ed at first by the noble speech of Chatannna, but I soon
recovered from its effects. The little Oesedah came to my aid by saying:
"Wait until Ohiyesa tells of the loveliness of the beautiful Oriole's
home!" This timely remark gave me courage and I began:

"My grandmother, who was it said that a mother who has a gentle and
sweet voice will have children of a good disposition? I think the oriole
is that kind of a parent. It provides both sunshine and shadow for
its young. Its nest is suspended from the prettiest bough of the most
graceful tree, where it is rocked by the gentle winds; and the one we
found yesterday was beautifully lined with soft things, both deep and
warm, so that the little featherless birdies cannot suffer from the cold
and wet."

Here Chatanna interrupted me to exclaim: "That is just like the white
people--who cares for them? The eagle teaches its young to be accustomed
to hardships, like young warriors!"

Ohiyesa was provoked; he reproached his brother and appealed to the
judge, saying that he had not finished yet.

"But you would not have lived, Chatanna, if you had been exposed like
that when you were a baby! The oriole shows wisdom in providing for its
children a good, comfortable home! A home upon a high rock would not be
pleasant-it would be cold! We climbed a mountain once, and it was cold
there; and who would care to stay in such a place when it storms? What
wisdom is there in having a pile of rough sticks upon a bare rock,
surrounded with ill-smelling bones of animals, for a home? Also,
my uncle says that the eaglets seem always to be on the point of
starvation. You have heard that whoever lives on game killed by some one
else is compared to an eagle. Isn't that so, grandmother?

"The oriole suspends its nest from the lower side of a horizontal
bough so that no enemy can approach it. It enjoys peace and beauty and
safety."

Oesedah was at Ohiyesa's side during the discussion, and occasionally
whispered into his ear. Uncheedah decided this time in favor of Ohiyesa.

We were once very short of provisions in the winter time. My uncle, our
only means of support, was sick; and besides, we were separated from
the rest of the tribe and in a region where there was little game of any
kind. Oesedah had a pet squirrel, and as soon as we began to economize
our food had given portions of her allowance to her pet.

At last we were reduced very much, and the prospect of obtaining
anything soon being