HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.




THE GIFT OF CORN


Long, long ago, a tribe of Indians lived on a beautiful island in the
Great Lakes.

An enemy attacked the Indians, and they were driven from home. They
wandered far away and settled on the shore of a small lake.

Brave Heart, a strong and powerful Indian, remained to guard the
beautiful island.

One morning Brave Heart stepped into his canoe. He was planning to
paddle around the island. The canoe glided swiftly along by the tall
trees that grew near the water.

At last Brave Heart had gone beyond the trees. He saw a vast plain. He
paddled to the shore and drew his canoe up the beach.

Then Brave Heart started to walk across the plain. Suddenly a little man
stood in front of him. The stranger was dressed in green, and he wore a
green cap with red feathers in it.

"Ho, ho, Brave Heart!" cried he. "You are very strong, are you not?"