An Open Air Page For Big Girls and Boys

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 337, 24 April 1928, Page 8

An Open Air Page For Big Girls and Boys

THE LITTLE TEPEE KEEPER TILE iittle tepee keeper sat at the entrance of her tepee making moccasins from fringed deerskin and coloured beads. It was very quiet in the forest and the camp., too, was void of sound. -Mi the hunters had gone forth on their daily missions leaving the little tepee keeper to her moccasin making and her dreams. Presently a baby bear ambled into view. “Come with me,” lie pleaded. “The forest is dim and cool and I have no playfellow.” “Little tepee keepers can not wander away to play at hide and seek with baby bears,” answered the maiden. “There are many tree trunks to .hide behind,” coaxed the baby bear. “But I am left to guard the camp and I must stay here until the hunters return. Hark! Your mother is calling you. I think you had better go.” And she went on with her work. Presently a bird flew down. “I have three beautiful eggs in a nest not very far from here,” she said. “Wouldn’t you like to see them?” “I should love to,” sighed the little tepee keeper, “and perhaps T may be able to some other day, but I am busy just now.” “Your work could wait,” suggested the bird. “You could quite easily leave it.” “Those three beautiful eggs will cool if they are left too long,” said the little tepee keeper and bent again over her work. Then the wind paused to speak to her. “I know a glade that is full of music. The spirits of song are holding council there.” “Even as I am holding council with my own thoughts,” answered the little moccasin maker. The wind went away, and a shaft of sunshine fell at her feet. “The river is dappled with a thousand gems,” it said. “Come - and see.” The little tepee keeper let the warm light play on a handful of bright beads. “But see, my hands are full of gems,” she said. When the hunters came home from the chase the moccasins were finished and there was food all ready to set before them, but they knew nothing about the baby bear, the nesting bird, the seductive wind or the shaft of sttnshine. They had been busy, you know. REDFEATHER.