Treasury of American Indian TalesRessler, Theodore Whitson
General
Treasury of American Indian Tales
Ressler, Theodore Whitson
Indians of North America -- Folklore; Indians of North America -- Juvenile literature
“No, Black Rock, it was not luck this day that won the race, but rather
a strong back being helped by a true loyal heart. I know now why you
challenged me and I could not have won if you had tied one hand behind
your back. I have been selfish and ungrateful for the many friends and
good things that have been showered upon me. I have lost this battle of
the canoes, but it has helped me win a battle with myself. I thank you,
Black Rock, for bringing a straying warrior once again into the camp of
good Ottawas.”
STANDING FAWN MAKES A DOLL
When the excitement was over in Flying Arrow’s wigwam and all the
Shawnee had returned to their own homes to sit and talk of the birth of
a new son to Flying Arrow, Standing Fawn, daughter to Flying Arrow,
wandered off from the wickiup to think about this thing that had
happened.
Until this day, little Standing Fawn had been the center of attention in
the home of her mother and father and also when they went to visit
friends; but now a new baby boy had been born, and everyone was very
excited. When Standing Fawn had come running to tell her mother how she
had helped her grandmother to dry rabbit skins and to make furry ropes
for blankets her mother had said how nice that was, but went right back
to taking care of the little boy Indian that now held the place of honor
in the home of Flying Arrow.
This Standing Fawn could not understand, but for the time being she did
not think about it any more but went to join the other girls that were
gathering nuts. The girls had to hurry so that they gathered enough nuts
for the tribal families before the squirrels got them all.
The walnut and butternut hulls were used for dyeing quills and so many,
many nuts had to be gathered that soon the baskets were bulging with
these and beechnuts, hazelnuts, and hickory nuts. When the task was over
Standing Fawn returned home to her father and mother and her little
brother.
As she entered the wickiup she could hear her mother singing softly to
the new baby. There against the wall was the carrying case for the baby
which Standing Fawn had helped her mother to make. That was fun working
with her mother, but now mother was busy with the new baby and so
Standing Fawn felt that she was no longer loved.
After supper, she crawled into her warm blankets and was soon asleep,
but she awakened a short time later as the new baby cried for food. The
crying continued until he was fed and then Standing Fawn was asleep once
again.
For many weeks there was a great deal of work to be done with the new
baby in the house, and Standing Fawn found that more and more she was
asked to carry on the duties that her mother had done before this time.
When friends came to visit, they still had a smile and warm pat on the
head for Standing Fawn, but most of the attention was given to her
little brother, or so it seemed to Standing Fawn.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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