252 THE AMERICAN MOOSE 



When he went back to his wigwam that night,, 

 the fire was burning and supper cooked, though 

 he saw no one. When he had eaten, he fell asleep, 

 being very tired, and on waking next morning 

 found all in order and breakfast prepared. This 

 went on for some days. The seventh night, on 

 his return, he saw a woman in the wigwam. She 

 did not speak, but made all comfortable, and 

 when the work was done made her bed on one side 

 opposite his. This lasted all winter. She seldom 

 or never spoke; but when spring came, and it was 

 time for him to return to his village, she said, 

 'Remember me, always think of me, and do not 

 marry another woman.' When he got home loaded 

 with skins and meat, his father had chosen a wife 

 for him; but he would have nothing to say to her. 



"Next fall he went back into the woods, and 

 as he approached his wigwam, he saw smoke 

 coming out of it, and when he entered, there 

 sat the silent woman with a little boy at her side. 

 She told the boy to shake hands with his father. 

 Unlike most children, this child was born large 

 and strong enough to hunt with his father, and be 

 of much help to him, so that they got a double 

 quantity of game, and in the spring the man 

 went back to the village so rich that the chief 

 wanted him for a son-in-law; but still he re- 



