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Then try to get the knife away from her。〃
The boy went to the tent and sat down at the door as if waiting to
be given something。 The corpse lay in the place of honor where the
dead girl had slept in life。 The body was wrapped in a rich robe
and wrapped about with ropes。 Friends had covered it with rich
offerings out of respect to the dead。
As the mother sat on the ground with her head covered she did not
at first see the boy； who sat silent。 But when his reserve had
worn away a little he began at first lightly； then more heavily； to
drum on the floor with his hands。 After a while he began to sing
a comic song。 Louder and louder he sang until carried away with
his own singing he sprang up and began to dance； at the same time
gesturing and making all manner of contortions with his body； still
singing the comic song。 As he approached the corpse he waved his
hands over it in blessing。 The mother put her head out of the
blanket and when she saw the poor simpleton with his strange
grimaces trying to do honor to the corpse by his solemn waving； and
at the same time keeping up his comic song； she burst out laughing。
Then she reached over and handed her knife to the simpleton。
〃Take this knife；〃 she said。 〃You have taught me to forget my
grief。 If while I mourn for the dead I can still be mirthful；
there is no reason for me to despair。 I no longer care to die。 I
will live for my husband。〃
The simpleton left the tepee and brought the knife to the
astonished husband and relatives。
〃How did you get it？ Did you force it away from her； or did you
steal it？〃 they said。
〃She gave it to me。 How could I force it from her or steal it when
she held it in her hand； blade uppermost？ I sang and danced for
her and she burst out laughing。 Then she gave it to me；〃 he
answered。
When the old men of the village heard the orphan's story they were
very silent。 It was a strange thing for a lad to dance in a tepee
where there was mourning。 It was stranger that a mother should
laugh in a tepee before the corpse of her dead daughter。 The old
men gathered at last in a council。 They sat a long time without
saying anything； for they did not want to decide hastily。 The pipe
was filled and passed many times。 At last an old man spoke。
〃We have a hard question。 A mother has laughed before the corpse
of her daughter； and many think she has done foolishly； but I think
the woman did wisely。 The lad was simple and of no training； and
we cannot expect him to know how to do as well as
one with good home and parents to teach him。 Besides； he did the
best that he knew。 He danced to make the mother forget her grief；
and he tried to honor the corpse by waving over it his hands。〃
〃The mother did right to laugh； for when one does try to do us
good； even if what he does causes us discomfort； we should always
remember rather the motive than the deed。 And besides； the
simpleton's dancing saved the woman's life； for she gave up her
knife。 In this； too； she did well； for it is always better to live
for the living than to die for the dead。〃
A LITTLE BRAVE AND THE MEDICINE
WOMAN
A village of Indians moved out of winter camp and pitched their
tents in a circle on high land overlooking a lake。 A little way
down the declivity was a grave。 Choke cherries had grown up；
hiding the grave from view。 But as the ground had sunk somewhat；
the grave was marked by a slight hollow。
One of the villagers going out to hunt took a short cut through the
choke cherry bushes。 As he pushed them aside he saw the hollow
grave； but thought it was a washout made by the rains。 But as he
essayed to step over it； to his great surprise he stumbled and
fell。 Made curious by his mishap； he drew back and tried again；
but again he fell。 When he came back to the village he told the
old men what had happened to him。 They remembered then that a long
time before there had been buried there a medicine woman or
conjurer。 Doubtless it was her medicine that made him stumble。
The story of the villager's adventure spread thru the camp and made
many curious to see the grave。 Among others were six little boys
who were； however； rather timid； for they were in great awe of the
dead medicine woman。 But they had a little playmate named Brave；
a mischievous little rogue； whose hair was always unkempt and
tossed about and who was never quiet for a moment。
〃Let us ask Brave to go with us；〃 they said； and they went in a
body to see him。
〃All right；〃 said Brave； 〃I will go with you。 But I have something
to do first。 You go on around the hill that way； and I will
hasten around this way； and meet you a little later near the
grave。〃
So the six little boys went on as bidden until they came to a place
near the grave。 There they halted。
〃Where is Brave？〃 they asked。
Now Brave； full of mischief； had thought to play a jest on his
little friends。 As soon as they were well out of sight he had sped
around the hill to the shore of the lake and sticking his hands in
the mud had rubbed it over his face； plastered it in his hair； and
soiled his hands until he looked like a new risen corpse with the
flesh rotting from his bones。 He then went and lay down in the
grave and awaited the boys。
When the six little boys came they were more timid than ever when
they did not find Brave； but they feared to go back to the village
without seeing the grave； for fear the old men would call them
cowards。
So they slowly approached the grave and one of them timidly called
out：
〃Please； grandmother； we won't disturb your grave。 We only want to
see where you lie。 Don't be angry。〃
At once a thin quavering voice； like an old woman's； called out：
〃Han； han； takoja； hechetuya； hechetuya！ Yes； yes； that's right；
that's right。〃
The boys were frightened out of their senses； believing the old
woman had come to life。
〃Oh； grandmother；〃 they gasped； 〃don't hurt us； please don't； we'll
go。〃
Just then Brave raised his muddy face and hands up thru the choke
cherry bushes。 With the oozy mud dripping from his features he
looked like some very witch just raised from the grave。 The boys
screamed outright。 One fainted。 The rest ran yelling up the hill
to the village； where each broke at once for his mother's tepee。
As all the tents in a Dakota camping circle face the center； the
boys as they came tearing into camp were in plain view from the
tepees。 Hearing the screaming； every woman in camp ran to her
tepee door to see what had happened。 Just then little Brave； as
badly scared as the rest； came rushing in after them； his hair on
end and covered with mud and crying out； all forgetful of his
appearance：
〃It's me； it's me！〃
The women yelped and bolted in terror from the village。 Brave
dashed into his mother's tepee； scaring her out of her wits。
Dro