WOODMYTH & FABLE So" 



the Star-girl ; their descendants still give 

 the race of the Star-girl their ancient gifts : 

 the Balsam sticks that the Indian uses to 

 start his rubbing-stick fire, the shreds of 

 Birch bark that make the best of tinder, 

 the bed of Balsam boughs and the heal- 

 ing Balsam gum, the Birch-bark wigwam 

 and canoe. And the Thunder-bird, not 

 knowing which to strike, lets both alone. 

 The Pine, the Oak, and the Ash he 

 splinters in every storm, but the Birch 

 and the Balsam stand unharmed ; they 

 never have been struck. 



How do I know these things, O Sha- 

 ka-skanda-wayo ? Verily, I have them on 

 authority you will scarcely deny — the 

 same being the source of nearly all his- 

 tory. Behold, I got them from a little 

 idle Rumor. 



Moral : The Great spirit can draiv a 

 straight line ')i>ith a crooked stick* 



