Sketches From Oldest America 



man was meeting with unusually good success in 

 his hunting, while the woman busied herself with 

 cutting and packing willow brush for the camp. 

 One day while at her task, happening to look up, 

 she saw a woman near at hand with a very fine 

 deerskin coat on. It was all fancily trimmed with 

 wolverine and other furs, making one of those 

 beautiful coats any woman would love to possess. 

 At the same time, looking down at her own shabby 

 artege, she sighed and remarked to the stranger, 

 &quot;What a beautiful coat you have.&quot; The woman 

 smilingly replied, &quot;Yes, how would you like to 

 have it?&quot; Of course she was delighted with the 

 proposition, and when the stranger offered to make 

 the exchange, was only too glad to accept the offer. 

 The exchange was soon made, but on putting on 

 the new coat she was instantly transformed into a 

 caterpillar. The stranger put on the old coat, then 

 picking up the bundle of willow brush went to the 

 camp, where she took the place of the real wife. 



The hunter, on returning, remarked to his sup 

 posed wife, &quot;Why, dear, you don t look the same 

 as usual, and you have a different odor.&quot; To which 

 she replied, &quot;Why, husband, you know I have 

 been working hard all day, cutting and packing 

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