| HOPE YOU LIKE IT SO FAR... |
| At planting time, Molly knew she had been with the Indians for a year. Once more she saw round, pale yellow grians of seed-corn fall from her hand the the rich, balck soil. Once more she hoed, pulled weeds, and waved her blanket from the platform shelter to frighten crows away. " I brought you an ear of ripe corn," called Molly. The Indian woman put the corn to her mouth and began to munch it, while she poked at the fire with her stick. She was waiting for the pots to be finished cooking, "Are they done at last?" asked Molly. "A good thing is never made in a hurry, "said Earth Woman, solemnly. with her stick she uncovered the pots, pushing the smoldering logs aside. "Oh, they are beautiful! Beaver girl's pots are beautiful!" exclaimed Molly. And mine! it is also beautiful, is it not?" "A girl's first pot is always the most beautiful in the world,"said EArth Woman, softly. "pride in one's own work is never harmful." "Will it hold water for boiling corn?" "I see no holes," said Earth Woman. "I see no bulges, either. Take it to Red Bird." "A cooking pot for Grandmother Red Bird!" said MOlly. "May the green corn boiled in this pot always lie sweet on the tongue!" "The Great Spirit is happy, too," whispered Beaver Girl shyly, as if reading the white girl's thoughts. "He made the beautiful world with his hands and took pleasure in its beauty." |
| Suddenly, in a hurry, Squirrel Woman pulled Molly away from the lodge. They entered the corn field, hurrying through the rows. "But it grows dark..." Why should she be hidden away from strangers? If they were pale-faces she must see and talk to them. Yes, it was because they were pale-faces that Squirrel Woman had brought her here. What if someone had come to take her home? Straight to the council house she ran, and there heard voices. A man was talking in Indian. She knew by the way he said his words that he was a pale-face. "The expedition of three thousand British and Indians organized by General Pridieux at Fort Ontario, but the General died before victory. Sir William Johnson, 2nd in command, stormed enemy positions and captured the fort. The Niagara is now in the hands of the English. The English will take Quebec next. Molly remembered Old FAllenash, the white trader's words. "I'll have to run fast to save my hide when the English take the Fort." |
| "many moons ago, " continued Chief Burning Sky," there were no pale-faces in the land of the Iroquois. The first pale-faces who came were the Franch traders and hunters. We gave them tomahawks, paint and tobacco. Now, the Indian wants cloth to wear in place of deerslkin, blankets to take the place of fur robes, brass kettles in place of earthen pots and fire-arms for bows and arrows. Worst of all, the pale-face brings water that burns like fire..Can he who pours fire-water down our throats be called friend?" "sSir William Johnson wishes earnestly to make friends with the Iroquois, " replied the Englishman. "The Senecas are not yet ready to speak," answered Burning Sky. "Since my sachems have decided that the matter is important enough for a Council of the People of the Long House, I have asked this runner to be ready..He will take the wampum message to the people. A meeting of the League of the Iroquois will be held. Molly saw the runner, bare except for a waist cloth and moccasins, with knife at his belt and wampum in his hand, dash out the door of the council house. His feet, like flying wings, seemed never touched the ground. There were no more words. |
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| THAT IS NEAR THE ENDING OF THE BOOK. THIS WAS A GREAT LEARNING TMIE FOR ME AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THE TIME TO ENJOY IT WITH THE MUSIC AND LEARN AND GROW WITH IT. BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL, AND MAY THE GREAT SPIRIT ALWAYS BE IN YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS |
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