Sketches From Oldest America 



Notwithstanding the warning, the boy killed the 

 owl and started to carry it home. 



Household duties did not hang heavily on the 

 ladies of that day, so grandma was killing time by 

 watching for the boy's return. At last, slowly ap- 

 proaching and dragging a large white owl, she saw 

 a withered old man, stricken with the infirmities of 

 age. It was her grandson who had left her but a 

 short time previous, a merry, happy youth. 



So old age was introduced into the world for the 

 first time and has continued ever since. And often 

 since that day many an old Inupash ' who has felt 

 the infirmity of age coming on has sighed and sin- 

 cerely wished that the boy had shown more discre- 

 tion by hearkening to the warning of the owl. 



• Inupash, native Arctic inhabitant. 



42 



