136 NATURE STUDY. 



The Wren and the Cricket. 



The Cherokee Indians have many stories, called by the 

 white man, who thinks he is wiser, myths or legends, but 

 which often have at least a good-sized kernel of truth in 

 them. Here is one that might serve a good purpose if 

 told to white children: 



"The little "Wren is the messenger of the birds, and 

 pries into everything. She gets up early in the morning 

 and goes round to every house in the settlement to get 

 news for the bird council. When a new baby is born she 

 finds out whether it is a boy or girl and reports to the 

 council. If it is a boy the birds sing in mournful chorus: 

 ' Alas ! the whistle of the arrow ! my shins will burn," be- 

 cause the birds know that when the boy grows older he 

 will hunt them with his blowgun and arrows and roast 

 them on a stick. 



"But if the baby is a girl, they are glad and sing: 

 ' Thanks ! the sound of the pestle ! At her home I shall 

 surely be able to scratch where she sweeps,' because they 

 know that after a while they will be able to pick up stray 

 grains where she beats the corn into meal. 



When the Cricket hears that a girl is born, it also is 

 glad, and says : ' Thanks ! I shall sing in the house where 

 she lives.' But if it is a boy, the Cricket laments : ' Gwe- 

 he ! He will shoot me ! He will shoot me ! ' because 

 boys make little bows to shoot Crickets and Grasshop- 

 pers." 



In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, geolo- 

 gists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the coloring, 

 sportsmen the cover for game. Though we may all look 

 at the same things, it does not at all follow that we should 

 see them. — Sir John Lubbock. 



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