Part 1

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STORIES THE IROQUOIS TELL THEIR CHILDREN

MABEL POWERS (YEH SEN NOH WEHS)

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO

Copyright, 1917, by MABEL POWERS. All rights reserved. W. P. 9

TO ALL THE CHILDREN WHO ASK HOW AND WHY, ESPECIALLY THOSE RED CHILDREN WHO SEE WITH WONDER EYES, AND THOSE PALEFACE CHILDREN WHO YET BELIEVE IN FAIRIES, THESE STORIES ARE LOVINGLY DEDICATED

CONTENTS

PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGMENT 8

FOREWORD BY THE CHIEFS 9

INTRODUCTORY

HOW THE STORIES CAME TO BE 11

WHY I WAS CALLED THE STORY-TELLER 13

THE LITTLE PEOPLE 18

STORY-TELLING TIME 23

HOW THE IROQUOIS GIVE THANKS 27

A FIREMAKER AND A PEACEMAKER 34

IROQUOIS WONDER STORIES

HOW THE WHITE MAN CAME 45

WHY THE EAGLE DEFENDS AMERICANS 49

HOW THE TURKEY BUZZARD GOT HIS SUIT 60

WHY THE PARTRIDGE DRUMS 66

HOW THE INDIANS LEARNED TO HEAL 69

WHY DOGS CHASE FOXES 75

WHY HERMIT THRUSH IS SO SHY 79

HOW GOOD AND EVIL CAME TO BE 85

HOW A BOY WAS CURED OF BOASTING 90

WHY THE CUCKOO IS SO LAZY 95