How the seasons came to be (Ojibwa) -- Birth of the arbutus (Ojibwa) -- The maiden with golden hair (Chippewa) -- Origin of the violet (Iroquois) -- The beginning of birds (Blackfeet) -- Why the wind wails (Algonquin -- Story of the humming bird (Shoshonee) -- The gift of Indian corn (Chippewa) -- The stars that dance (Iroquois) -- The Pukwudjee and the Morning Star (Ojibwa) -- The White Hawk (Shawnee) -- How mosquitoes came to be (Iroquois) -- How birds and fairies came to be (Algonquin) -- Why the aspen leaves are never still (Blackfeet) -- Why the baby says "goo" (Algonquin) -- Why the squirrel coughs (Algonquin) -- Why the frogs croak (Algonquin) -- The rock of the measuring worm; El Capitán, in the Yosemite (California tribes) -- How the flying squirrel got his wings (Iroquois) -- Why Brother Bear wears a stumpy tail (Ojibwa) -- The thunder people (Passamaquoddy) -- Keepers of the winds (Algonquin).
An American writer.
The stories of this book have been chosen for the purpose of showing how the early Red Men accounted for the phenomena of nature the presence of the birds, the moaning of the wind, the whispering of the leaves. The nature myths of the North American Indian are full of poetry, and occasionally of a rich humor. In retelling the stories for children the author has sought to retain the original spirit of the tales, and through them to give to the reader a better understanding of the inner life and thought of the primitive Red Man at his best. The tales have been gathered from many sources, and are representative of many tribes.