Part 21 (2/2)
”Then the little dog and the boy wept over each other, for they had been fond companions, and the boy started homeward, being very careful of the quill and medicine blanket.
”As the boy came down the mountain-side near the village he met a bear that stood in the trail and growled at him. He held the quill straight at the beast and it flew right into the bear's heart. Then the boy took the quill and cleaned it well. Next he cut some bearsteaks for immediate use and covered over the remainder.
”The boy reached his village from which he thought he had been absent only two days and nights, but he found he had been gone two years-so swiftly had the time pa.s.sed while he had been at the Wolf Chief's village by the lake-side.
”As he entered the village he found it had been totally destroyed and everyone was dead. He felt dreadfully sad at this discovery but he remembered the medicine blanket, and this he placed over every member of his family and they immediately came to life. Then he placed it over everyone in the village and brought them all back to life-even the brother-in-law who had been so ungrateful.
”When all were alive once more they needed food so the boy ran to the mountain and found a great flock of wild sheep. With the quill he soon killed them and ordered the people to carry them home.
”The villagers were so astonished when they saw him kill wild beasts with a quill that they agreed to have him hunt for the entire village and promised to pay him with skins and weapons for the meat.
”When the villagers were nourished they told the boy that while he was absent every tribe of people were killed by the famine and the plagues.
The boy then decided to visit the nations and revive the people by means of the medicine blanket. This he did, but he only brought the good and beautiful back to life, leaving the cruel and vicious, and deformed ones, dead. And this he did for every creature on the earth. The bad and worthless were killed off with the quill but the good and faithful creatures were kept alive with the blanket. Thus it happened that the earth became a beautiful spot to live in, for all men were as brothers, and all creatures walked in the trails of man without fear or desire to kill. And to this day, the boy feeds his people and everyone is happy and at peace.”
As the Guide finished her story the Woodcrafters cried ”How! How!” but Fiji said: ”I wish we had that blanket and quill at this present time!”
”No such luck! It is war, war, war to the bitter end, I guess,” added Fred.
”And starvation or famine and plagues for the world!” sighed Zan.
”I'm not so sure but that the Hunter with the Medicine Blanket of Life is again on earth to revive all the good and true people to everlasting joy and peace,” ventured the Guide, quietly.
”Why, just think, if Fred or Fiji were two years older they would have to go to France and be killed,” cried Zan, fervently. ”Some day in the future maybe, Miss Miller, but no one can say there is joy or peace with all this misery brought about by war.”
”No, my dear, not in the future-right now! I firmly believe that the world will awaken to realise this wonderful state of existence shortly.
And if we believe any part of the Scriptures we _must_ believe the prophecies of many writers of that Book. There is no room for doubt that this is the time that is spoken of as 'The Day of the Lord.' But let us consider other things now, even though Sunday is a good day to discuss the heavenly conditions that will prevail the moment the 'dragon' is over-powered. You see, I become so tremendously interested in this warfare of Michael and Gabriel, the Two Angels that war against the Dragon and the Beast, that I dare not pursue the subject further. You would oust me from the Tribe if I talked of nothing but the New Jerusalem. You are here to talk of Woodcraft instead,” said Miss Miller, springing up and looking brightly around for a new form of entertainment.
”I wonder how many of you ever gave a thought to the Woodcraft work secrets contained in the sea?” said Miss Miller, gazing down from the plateau to the stretch of glistening beach where the tide was nearing its highest mark.
”In the sea?” laughed Eleanor sceptically, as the others joined the Guide and looked where she did.
”Yes, and wonderful secrets it holds for us, too. Come, and I will show you a few.”
Miss Miller picked up a gla.s.s fruit jar which had held some preserves from home, and advising the others to find receptacles for the collection she would show them, started down the sand-bank.
”First, I would suggest that each girl find five or ten smooth round sea pebbles as near a size as possible. These we will ask the boys to carry in their pockets for us. I will show you what wonderful jack-stones they make. In fact, the game originally was played with smooth stones. It was only in later years that the iron imitations were manufactured and placed upon the market.
”Then let me tell you, that a collection of large oval light-coloured stones make the prettiest sort of a marker to line off a flower-bed or pathway. If they are well set in sand they will not roll or become muddy from the rain that falls upon the soil of the garden. The sand holds them in place and keeps them clean.
”Another suggestion for Hand-craft for a Woodcrafter, is this: find a large flat oval stone washed smooth by the sea and upon one side you can paint a marine picture or, if you cannot paint, a conventional design can be used to decorate it. This makes a lovely paper-weight for a friend, or for your own desk.
”For Edith and her little brother, we can hunt for pebbles that resemble fruits and vegetables. Then the Little Brownies can play store to their heart's content.”
”That will be fine, Miss Miller, and I'll help the girls find what I need for a store,” declared Edith, accepting the suggestion for the deed.
”Let's hurry then, as Edith will want us to collect every pebble on the beach-I know her aspirations when a new game is mentioned,” laughed Elizabeth.
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