: "Ah, Hakadah, you are a thorough warrior," empty out the precious
contents of the pail, and order me to go a second time.

Imagine how I felt! But I wished to be a brave man as much as a white
boy desires to be a great lawyer or even President of the United States.
Silently I would take the pail and endeavor to retrace my footsteps in
the dark.

With all this, our manners and morals were not neglected. I was made to
respect the adults and especially the aged. I was not allowed to join in
their discussions, nor even to speak in their presence, unless requested
to do so. Indian etiquette was very strict, and among the requirements
was that of avoiding the direct address. A term of relationship or some
title of courtesy was commonly used instead of the personal name by
those who wished to show respect. We were taught generosity to the poor
and reverence for the "Great Mystery." Religion was the basis of all
Indian training.

I recall to the present day some of the kind warnings and reproofs
that my good grandmother was wont to give me. "Be strong of heart--be
patient!" she used to say. She told me of a young chief who was noted
for his uncontrollable temper. While in one of his rages he attempted to
kill a woman, for which he was slain by his own band and left unburied
as a mark of disgrace--his body was simply covered with green grass. If
I ever lost my temper, she would say:

"Hakadah, control yourself, or you will be like that young man I told
you of, and lie under a green blanket!"

In the old days, no young man was allowed to use tobacco in any form
until he had become an acknowledged warrior and had achieved a
record. If a youth should seek a wife before he had reached the age of
twenty-two or twenty-three, and been recognized as a brave man, he was
sneered at and considered an ill-bred Indian. He must also be a skillful
hunter. An Indian cannot be a good husband unless he brings home plenty
of game.

These precepts were in the line of our training for the wild life.

III. MY PLAYS AND PLAYMATES

I. Games and Sports

THE Indian boy was a prince of the wilderness. He had but very little
work to do during the period of his boyhood. His principal occupation
was the practice of a few simple arts in warfare and the chase. Aside
from this, he was master of his time.

Whatever was required of us boys was quickly performed: then the field
was clear for our games and plays. There was always keen comp