much in little incidents. Generally one helped
the other in restoring some lost link in the
original character of the tale. And now I have
tried to transplant the native spirit of these
tales -- root and all -- into the English lan-
guage, since America in the last few centuries
has acquired a second tongue.

The old legends of America belong quite as
much to the blue-eyed little patriot as to the
black-haired aborigine. And when they are
grown tall like the wise grown-ups may they
not lack interest in a further study of Indian
folklore, a study which so strongly suggests our
near kinship with the rest of humanity and
points a steady finger toward the great brother-
hood of mankind, and by which one is so forci-
bly impressed with the possible earnestness of
life as seen through the teepee door! If it be
true that much lies "in the eye of the beholder,"
then in the American aborigine as in any other
race, sincerity of belief, though it were based
upon mere optical illusion, demands a little
respect.

After all he seems at heart much like other
peoples.

ZITKALA-A.

-vi-