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Authors: Janette Oke
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pair of shoes, but after studying them carefully she shook her head slowly. She wanted shoes like Nonie wore. Soft, supple moccasins. Papa Mac laughed and then nodded his head. He promised he would speak to Nonie about the new “shoes.”
Kendra did pick out some yard goods for a new skirt. And some soft flannel for a new nightgown. Papa Mac was sure Nonie would agree to do the sewing.
Kendra enjoyed the excitement of the trip, but she was glad when they climbed from the canoe and she could stretch her cramped legs and take Oscar for a romp along the bank of the stream. And she could hardly wait to show Nonie the new material.
George was home a good deal over the summer months, not a time for trapping. All the traps were brought home on the wagon-sleigh and carefully checked and oiled to make sure that they were ready for the next winter’s catch. The summer was also spent in other activities. A garden was planted and cultivated. Wood piles were refurnished. Knives were sharpened. Meat and fish were stripped and dried in the sun. Dog harness was repaired with newly tanned moose hides. Never did there seem to be a day when George did not have something with which to busy his hands.
If his work took him away from the cabin, Nonie came. Kendra and Nonie spent many days back in the berry patch or looking for “good” plants to gather in their baskets. Kendra carried her own basket now. Nonie had fashioned it for her from marsh reeds and stained it with a pattern of red, yellow, and brown. Kendra felt proud as she filled her basket with roots and leaves that would be useful.
Whenever she was in error, Nonie showed her the plant and uttered her little sound “p-f-f-t.” The next time out, Kendra watched carefully as she gathered. She did not want to pick the offensive plant again.
But when her grandfather’s work kept him around the cabin, Kendra was close beside him. He taught her the bird songs, along with many facts about their habits. Often they searched for nests together, though they never disturbed the tiny warm eggs. If the nestlings had hatched, they sat silently together and watched the parents feed the nosily demanding babies whose beaks never seemed to be silent or their tummies filled.
Another birthday came and went for Kendra. This time her grandfather had made her a harness for the now-grown Oscar. In the days that followed, they spent time teaching the young dog to pull a small training cart. Kendra giggled with delight as Dollie went for her first ride in the small wagon behind Oscar.
As the first snow of another winter whipped around the corners of the snug cabin, Kendra felt her heart stir restlessly. The cold meant that her grandfather would return again to his traps. She hated to see him go. At the same time, it would mean more time with Nonie. Kendra had been missing those long, quiet winter days filled with stories about the Old One and Mother Earth. Kendra was not quite sure whether to be happy or sad to see the snow shut the door on the outside world.
Chapter Seven
The Ugly Side
Another spring was sneaking slowly through the mountain passes, filling the streams and washing away the drifts of snow that had covered the trails and nearly buried the small cabin.
Nonie was anxious to get out to the meadows to catch the early growth of new plants, tender and potent and good medicine for her herbal cures. Kendra was just as anxious to escape the cabin site as well. It had seemed like a long winter of confinement to the five-year-old. She was glad the days were lengthening, the sun stronger in the sky.
“Mother Earth is coming awake,” she said to Nonie one morning as they stood in the cabin door drinking in the freshness of the spring air.
Nonie nodded, making no return comment to the child.
“We go,” said Nonie after sniffing at the air and studying the sky.
They wrapped themselves in their deerskin jackets. Nonie had made Kendra a long-fringed buckskin of her very own. Then Nonie
Kendra did pick out some yard goods for a new skirt. And some soft flannel for a new nightgown. Papa Mac was sure Nonie would agree to do the sewing.
Kendra enjoyed the excitement of the trip, but she was glad when they climbed from the canoe and she could stretch her cramped legs and take Oscar for a romp along the bank of the stream. And she could hardly wait to show Nonie the new material.
George was home a good deal over the summer months, not a time for trapping. All the traps were brought home on the wagon-sleigh and carefully checked and oiled to make sure that they were ready for the next winter’s catch. The summer was also spent in other activities. A garden was planted and cultivated. Wood piles were refurnished. Knives were sharpened. Meat and fish were stripped and dried in the sun. Dog harness was repaired with newly tanned moose hides. Never did there seem to be a day when George did not have something with which to busy his hands.
If his work took him away from the cabin, Nonie came. Kendra and Nonie spent many days back in the berry patch or looking for “good” plants to gather in their baskets. Kendra carried her own basket now. Nonie had fashioned it for her from marsh reeds and stained it with a pattern of red, yellow, and brown. Kendra felt proud as she filled her basket with roots and leaves that would be useful.
Whenever she was in error, Nonie showed her the plant and uttered her little sound “p-f-f-t.” The next time out, Kendra watched carefully as she gathered. She did not want to pick the offensive plant again.
But when her grandfather’s work kept him around the cabin, Kendra was close beside him. He taught her the bird songs, along with many facts about their habits. Often they searched for nests together, though they never disturbed the tiny warm eggs. If the nestlings had hatched, they sat silently together and watched the parents feed the nosily demanding babies whose beaks never seemed to be silent or their tummies filled.
Another birthday came and went for Kendra. This time her grandfather had made her a harness for the now-grown Oscar. In the days that followed, they spent time teaching the young dog to pull a small training cart. Kendra giggled with delight as Dollie went for her first ride in the small wagon behind Oscar.
As the first snow of another winter whipped around the corners of the snug cabin, Kendra felt her heart stir restlessly. The cold meant that her grandfather would return again to his traps. She hated to see him go. At the same time, it would mean more time with Nonie. Kendra had been missing those long, quiet winter days filled with stories about the Old One and Mother Earth. Kendra was not quite sure whether to be happy or sad to see the snow shut the door on the outside world.
Chapter Seven
The Ugly Side
Another spring was sneaking slowly through the mountain passes, filling the streams and washing away the drifts of snow that had covered the trails and nearly buried the small cabin.
Nonie was anxious to get out to the meadows to catch the early growth of new plants, tender and potent and good medicine for her herbal cures. Kendra was just as anxious to escape the cabin site as well. It had seemed like a long winter of confinement to the five-year-old. She was glad the days were lengthening, the sun stronger in the sky.
“Mother Earth is coming awake,” she said to Nonie one morning as they stood in the cabin door drinking in the freshness of the spring air.
Nonie nodded, making no return comment to the child.
“We go,” said Nonie after sniffing at the air and studying the sky.
They wrapped themselves in their deerskin jackets. Nonie had made Kendra a long-fringed buckskin of her very own. Then Nonie
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