sen noh wehs_ write down these stories so our children and our
children's children may read and know them; and so Paleface Children may
learn them also. Indian tell these stories to his children to make them
good and brave and kind and unselfish. May they teach Paleface Children
how they should do.

Again we say, Indian is glad to have some one speak for him. He is glad
to have some one write down the great and beautiful thoughts in Indian's
mind and heart. We have spoken. _Na ho._

Chief of Seneca Nation,

[Illustration: handwritten signature]

Chief of Onondagas,

[Illustration: handwritten signature]

Chief of Tuscaroras,

[Illustration: handwritten signature]

Chief of Oneidas,

[Illustration: handwritten signature]

Chief of Cayugas,

[Illustration: handwritten signature]

Chief of Mohawks,

[Illustration: handwritten signature]

HOW THE STORIES CAME TO BE

Out of the moons of long ago, these stories have come. Then every tribe
of the Iroquois had its story-teller.

When the Old Man of the North came out of his lodge, and the forests and
rivers of the Red Children grew white with his breath, these
story-tellers wandered from wigwam to wigwam.

Seated on warm skins by the fire, the story-teller would exclaim,
"_Hanio_!" This meant, "Come, gather round, and I will tell a story."

Then all the Red Children would cry, "_Heh_," and draw close to the
fire. This meant that they were glad to hear the story. And as the
flames leaped and chased one another along the fire trail, they would
listen to these wonder stories of the Little People, of the trees and
flowers, of birds, of animals, and men. When the story-teller had
finished, he said, "_Na ho_." This meant, "It is the end."

The earth was very young, when the Red Children first learned how
everything came to be, and just why it is that things are as they are.
They told these wonderful things to their children, and their children
in turn told them to their children; and those children again in turn
told them to theirs, that these things might not be forgotten.

Now, but few of the Red Children know these stories that the
grandmothers and old men of the tribe used to tell. The story-teller is
no longer seen wandering from wigwam to wigwam.

[Illustration]

WHY I WAS CALLED THE STORY-TELLER

Some time ago the writer of these stories was asked to speak for an
Indian Society. She accepted the invitation, and that night made her