106 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



timid fruit buds at nightfall they direct them from the west sky 

 where they had followed the sun back to the east and the morning's 

 glow. When the full fruit first blushes on the vine these guardian 

 elves protect it from the ravages of evil insects and the mildew of 

 the damp. 



The ripening of the strawberry is the signal for a thanksgiving 

 by the entire people. The fruit, the first grown of the year, is greeted 

 with songs of joy and gratitude. The Priestesses l hold meetings 

 of praise in the darkness of the night. In their Dark dances the 

 berry had its own Joy dance and there is an especial dance and 

 song for the Jo-ga-oh, by whose fostering care the fruit has come to 

 perfection. The strawberry wine is made on these occasions and 

 distributed among the people, a separate portion being reserved 

 for the singers who officiate at the Berry dances. 



There is an ancient folk tale that when the fruits were first 

 coming to earth an evil spirit stole the strawberry plant, hiding 

 it under the ground for centuries, until it was finally released by a 

 spy sunbeam who carried it back to the sunny fields of earth where 

 it has lived and thrived ever since, but fearing another captivity 

 the " Little People " maintain special guard over their favorite 

 fruit. 



These elf folk are ever vigilant in the fields during the season 

 of ripening and vigorous are their wars with the blights and disease 

 that threaten to infect and destroy the corn and the beans. 



The universal friend of the red man, they assume various forms 

 for protection and guidance, frequently visiting the lodges of the 

 Indian in the guise of birds. If they come as a robin they carry 

 good tidings; if as an owl, watchful and wise, their mission is one of 

 warning, an enemy is coming who will deceive; if as a bat, that 

 winged animal, the symbol of the union of light and darkness, it 

 denotes some life and death struggle close at hand. The most 

 minute harmless insect or worm may be the bearer of important 

 " talk " from the " Little People " and is not destroyed for the 

 " trail is broad enough for all." 



According to a law enacted by these guardian elves, a true Indian 

 should not relate the myth tales of his people during the summer. 

 No one could tell, they thought, when some bug or bird might be 

 listening and report the offense to the elves, who in turn would 

 send a watcher to enforce silence on the part of the breaker of the 

 law. They dread that some creature of animate nature may 

 overhear these tales and entranced by them, forget to go back to 



1 Ho-non-di-ont, The Company of Faith Keepers. 



