“When I come to the Earth,” laughed Seegwun, “I shake my ringlets and warm showers fall from the clouds. The grass awakes. The flowers bloom. Soft breezes blow. The streams are glad, and sing as they dance along.
“Peboan,” said the youth, “the Great Spirit has sent me to the Earth, and you must go.”
“‘THE ARBUTUS!’ CRIED THE CHILDREN”
Seegwun smiled, and the tepee grew warm. [!-- original location of illustration --] Peboan became silent. His head drooped lower and lower.
The sun shone forth, and the snow melted beneath its rays.
Then Spring waved his hands over the sleeping Peboan, and he sank upon the ground. Smaller and smaller he grew. His clothing seemed turned to furry leaves, and covered the floor of the tepee.
The youth smiled, for Peboan was gone.
Softly he lifted the furry leaves, and beneath each cluster he placed blossoms of white and pink. He breathed upon them with his fragrant breath, and they became sweet. Their spicy odor filled all the tepee.