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with an abundance of fresh meat。 They have the fresh… est of air。 They
are brought up under the spell of the grandest scenes； and inspired with
lofty feelings and bravery。 They see that all other be… ings live beneath
them； and that they are the chil… dren of the King of Birds。 A young eagle
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shows the spirit of a warrior while still in the nest。
〃Being exposed to the inclemency of the weather the young eaglets are
hardy。 They are accustomed to hear the mutterings of the Thunder Bird
and the sighings of the Great Mystery。 Why； the lit… tle eagles cannot
help being as noble as they are； because their parents selected for them so
lofty and inspiring a home！ How happy they must be when they find
themselves above the clouds； and behold the zigzag flashes of lightning all
about them！ It must be nice to taste a piece of fresh meat up in their cool
home； in the burning sum… mer…time！ Then when they drop down the
bones of the game they feed upon； wolves and vultures gather beneath
them； feeding upon their refuse。 That alone would show them their
chieftainship over all the other birds。 Isn't that so； grand… mother？〃 Thus
triumphantly he concluded his argument。
I was staggered at first by the noble speech of Chatannna； but I soon
recovered from its effects。 The little Oesedah came to my aid by saying：
〃Wait until Ohiyesa tells of the loveliness of the beautiful Oriole's home！〃
This timely remark gave me courage and I began：
〃My grandmother； who was it said that a mother who has a gentle and
sweet voice will have children of a good disposition？ I think the oriole is
that kind of a parent。 It provides both sun… shine and shadow for its young。
Its nest is sus… pended from the prettiest bough of the most grace… ful tree；
where it is rocked by the gentle winds； and the one we found yesterday
was beautifully lined with soft things； both deep and warm； so that the
little featherless birdies cannot suffer from the cold and wet。〃
Here Chatanna interrupted me to exclaim： 〃That is just like the white
peoplewho cares for them？ The eagle teaches its young to be ac…
customed to hardships； like young warriors！〃
Ohiyesa was provoked； he reproached his brother and appealed to the
judge； saying that he had not finished yet。
〃But you would not have lived； Chatanna； if you had been exposed
like that when you were a baby！ The oriole shows wisdom in providing for
its children a good； comfortable home！ A home upon a high rock would
not be pleasant it would be cold！ We climbed a mountain once； and it
was cold there； and who would care to stay in such a place when it storms？
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What wisdom is there in having a pile of rough sticks upon a bare rock；
surrounded with ill…smelling bones of animals； for a home？ Also； my uncle
says that the eaglets seem always to be on the point of starvation。 You
have heard that whoever lives on game killed by some one else is
compared to an eagle。 Isn't that so； grandmother？
〃The oriole suspends its nest from the lower side of a horizontal bough
so that no enemy can approach it。 It enjoys peace and beauty and safety。〃
Oesedah was at Ohiyesa's side during the dis… cussion； and
occasionally whispered into his ear。 Uncheedah decided this time in favor
of Ohiyesa。
We were once very short of provisions in the winter time。 My uncle；
our only means of sup… port； was sick； and besides； we were separated
from the rest of the tribe and in a region where there was little game of any
kind。 Oesedah had a pet squirrel； and as soon as we began to econo…
mize our food had given portions of her allow… ance to her pet。
At last we were reduced very much； and the prospect of obtaining
anything soon being gloomy； my grandmother reluctantly suggested that
the squirrel should be killed for food。 Thereupon my little cousin cried；
and said：
〃Why cannot we all die alike wanting？ The squirrel's life is as dear to
him as ours to us；〃 and clung to it。 Fortunately； relief came in time to
save her pet。
Oesedah lived with us for a portion of the year； and as there were no
other girls in the family she played much alone； and had many imaginary
com… panions。 At one time there was a small willow tree which she
visited regularly； holding long con… versations； a part of which she would
afterward repeat to me。 She said the willow tree was her husband； whom
some magic had compelled to take that form； but no grown person was
ever allowed to share her secret。
When I was about eight years old I had for a playmate the adopted son
of a Sioux； who was a white captive。 This boy was quite a noted per…
sonage； although he was then only about ten or eleven years of age。
When I first became ac… quainted with him we were on the upper Mis…
souri river。 I learned from him that he had been taken on the plains； and
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that both of his parents were killed。
He was at first sad and lonely； but soon found plenty of consolation in
his new home。 The name of his adopted father was 〃Keeps…the… Spotted…
Ponies。〃 He was known to have an unusual number of the pretty calico
ponies； indeed； he had a passion for accumulating prop… erty in the shape
of ponies； painted tents； dec… orated saddles and all sorts of finery。 He
had lost his only son； but the little pale…face became the adopted brother of
two handsome young women； his daughters。 This made him quite
popular among the young warriors。 He was not slow to adopt the Indian
customs； and he acquired the Sioux language in a short time。
I well remember hearing of his first experience of war。 He was not
more than sixteen when he joined a war…party against the Gros…Ventres
and Mandans。 My uncle reported that he was very brave until he was
wounded in the ankle； then he begged with tears to be taken back to a safe
place。 Fortunately for him； his adopted father came to the rescue； and
saved him at the risk of his own life。 He was called the 〃pale…face
Indian。〃 His hair grew very long and he lavished paint on his face and hair
so that no one might suspect that he was a white man。
One day this boy was playing a gambling game with one of the Sioux
warriors。 He was an ex… pert gambler； and won everything from the
Indian。 At a certain point a dispute arose。 The Indian was very angry；
for he discovered that his fellow… player had deliberately cheated him。
The Indians were strictly honest in those days； even in their gambling。
The boy declared that he had merely performed a trick for the benefit
of his friend； but it nearly cost him his life。 The indignant warrior had
already drawn his bow…string with the intent