Wenonah's Stories for Children

by Clara Louise Burnham; Warren Proctor

Mr. and Mrs. Robbins looked at one another and smiled. The children's earnestness and their red cheeks showed them that it would be a good plan to make a visit to the dusky maiden with whom Lois and Hal were wishing to spend so much time.

So the next day the children, escorted by their parents, went to the camp and the Indians were very much pleased to see them, because they called for Wenonah and she took them to the wigwam, where they bought a number of the pretty wares for the children and themselves.

Then they went back to Wenonah's tent with her, and watched her weave the sweet grass into the basket she was making. She told them of the school she had attended, and how she had come home and helped her people to better ways of living. She said they made a great store of their goods during the winter, then in summer went to the resorts and sold them. The weaving they did here did not amount to much, except to show the ladies and gentlemen how the baskets were made, and to give them lessons when they wished.

"How would you children like to take lessons in basket making?" asked their father.

Lois and Hal eagerly replied that they would like it very much.

"They could not manage the fine work at first," said Wenonah. "I have the coarser raffia for them."

So that is how the children came to take lessons in basket making. Their parents were not willing that they should go to the hotel to help sell the pretty things, so while Wenonah was busy there, they played on the beach or in the woods and sometimes went sailing with their father.

If Wenonah had been a white maiden they would have enjoyed being with her, for she was gentle and patient and liked fun too, but with her dark features, shining braids of hair, and silent moccasins, and the stately grace with which she moved about through the woods, they thought her the most charming person they had ever known.

Of course, sitting in the door of Wenonah's tent with the billows of the lake glinting among the trees and the fresh breeze blowing, was a very pleasant way to learn basket making; and their clumsy little hands were kindly guided by the slender, dark, clever fingers of their teacher.

Of course when the children were well started on their work it occurred to them that Wenonah might tell them another story, and Lois, feeling so well acquainted with her now, told her how she had wished on the first star that night on the steamer, and the Indian girl thought the wishing verse amusing, so Lois taught it to her, proud to think that she could teach the princess something.