Under the Totem-Pole

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 149, 14 September 1927, Page 6

Under the Totem-Pole

Chiefs and Braves

Letters to Kedfeather are answered as under:

Beaver Hunter: I was glad to hear again from this faithful Scout-Chief and to have your account of that wonderful cycle tour and the Scouting news. You must certainly have felt the glow of conquest when your goal came in sight. Congratulations on a very plucky venture.

Shining Sheath: The hand of goodfellowship to this new Chief who has sought the trail to the Wigwam. I am hoping for a letter from you soon so that I shall know your seal has reached you. You belong to a progressive troop which is well represented in the Wigwam, and I expect you are acquainted with the other Scout-Chiefs. All good wishes. Silver Heelu Congratulations on your charming “Cloud Fancy,” Silver Heel. As you will see, it has won the prize. Would you please let the Great Chief have a list of books to select one from? Red Star has told me of the happy Guide evening at her tepee. Paddle Carver: Greetings to this faithful Guide-Brave who comes so frequently down the trail, and many thanks for the Awataha news. I should have liked to have joined in those games of rounders and cricket. Silver-beaded Moccasin: Greetings and welcome to this little Guide-Brave and many thanks for your sweetscented offering. It is still shedding its fragrance in the Wigwam. Your name is very suitable, I think. I wonder if you are growing accustomed to it? Sighing Wind: Your dainty little pen-picture “Blossoms” has come first in the poetry section. Congratulations and best wishes to this talented Brave. Would you please let me know wliat book to select. Yes, Eyes of the Morning is a Guide in the Kakamai Company in Auckland. Did she find your tepee? Silent Warrior: Your silver arrow with the message fixed to its shaft is before me as I write. This Chief is imbued with the true spirit of the Wigwam and is ever mindful of his mysterious name. I trust you will ever guard the far reaches of the peace trails. Laughing Wave:; Many thanks for your contributions. It is splendid that you arc now a child of the: Wigwam. When writing, it is wise to sign your Paleface name under your pen-name, though, of course, only the latter will be used under the Totem Pole. Way of the Wind: “The wind bloweth where it listest” and has recently brought sweet perfumes to the Wigwam. Many thanks for your springtide offering and for bringing another new Brave down the trail. Forest Charmer: I am delighted to give this new Brave the hand of greeting at the door of the Wigwam, and trust that we shall often find you in our midst. Many happy returns of the birthday which has made you of age to follow the trail. Big Brown Bear: , Many thanks for your letter and the amusing verse. I believe you have returned to your old troop. Good wishes to you in your new work. I shall be anxious to hear all about it and am very glad that you are so much stronger. Little Beaver: I am glad that you have been having a holiday and hope that you are now perfectly well again. I have forwarded your letter to Black Moccasin. To date no replies have arrived from the other Chiefs though one wrote inquiring for your address. Good luck to you, Little Beaver. Prairie Wolf: The hand of goodfellowship to this Avondale scout who has found the well-worn trail. I think you are going to be one of my very keen Chiefs, judging by your scouting work. Greetings and good wishes. Red Star: I was most interested in that gathering of Braves in your tepee and should have liked to have joined the happy circle. It is splendid that they are visiting you. I am sorry that my little faithful one is not very well again, but hope that you will soon be out in the sunshine once more. Sitting Bull will be delighted with your reply. That was a very sweet song he sang for you. My regards to the good Chief who sits at your right

hand. I am looking for a letter froi him.

Grey Eagle: Greetings and welcome to this new* Chief who has joined our friendly tribes. I am delighted that you are now’ a King’s Scout. How the number grows in your troop. Best Wishes from the Wigwam. Little Buffalo: I was most interested in the account of your holiday, but sorry that there were so many w*et days. Even the Wigwam was resounding to the steady drip, drip of the rain. Eagle Feather: Many thanks for your cheery letter. I think you must know every twig and pebble on the trail. Did you go a-sailing last weekend ? VISITING DAY Redfeather will be at home to Chiefs and Braves and prospective children of the Wigwam, between 4.30 and 5.30 p.m., each Thursday. &XXXXX & & X X ~ & Flying Cloud: You have not been having a very happy time just lately, but I certainly think those two disturbers of the peace thoroughly deserved the sentence of extraction. Where did you get that “soft, white, fluffy baby rabbit with pink eyes and pointed ears”? Have you been out hunting? Yes, there are many new names on the Totem Pole, for our tribes are growing rapidly. I always count Flying Cloud among the faithful ones. Wandering Warrior: Greetings and welcome to this new Chief who has wandered in from the far trails. 1 shall be expecting a long letter from' you soon so that I may feel I know you more intimately. You will have much interest in the Wigwam page now that you have crossed the threshold. Singing Arrow: Greetings, faithful one, and many thanks for the St. Barnabas news. I hope you will invite the Great Chief to view the troop wigwam when it is erected. Are you building it round “six stout poles brought from the Friendship Tree”? Such wigwams withstand all wind and weather. Silver Moon: Many thanks for your interesting letter. I hope you will carry out your intention of visiting the Wigwam. It was unfortunate your tracking expedition was marred by rain, but I trust the sun will shine for you next Saturday. All good wishes. Twinklefoot: I wal delighted to have your letter, for 10, I had cried on the morning air: “Where is Twinklefoot, the singing one?” And, even as I spoke, your voice came lilting down the trail. Little New Leaf: Very many thanks for your letter with its Kakamai news. You are certainly an industrious Brave and I hope your bazaar is a great success. Yes, I consider I found a very sweet name for your lieutenant. Has Eyes of the Morning returned from the far trails? Shimmering Pool: Greetings to this far-away Guide-Brave, and many thanks for your New Brighton news. You must have some splendid tracking games in the sand-hills. Best wishes from the Wigwam. Little Brown Moccasin: I was delighted to have your letter and the Guiding news. Many thanks also for your poem. I had an idea that you and Silver Wing would share the same gift 1 shall be listening for your triple knock at the Wigwam door. CANOE SONG Laughing, shimmering, trembling with mirth. The brook wends its way to the sea; Bubbling, rippling, child of the earth. It whispers and beckons to me. Happy and laughing, X follow it too, And float like a cloud on its breast. Sped by the wind in my birch-bark canoe To the land that the hunter loves best. —George Boyle (Rising Torrent, aged 14). ■ CLOUDS How often I have stood and watched a particularly beautiful sun-set cloud, sail lazily across the sky, and how often I have wished 1 knew whither it was bound! What fanciful tales we can weave about them! Have you not yourself, on a summer’s day, from a hill-top, woven fantastic stories about different clouds? A large pearly cloud would be a fit carriage for the fair maiden who, with rosy finger-tips, unlocks the golden gates of heaven each morning and floods the earth with light. Then the little pink-tipped, sunset clouds are the fairy coaches which the old sun sends down each evening for the sunbeam fairies to clamber into and ascend to their home in the sky. The golden clouds early in the morning are filled with these same necessary helpers, who descend each day to brighten a dull world. The grey cumulus and I lie threatening nimbus clouds are the homes of the mischievous rain fairies, who delight in tantalising mortals by playing in the branches of IaII trees and shaking the drops of rain off the leaves when humans pass beneath. The little fluffy cirrus scampers merrily across the sky, pursued by the prim stratus, like a lamb that frolics in the fields, but on whom the sedate mother keeps a watchful eye. I remember once reading of a little boy who was lying in a paddock and thinking what a jolly playmate a cloud would make. Aloud he said: “Dear little cloud, how I would love you to come down and play with me” — an invitation the cloud promptly accepted, and, much to the little boy’s dismay, came down to earth as rain. Although clouds look very beautiful in their home in the sky and are greatly admired by mortals, we would not appreciate them so much if they persistently came down to play with us as rain. —Red Leaf (Iwa Pearson, aged 16). FROM A BRAVE Through the leafy forest trails I wandered when suddenly two small sparkling feet met my gaze. I lifted my eyes and saw a little Brave coming towards me. “Who are you, O stranger?” I asked. She raised her blue eyes to mine and answered: “My name is Silverbeaded Moccasin, O wanderer of the forest, and I come from distant ways in search of a huge Wigwam where I shall! find comfort. But tell me, who are you, O friendly one?” * When I heard he.r name I knew why her moccasins were covered with sparkling silver beads. “I am Way of the Wind,” I told her, “and many moons have passed since I found the Wigwam for which you search.” Without a word she clasped my hand ai*d I led her down the familiar trail to the door of the Wigwam where our Great Chief stood waiting to greet us. —WAY OF THE WIND.