s her duty to tend the Peace fire,
and to see that it never went out. She also kept a pot of hominy always
steaming over the fire.

If two Indians had a dispute, it was the custom for them to run to the
Peacemaker's wigwam. They entered from opposite sides. Inside the
wigwam, a deerskin curtain separated them from each other.

[Illustration]

The Peacemaker would listen to the grievance of the one and then to that
of the other. Then she would draw aside the curtain, get the enemies
together, and settle the dispute with justice.

The two would then eat of the hominy, and depart in peace,--no longer
enemies, but friends.

No nation could fight another nation without the consent of the
Peacemaker. Because the peacewomen were wise, and just, and kind, and
taught men to love, not fight each other, the Iroquois were for many
years at peace.

But one day, it is said, a Peacewoman proved untrue to her trust. She
thought more of her own happiness than that of the nation.

[Illustration]

This woman was very beautiful, and the people loved her. For some time
she sat in the Peace Wigwam, and tended faithfully the Peace fire.

One day an Oneida and a Cayuga chief fell to quarreling. They sought the
Peace Wigwam. As they entered and saw the young Peacewoman tending the
fire, each thought he had never seen a woman so beautiful.

Into the heart of each there leaped the desire that she might tend his
wigwam fire.

The Peacemaker listened to the quarrel of the young chiefs and settled
it justly. Then each tried to persuade her to leave the Peace fire and
return with him to his lodge. But the Peacemaker said, "No, I must tend
the fire, it must be kept burning." The chiefs departed with heavy
hearts.

But the Oneida chief could not forget the beautiful woman. When a moon
had passed, he returned to the Peace Wigwam. This time he persuaded the
Peacemaker to leave her fire and return with him to sit at his wigwam
door.

The Peace fire flickered and went out. The Iroquois again went on the
warpath, and for many, many moons, they fought and suffered and died.

IROQUOIS WONDER STORIES

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

HOW THE WHITE MAN CAME

Long, long before Columbus came to America, the Red Children were here.
They were the first and only real Americans.

From the Big Sea Water on the east to the Big Sea Water on the west,
ranged these Children of the Sun, as they called themselves.

Happy and fr