Pueblo playmates

Chapter One A TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS

W E are going to the mountains tomorrow! We are going to the mountains tomorrow!” sang a little Pueblo Indian boy with glee.

“Hush!” said his little sister, “you have wakened the baby with your loud song.”

“That isn’t a song,” laughed the boy, “I was just singing be¬ cause I am so glad we are going to the mountains.”

“I am glad, too,” said his sister, “but now, I must sing a quiet little song to put baby to sleep again.”

“Sleep, little baby, when my song you hear,

And I will keep the bumblebee from buzzing in your ear I will keep the Sun God from shining in your eye If you will sleep, my baby, and do not wake and cry.”

Now she is sound asleep,” whispered the little girl.

These little Indian children were sitting in the warm sun high up on a mesa.

The little boy’s name was Rain Cloud. He had on a bright red shirt and short blue trousers. On his feet he wore a nice, new pair of moccasins.

His little sister’s name was Butterfly Girl. She had on new moccasins, too, and a nice blue woolen dress with a gay belt around it, which her mother had woven for her.

They called the baby Singing Bird. Sometimes Butterfly Girl carried the baby on her back, wrapped in a tiny blanket. So, everywhere that Butterfly Girl went Singing Bird went too. Sing' ing Bird was just a tiny baby who slept nearly all day long. But, at times when Butterfly Girl swept the house or gathered seeds and plants, Singing Bird would open her brown eyes and laugh.

Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl lived in New Mexico near the Rio Grande. In the summer it was very hot and the sun shone every day. In the winter it was very cold at times and the whole land was covered with snow. Then Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl would throw snowballs and make snow men.

They had a big sister whose name was Twinkling Star. She was going to be married soon. When an Indian girl marries, she and her family build her new house. Twinkling Star and her mother would plaster the house, and her father and brother would help with the heavy work. They would get the logs for it and carry the adobe bricks, while the women would do all the rest.

So Rain Cloud’s father, Porcupine, had promised to take Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl to the mountains. He wanted to get logs for the roof of Twinkling Star’s new house.

Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl knew the h igh mountains were far, far away. It would take them two days to reach there. They were going in a wagon drawn by their horse. Black Rock. Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl thought it would be great fun to ride in the wagon all day and to sleep under the stars at night.

On the day of the trip. Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl awoke very early. Their father, Porcupine, was up before them. He had loaded the wagon with blankets and enough food and water to last them three or four days.

Just as the Sun God showed his shining face, Porcupine lifted Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl up on the big wagon. They waved good-bye to their mother, Bluebird, as she stood in the doorway of their pueblo house. Then they were off down the steep path of the mesa to the field below.

For many hours they jogged along over the plain. As the Sun God climbed higher in the sky it grew very warm. Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl could see for miles and miles around them from their seats on top of the big wagon. Far away they could see the purple mountains where the pine trees grew.

The rocky hills were near to them and sometimes they could see a canyon which looked black in the bright sunlight. All around them were sagebrush and cactus and the beautiful tall yucca with its white bell-shaped flowers.

At last Porcupine said, “Now, it is noon and we shall stop to eat our lunch. I am sure Black Rock would like a rest, too.”

So they all climbed down off the wagon. After Black Rock had rested a few minutes, Porcupine gave him a big drink of water and some com to eat.

Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl were very hungry and they ate many comcakes which their mother had made for them.

Father, said Rain Cloud when they were ready to start again, “may I hold the reins? I am really quite strong and I am sure I could drive Black Rock. Please let me try, Father.”

“All right,” said Porcupine. “You may drive.”

So Rain Cloud held the reins and he felt very proud.

For a long time Black Rock seemed not to know that a little boy was driving him. He just trotted along and everything was still and quiet. Then suddenly a rabbit jumped out of a bush by the side of the road. It dashed right under Black Rock’s hoofs.

Now, Black Rock was a very wise old horse and he had seen many, many rabbits. Perhaps he did know that little Rain Cloud was holding his reins and perhaps he just wanted to have some fun. This is what he did. He threw back his head with a big snort and started down the road as fast as he could gallop.

Rain Cloud nearly fell off the seat before he remembered to grab the reins as tightly as he could.

Porcupine had to hold on to Butterfly Girl to keep her from falling off the wagon.

Rain Cloud pulled and pulled on the reins, but Black Rock just kept going as fast as he could with his tail flowing straight out behind him.

Suddenly Porcupine took the reins and Black Rock stopped. Then he trotted down the road as though he had never seen a rabbit at all.

Rain Cloud felt very foolish, but Porcupine did not scold him.

Rain Cloud was very quiet the rest of the afternoon. When at last they stopped to camp for the night, he helped Porcupine tether Black Rock and lay out the blankets. Then he watched Porcupine build a fire.

Porcupine took two sticks, one flat and one round. He turned the round stick and the flat one, which lay on the ground, together. In a little while they had a bright fire burning to warm their nice supper.

Soon they were all wrapped up in their blankets beside the wagon. But Rain Cloud lay looking at the stars, wishing he could do something to show his father that he was really a big boy who could do a job well.

The next day they reached the mountains. Here it was cooler and Butterfly Girl wrapped her blanket snugly about her shoulders.

Soon Porcupine said, “We will leave Black Rock and the wagon here while I look for a straight, green pine tree. I want logs that are straight and strong for the roof of Twinkling Star’s new house.”

Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl loved to be in the mountains. Butterfly Girl began to pick the flowers that grew among the bushes. After a while they heard Porcupine say, “Here is a tree that will do.”

“Oh, Father,” cried Rain Cloud, “may we go for a walk while you are chopping it down?”

“Yes, if you do not go too far,” the father replied.

This made them happy. Hand in hand they went off through the woods.

“Look!” cried Rain Cloud.

“Where?” asked Butterfly Girl.

“Oh, he is gone,” said Rain Cloud. “I saw a badger.”

“I thought the badger lived on the desert,” said Butterfly Girl.

Oh, no!” said Rain Cloud. “It is too dry on the desert. He likes to be near water. He always digs his hole near bushes and rocks. Father told me that the badger eats two gophers or two squirrels and twelve mice every day. He eats fruit and roots, and insects, too. I guess it takes him all day long to find his food!”

Oh, no! said Butterfly Girl. “I know he hunts at night.”

“If we hunt, we can find some pinon nuts,” cried Rain Cloud.

They went higher and higher, and soon they began to see pinon nuts under the trees. Butterfly Girl held in her skirt all that Rain Cloud could gather.

“Father will be glad we have found so many,” said Rain Cloud, thinking how good they would taste when they were roasted.

Just as he spoke a great clap of thunder shook the ground and roared through the mountains. Rain began to fall very hard. Flashes of lightning filled the sky. Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl were not afraid, for Indian boys and girls love the storm.

“We must run fast and get back to Father before we get too wet,” cried Rain Cloud.

“Loo\, sister. See what I have found!”

Down the hill they ran. Butterfly Girl held her skirt with one hand. She did not want to lose the pinon nuts.

The sky became darker. The thunder hurt their ears. The trees and hills looked black.

Poor Butterfly Girl slipped on the wet pine needles. The pinon nuts fell out of her skirt and rolled down the hill.

fc Tm afraid we are lost,” cried Rain Cloud. “We didn’t come this way before and the rain has washed away our foot prints. I can’t find the way back.”

“But we must find some place where we can keep dry,” cried Butterfly Girl.

Rain Cloud held Butterfly Girl tightly by the hand. He knew he must find shelter for them both. They ran on through the storm. Rain Cloud’s bright brown eyes looked everywhere. But he saw only the rain and the swaying trees. Again and again he called his father’s name, but heard no answer.

Then suddenly Rain Cloud gave a happy shout and pointed to the side of the hill.

“Look!” he cried. “There is a cave!”

They ran as fast as they could. They were inside the cave in a minute, where they shook the water from their thick, black hair. They were cold and wet, but the cave was warm and dry.

They stood and looked out at the storm. The trees waved to and fro in the wind. The rain came down in great streams. The lightning flashed and the thunder roared.

“Rain Cloud,” said Butterfly Girl, “Father will never find us here. What shall we do? I am hungry and cold and night is coming on.”

“Don’t be afraid,” he replied. “I shall think of some way to help us. We cannot build a signal fire because it is too wet. We must stay in this cave. We will be safe and dry here, little sister. If you sit down here against this rock, perhaps you can go to sleep.”

Poor little Butterfly Girl was very tired and a big tear rolled down her cheek as she sat against the rock. She leaned back for just a moment, and Rain Cloud saw that she had gone fast asleep.

“I will not sleep,” thought Rain Cloud. “I will look after Butterfly Girl and watch for Father.”

The storm roared on and on and the night grew blacker. Rain Cloud felt very much alone and even a little afraid, but he wanted to do something to help.

At last the blackness turned to a faint gray. The rain still poured down, but the thunder had stopped. Rain Cloud wanted to see what was in the cave. During the long night he had remem' bered that his grandfather had told him that long, long ago their people had lived in caves.

All at once, Butterfly Girl awoke. Rain Cloud was shouting loudly. His voice made a strange sound in the cave. He came run' ning with something in his arms.

“Look, sister. See what I have found!” he cried.

“Why, it’s a drum!” she replied.

“Yes, and here is the old drumstick to go with it,” cried Rain Cloud.

Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl were very excited. They could hardly believe that Rain Cloud had really found a drum.

“Now, listen to me,” said Rain Cloud. “Do you remember only a moon ago when our grandfather told us a story about a drum? He said that now we use drums only for our dances. Long ago they were used to warn our people that the Spanish soldiers were coming. They were our enemies. They came and took our villages one by one. They made our people send presents of com and cloth to the Spanish kings.

“Our people were brave. They wanted to be free. They drove the Spaniards back out of our land. They were free once more. They beat the drums to tell each other of danger. I shall beat this drum, little sister. Do you think our father could hear it?”

“He could, he could!” cried Butterfly Girl. “Let’s try it!”

So Rain Cloud took the old drumstick and beat upon the drum. The deep boom rolled out over the mountains. He beat until his arms were tired. Then Butterfly Girl took her turn. They did it again and again.

Suddenly Butterfly Girl jumped up and held her brother’s arm.

“I think I hear a shout,” she said.

Rain Cloud stopped with his arm in the air and listened. Indian boys and girls have good ears. Soon they did hear a shout.

“It’s Father, it’s Father!” they cried. “Here we are, Father!”

They jumped up and down and waved their arms in the air. Soon Porcupine was in the cave with his big arms about his children.

“You should not have gone so far away,” he said. “We never know when the Rain Gods will send a storm to the mountains. But you did well. It is a wonderful thing that you found this drum. Without it I might not have found you for a long, long time. We shall take it home to show to all the people, my son.”

Porcupine then fed the children some comcakes and he picked up little Butterfly Girl, who was glad to be in his arms. Fie put his big blanket close about her. With his other arm he carried away the drum, while Rain Cloud proudly carried the drumstick.

“Come, Rain Cloud,” said Porcupine. “We shall go back to the wagon and start for home. I have already loaded the logs on the wagon.”

All day they traveled in the bright sunshine. That night they were happy to lie very close to Porcupine, wrapped in their nice warm blankets under the gleaming stars.

The next evening, as dusk was falling, they reached their pueblo village.

Chapter Two BUILDING A HOUSE

The village where Rain Cloud lived was built upon a high mesa. Years ago it had been built there to protect the people from their enemies. From this high, table-like spot they could see far out over the plains below. Their lookouts could always tell when someone was coming. To get to the top from the wide fields below, the people would have to go up a steep and winding path.

All the houses in the village were square in shape. The walls were very thick. The roofs were flat. Rain Cloud liked his house. It kept him cool in summer and warm in winter. He also liked to play on the flat roof. His mother, Bluebird, dried clothes there. Peppers, squash, and corn hung there to dry, too. Even the chickens were kept there. In the evening, the family would go to the roof to rest and play.

Right inside the door of Rain Cloud's house was the large main room. Here he and his whole family ate, cooked, ground the com, and slept. There were Indian signs painted on the walls, as well as many pretty Indian pictures. Over in the comer was a fireplace where Bluebird did the cooking. The smoke went up a chimney made of large pottery jars with the bottoms broken out of them. Rain Cloud had helped to build this chimney himself.

In another comer were the stone metates on which the com was ground. Small stones rubbing against the large stones broke the corn down into flour.

Across the room was baby Singing Bird’s cradle. This cradle was made of willow branches. It hung from a beam in the ceiling. It was very old. For many, many years all the babies in Rain Cloud’s family had used this same cradle.

In Rain Cloud’s pueblo house the walls were very useful. Around them were stone benches and shelves where jars of water and bowls were kept. Along the sides, the clothes and blankets hung on long poles. High up on the walls were small windows near the roof.

But there was still another room in this house. This was the storeroom. Here Rain Cloud’s family kept com, dried pumpkins, peaches, and chiles. Rain Cloud liked to go into this room and bring out things for his mother to use.

Twinkling Star wanted a house just like this one. She was going to build right next to it. Big brother, Eagle Claws, was to help her with the heavy work.

The morning after the trip to the mountains. Rain Cloud awoke very early. He wanted to help build Twinkling Star’s house, too. As he jumped up from his blankets he ran to the door and sang this little song to the rising sun:

“Here I stand, O Sun God,

Make me strong today.

Shine on this new home we build,

And keep all care away.”

He hung his blanket on a peg in the wall. Then he sat down with the rest of the family for breakfast. Before they ate their com meal mush. Eagle, the grandfather, said a little prayer to the Food Givers and then threw a pinch of food into the fire as an offering to them.

“I must hurry,” said Rain Cloud as he ate the last bite of mush, “Eagle Claws and Twinkling Star are already at work. I want to help them make the adobe bricks.”

He ran out of the house and down the winding path to the field below. There he found Twinkling Star and Eagle Claws. Twinkling Star was very glad to have Eagle Claws help her make the adobe bricks.

“You are just in time to help mix adobe,” cried Eagle Claws.

Rain Cloud gave a shout and sat down to take off his mocca' sins. He liked to tramp the clay, ashes, straw, and water with his bare feet. The clay was in the hole that Eagle Claws had dug in the ground. In this they tramped and tramped. Rain Cloud watched the mud oozing through his toes.

After a long time Eagle Claws said, “Now it is ready to put into the molds.”

The molds were made in three sections like a ladder. These sections were just the size the bricks were to be. After the adobe was poured into the molds, they were put in the sun to dry.

“Now we can look at the bricks we put out to dry yesterday,” said Twinkling Star.

When they looked, they found these bricks almost dry. Twinkling Star put a little water over them, then turned them out of the molds to dry more.

“The bricks we made a week ago are dry and hard,” she said. “Now we can take them back to the village.”

Eagle Claws put two of the adobe bricks on his shoulder. Then they all started up the steep path to the village.

Suddenly Rain Cloud saw Eagle Claws step around a snake that was lying in the path.

“What kind of snake was that, brother?” asked Rain Cloud.

“That was a gopher snake,” said Eagle Claws. “He kills the gophers and squirrels that eat our crops. He likes to warm himself in the bright sun. Rain Cloud, you must learn to know the gopher snake when you see him. He is pale yellow in color and has dark brown spots on the middle of his back.”

“Tell me about some other kinds of snakes. Eagle Claws,” said Rain Cloud.

“Well,” replied Eagle Claws, “first, there is the diamondback rattlesnake. He is yellowish or grayish brown. Down his back are diamond'shaped blotches. He will always strike when someone bothers him. But he must coil before he can strike. He always warns you by making a buzzing noise with his rattles.

“Then there is the sidewinder rattlesnake. He does not have to coil before he strikes. He can even strike on the run. He is very tiny. He leaves his marks on the loose sand. Sometimes he slides in between the folds of a blanket.”

By this time they had reached the v illag e

“Brother,” said Twinkling Star, “I want to mark the place for my house the way our forefathers did. I have asked the cacique to come and perform the ceremony.”

“Good,” said Eagle Claws as he put down his load of adobes.

I should like to see the old ceremony again myself.”

‘Oh, here he comes now,” cried Rain Cloud.

The cacique was one of the religious leaders of the village, chosen because of his wisdom. As he came near, they could see that he carried two bowls of stew, a bowl of wafer-bread crumbs, a bowl of white commeal, and four eagle feathers.

He greeted Twinkling Star, Bluebird, and Eagle Claws. He smiled at Rain Cloud and Butterfly Girl.

“First, I shall mark the size your house is to be,” he said to Twinkling Star. He took the bowl of white commeal and made long lines on the ground with it.

“First I shall mar\ the size your house is

“Now, Twinkling Star, you take these four feathers and place one at each corner of your house. Eagle Claws, you place a big stone over each feather, please. 1 ’

When this was done, Twinkling Star chose the place for the doorway. This was to face the east so that the sun would shine into the house most of the day.

The cacique then took two bowls of stew and placed them on each side of the space where the door was to be.

“Now, you may all fill your hands with wafenbread crumbs and walk in single file around the lines that mark the house,” he said.

“This is fun,” whispered Rain Cloud to Butterfly Girl as they sprinkled the crumbs on the ground. “This means that Twinkling Star and her husband will always have food and plenty in their house.”

Then they all sang songs and the ceremony was over.

Before the cacique left, he said, “Now, go and build your house. May it prove strong and comfortable.”

Everyone began to work. Eagle Claws took the adobes and put them one upon another in a row. This was to make the walls where the cacique had marked. Bluebird and Twinkling Star took soft mud in their hands and put it between the bricks. This made the bricks stick together in a solid wall.

Butterfly Girl tried to do just as Bluebird and Twinkling Star were doing. She tried and tried, but the mud slid out of her hands. She felt bad because all Indian girls must do things well with their hands.

“Oh, dear,” she cried, “why can’t I do it the way you do. Mother?”

“You must keep trying,” said Bluebird, “and soon you will be able to do it much better.”

Butterfly Girl tried again. Still the mud went on in lumps. It hardened too soon and did not hold the bricks together. She felt very sad. She wanted to show Rain Cloud how well she could do. At last she sat down on the ground to rest. She put her head in her hands and leaned against the wall.

“Oh, my,” she said again.

The wall made of her bricks was not strong enough to lean against. It shook a little. One brick fell down. It hit poor little Butterfly Girl on the head!

“Oh, oh,” said Butterfly Girl, but she did not cry.

Bluebird came running to her. She picked Butterfly Girl up and helped her into their house. She laid her down on the floor and put a pretty blanket over her. Then she took some cold water from a pottery jar and bathed her head.

“Perhaps your grandfather will come to tell you a story,” she said.

“Oh, will he?” replied Butterfly Girl. “I don’t mind a bump on my head if Grandfather will only do that for me.”

Bluebird called Eagle, and soon he came through the doorway. He smiled at Butterfly Girl. He was very old. His face was full of lines. He had lived so long that he knew many stories.

“Grandchild,” he said, “would you believe that long ago our people lived in pueblo houses without any doors?”

“But Grandfather,” laughed Butterfly Girl, “how could they get into a house without a door?”

“Ah, my child,” said Eagle in a sad voice, “when you have enemies, it is best not to have doors. Enemies can come through doors too easily.

“You see, long ago our Pueblo people had many enemies. They feared the Apache Indians most of all. The Apaches came in great numbers across the plains. They came to kill our people and to steal our com.

“There was a hole in the roof of every house in the village. Each person had to climb up a ladder to his roof. Then he would climb down through this hole. When the Apaches were coming, [21 ]

the ladders were pulled up. Then our people were quite safe.

“But the Apaches are our friends now , 11 cried Butterfly Girl.

“Yes , 11 said Eagle, “when the Apaches come to see us now, we bring them through the door.

“Now you must rest, Butterfly Girl , 11 said Eagle. “You must be ready to help Twinkling Star tomorrow. She will have a nice door in her house. I think that is better than a hole in the roof, after all . 11

Chapter Three THE WEDDING

“Look, Rain Cloud, Twinkling Star’s house is finished at last!” cried Butterfly Girl. “It seems such a long time since we started to build it.”

Butterfly Girl and Rain Cloud were sitting in the hot sun. Rain Cloud was very busy. He was pulling at the leather straps on a little doll cradle. He was making the doll cradle for Butterfly Girl’s kjichina doll. A kachtna doll is a funny little wooden doll with strange painted marks and a headdress. It is made to look like the gods who appear in ceremonies. Indian girls carry them to remind them of the stories about their gods.

“Yes, the house is finished,” said Rain Cloud as he bent over the cradle. “Will Twinkling Star be married soon?”

“Why, Rain Cloud, you know the wedding will be in just three more days. How could you forget it? I am so excited I can hardly wait!”

“Well, I am glad we shall not have to listen to Running Fox playing his flute outside our house every night,” said Rain Cloud.

Running Fox was the man Twinkling Star was going to marry.

“And I am glad that all of Running Fox’s family and all of our family want them to be married,” replied Butterfly Girl. “Did you see the three presents Running Fox brought Twinkling Star?”

“Yes,” said Rain Cloud, “I like the moccasins best. Running Fox made them from a deerskin with rawhide soles. He shot the deer himself. Running Fox is a good hunter.”

“Oh, I like the pretty white dress the best. Did you know it was woven by hand? I like the pretty belt, too. It is red and green and has long fringe at the ends. How I should like one just like it some day.”

“Well, I’m glad I’m not a girl, anyway,” said Rain Cloud.

“Why?” cried Butterfly Girl.

“Because I shall not have to grind com before I get married. Poor Twinkling Star has to grind com for three long days at the house of Running Fox. She does it for his mother.”

Just then Bluebird came to the door.

“Come, my children,” she called. “You must build a fire. I am going to bake bread for the wedding feast.”

Rain Cloud knew just what to do. He ran to the woodpile and filled his arms with sticks. Then he carried them over to a large oven just a few feet away. Butterfly Girl helped him build a large fire in the oven. Soon the oven was very hot. Then Blue' bird brought from the house loaf after loaf of bread to bake.

Butterfly Girl put in a tiny loaf of bread all her own.

“Now you can build a fire in the fireplace of our house,” said Bluebird. “The stones must be very hot. Then I shall make wafer' bread.”

“Oh, do make it with the blue com flour,” cried Butterfly Girl.

So for three long days they all worked hard to get ready for the wedding. At last the great day came.

Early that morning Rain Cloud was outside gathering sticks. He heard a splashing noise. People were laughing. He dropped the sticks and ran to the door. He looked inside.

“What is Mother doing?” he asked.

“Something you do not like,” laughed his mother. “I am washing Twinkling Star’s hair. See the soap? It is from the root of the yucca plant I had you dig up for me.”

Next, Butterfly Girl was asked to help her sister dress for the wedding. Bluebird, the mother, made everyone else stay outside to wait.

“Those are such pretty flowers on your dress,” cried Butterfly Girl. Never before had she seen Twinkling Star look so beautiful.