Page:The art of story-telling, with nearly half a hundred stories, y Julia Darrow Cowles .. (IA artofstorytellin00cowl).pdf/174

 over gravely, and asked, "Can you make a better statue to put in its place?"

At that the cobbler turned quite red and stammered, "Oh, no, your Honor; but I can make a better shoe-latchet."

"Then, Sir Cobbler," replied the Lord Mayor, "I would advise you to stick to your last."

Opechee the Robin Redbreast

A great hunter among the Chippewas, or Ojibways, wanted his son to secure a powerful spirit to protect him in war and all danger. To gain the help of the strong Manitou the boy must fast twelve days.

Many Indian boys can do this, but not all. Many try and fail.

The boy did as his father commanded, for when the time came he went into the secret lodge in the deep forest and laid himself down alone on the mat his mother had woven for him. He did not fear, but his strength was weak. All night he lay there alone.

In the morning his father came and asked