The First Weaver
Sharptooth had climbed most of the trees on the wooded hills.
She had slept in many of them.
But she liked the old oak near the trail the best of all.
Its strong spreading branches were covered with vines.
Here was a place to lay the baby.
While he slept among the vines, she gathered wild foods.
But she never went far away, and she never stayed away long.
There were panthers and wild cats on the hills.
Sharptooth knew that they could climb the trees.
Many a time they had nearly caught her.
She was afraid that they would get the baby.
So she always stayed near him while he slept.
“She made a safe place for the baby to sleep”
When she stayed in a tree that had no vines, there was no place to lay the baby.
So she wove the slender branches together.
She made a safe place for the baby to sleep.
She lulled him to sleep as he lay in her arms.
Then she gently laid him upon his bed.
She watched him a moment as he slept.
A moment more and she, too, was asleep.