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Page 38 WINNEBAGO BOY, by Mario & Mabel Scacheri (1937)
"I DONT think squirrels are very bright," said Long Feather. "All they can do is talk back and crack nuts. My dog Wasp can learn a lot of trick." "I'll teach him a trick," said someone. Evergreen Tree had come quietly up in his soft moccasins. He was a Cochiti Indian, very clever at imitating brids and animals, and he came to the show every year as a special entertainer. He began to growl like a dog. Long Feather's dog backed up and looked startled. Then he growled back. "Grrrr," and finally barked. The boys were delighted, and tried to growl like Evergreen Tree. But Wasp paid no attention to them. He kept a suspicious eye on Evergreeen Tree. "I began to learn to imitate animals when I was your age," he told the boys. "I used to go hunting deer with my brother-in-law. We would wait for the deer to come to drink at a water-hole, and then my brother-in-law would sneeze lake a deer. The deer would try to find him, and he would shoot one and have venison for breakfast. "Well, it's time now to eat supper and get started for the show. We must do our best, this first night. Lots of white people will be here to see us." The boys ran home, very excited... |
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Page 52 of WINNEBAGO BOY
The dancers rested, wrapped in their bright blankets. The spolight swung to Evergreen Tree. He stretched out his arms and began to make the call of the eagle, a tiny forlorn cry. Then he imitated the robin, the black bird, and mocking-bird. Suddenly, with a sly grin, he began to hoot like an owl. "To-whit to whoo," he called. And out of the trees swept a great white owl, flapping his wings as he sailed through the beam of light, over the heads of the audience! "To-whit to who! Who cooks for youuuu?" shouted the big white owl. Evergreen Tree was astonished. He had not known there were any owls in the woods. The audience stood up and cheered. |
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