marshes were colored a dark brown. When charcoal was mixed with the rich leaf-mold the splints were colored black. [Illustration: “_They tried other ways of weaving_”] Green grass became white when soaked in water, and yellow if soaked for a longer time. The women used these and other ways of getting pretty colors. Then they worked the colors into pretty patterns, many of which we use to-day. THINGS TO DO _Weave uncolored splints or reeds so as to make different patterns._ _Find a fruit that will make a durable stain, and stain some splints for a basket, or make a pattern by staining an uncolored basket._ _See if you can find how to take fruit stains out of clothing._ _If you can find colored earth, see if you can make some paint to use in ornamenting your baskets._ _Try different ways of changing the color of grasses, splints, and reeds, by soaking them in water or burying them in different kinds of soil._ [Illustration: “_They worked the colors into pretty patterns, many of which we use to-day_”] XXXI THINGS TO THINK ABOUT How do you carry the things that you bring to school? How is the food that you eat brought to you? How is your clothing carried to you? Do you know how the material that your house is made of was brought to the spot? How does the farmer carry oats to his horses? How does he carry milk to the calves? How does he carry hay from the field to the barn? How does he carry hay from the mow to the manger? What things do you carry in your hands? What do you carry in baskets? What do you carry in trays? What other things do you use in carrying? How do you think the Cave-men would carry an animal that they had killed to the cave? Do you think they would try to bring the whole carcass home? What things would they carry in baskets? Why did they need handles for their baskets? Think of as many ways as you can that the Cave-men might have carried things. _How the Cave-men Carried Their Burdens_ The Cave-men used the baskets they made for carrying roots and berries. [Illustration: “_They learned to carry baskets on their heads_”] It was easier to carry them in baskets than to carry them in their hands. But it took one hand to hold the basket, and they often needed to have both hands free. [Illustration: “_They learned to make handles for their baskets_”] So they learned to carry baskets on their heads and shoulders.