AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 95 



Humble as was this home, it was a palace in convenience and comfort in 

 comparison with the bark and skin wigwams of but a few years before, 

 and which were the only habitations known to the Indians even in coldest 

 winter weather before the advent of the missionaries, Recollects and 

 Jesuits, who thus impressed them with christian influences, the sancity of 

 the family, the superiority of the sedentary as opposed to the nomadic life,, 

 and other christian virtues. 



"But sposem bad Heengleeshmans come ag'in from the land of the 

 south-wind way off and shootem our Black gown, burn our church, and 

 kill your squaw and papooses, and all the peoples? Then there is no snow 

 to get him the game." 



"Natanis is strong. His braves have the hearts of bears and the eyes 

 of all the stars, if the Engleesh come they will find a graveyard. The 

 snow-maker made a big ring around the moon last night, — he will give 

 plenty of snow. Sabattis will go before the sun gets out of bed tomorrow 

 and our fire shall cook fresh meat to make us glad at Christmas." 



This conversation took place more than one hund.ied and fifty years ago 

 at Naurautsouak, near Norridgewok, on the banks of the Kennebec river, 

 in the language of the Connibas, later known as the Norridgewoks, an ex- 

 tensive tribe of the great Abenaki nation. 



During the afternoon Sabattis visited some of the warm ravines between 

 the jutting, craggy hillsides and gathered an armful of trailing arbutus, — 

 the great pink, swelling blossoms needing only the blessing of warmth and 

 moisture to blossom forth in all their wealth of color and fragrance as in 

 early spring. 



He fashioned three beautiful garlands which he placed in water in water- 

 tight basins made from white birch bark, and as the little chapel bell 

 sounded the Angelus he wended his way hither and placed one upon the 

 main altar beneath the lamp of perpetual adoration, another upon the altar 

 of Our Lady, and the other upon the altar dedicated to the holy man, 

 Saint Joseph. 



Long before the break of day Sabattis set out alone upon his journey to 

 secure good cheer for the Yuletide season in his humble cabin. Winter 

 had not yet set in, there was but an apology for snow upon the ground, 

 and but little ice had formed along the shores of the rivers at the slack 

 water. 



His moccasins pointed towards the head waters of the Sebasticook 

 where it takes its course from the foot hills and mountains beyond. Camp 

 was made the first night many miles away in the wilderness towards the 

 land of the setting sun. He had seen no game nor signs thereof, but when 

 the snow would come all would be changed. The trail was resumed with 



