116 STORIES OF EARTH AND SKY 



among the long leaves until she seemed to be 

 sitting in the doorway of a wigwam. 



The Crows came flapping and calling about her, 

 and Mudjekeewis, the West Wind, whispered and 

 gossiped about the field, while from a far corner 

 a Quail family were making their way to glean 

 their supper among the oat stubble. 



"I don't believe that Wabeno ever told the 

 Crows that they could take corn every year," 

 said Anne aloud. 



" Yes, he did," said Mudjekeewis ; " I was there 

 and heard him say so myself. To be sure, it was 

 very long ago, on the very day when Wabeno gave 

 the gift of corn to the Red Brothers." 



" Ah, so you are back again ! Don't be in a 

 hurry, Mudjekeewis, but come and rest in this 

 nice tent, and tell me about the Red Brothers 

 and Wabeno. Was corn a very great gift to 

 them?" 



" Yes, Mondamin, Maize, or, as you say, corn, 

 meant bread to them ; bread when the buffalo were 

 gone, bread when all wild game failed. House 

 Child, do you know that in all the corners of the 

 world where I have been bread is the greatest gift 

 of earth to man?" 



" Of course, bread is a ' must be,' but we do not 

 make ours of corn meal." 



