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Of the olden time. Two brothers went hunting in the autumn, and that as
far as the head waters of the Penobscot, where they remained all
winter. But in March their snow-shoes (_agahmook_, P.) gave out,
as did their moccasins, and they wished that a woman were there to mend
them.
When the younger brother returned first to the lodge, the next day,--
which he generally did, to get it ready for the elder,--he was
astonished to find that some one had been there before him, and that,
too, in the housekeeping. For garments had been mended, the place
cleaned and swept, a fire built, and the pot was boiling. He said
nothing of this to his brother; but returning the next day at the same
time, found that all had been attended to, as at first. And again he
said nothing; but in the morning, when he went forth to hunt, he did
but go a little way, and, returning, watched, from a hidden place, the
door. And there came a beautiful and graceful girl, well attired, who
entered the wigwam. And he, stepping softly, looking through a hole in
the hut, saw her very busy with his housekeeping.
Then he entered, and she seemed to be greatly alarmed and confused; but
he calmed her, and they soon became good friends, sporting together
very happily all day long like children, for indeed they were both
young.
When the sun's height was little and his shadows long, the girl said,
"I must go now.
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