When the play
was ended, and she had served the feast at its
close, Stasu seemed lost in thought.
"He should not live in this way," she was
saying to herself. "He should know the tra-
ditions and great deeds of my people! Surely
his grandfather would be proud of the boy!"
That evening, while the boy slept, and Mato
lay outside the lodge eagerly listening and snif-
fing the night air, the parents sat silent and ill
at ease. After a long time Stasu spoke her
mind.
"My husband, you ask me why I am sad.
It is because I think that the Great Mystery
will be displeased if we keep this little boy for-
ever in the wilderness. It is wrong to allow
him to grow up among wild animals; and if
sickness or accident should deprive him of his
father and mother, our spirits would never rest,
because we had left him alone! I have decided
to ask you to take us back, either to your peo-
ple or to my people. We must sacrifice our
pride, or, if needs be, our lives, for his life and
happiness!"
This speech of Stasu's was a surprise to her
husband.
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