CHAPTER XI

THE SCHOOL OF THE WOODS

In the green groves of Swansea was an Indian national mill which may still be seen on the main road from Warren to Barneyville, about half-way between the two towns. A stone wall runs over it. It is worn smooth with the grindings of the corn, and was probably used by generations of aborigines.

Here gathered the native Indian races, and here it is probable the arts and crafts of these races were taught before the great sickness, when the Wampanoags were in their glory.

The mill was not far from the simple cabin of timid Susan, and here the sharp, hard stone probably furnished material for arrows.

Little Metacomet was educated by the grinders and the arrow-makers in places like these. On the shores he was taught to make spears and arrows in the lodges, or saw how this work was done. In places like the Indian mill he saw how mortars and pestles for pounding corn and meals were made. At Mt. Hope Lands he saw how it was that the Indian women painted their fabrics with pigeon-berry and how fruit was dried for winter use. The great cloaks of the chieftains and sagamores were probably painted there, for there were the royal lodges.

His instructor may have been his mother, or his father's brother, who died early in the Indian war, and who is said to have studied at the Indian school at Cambridge. Though he was only a little boy, princes were trained young in the Indian arts.

The first thing that was taught such children was picture making, on white birch bark. The books of the Indians were pictures on bark, and these represented the sun, moon, stars and the manitous, or gods.

The Indian boys were early taught to run. The Indian runners were almost electric in their motions, and made quick journeys from Mt. Hope or Sowams to Plymouth, or to the Narragansett country.

Little Metacomet was probably taught to use the sassafras bow and to feather his arrows from osprey-wings. The ospreys or fishing hawks were very peaceable, dwelling among the great rugged oaks. They never quarreled among themselves. But the great eagle sometimes attacked them, and then they would gather for war against him.

Little Metacomet was taught to attack the great eagle, and to help the peaceable ospreys. When his arrow brought down the eagle with its wings broken and torn, he received the applause of the arrow-makers, spear-makers, mortar-makers, and basket-makers.

In the winter canoes were hollowed from logs, and he was taught the arts of fishing. He was told of the Great Spirit who dwelt in the happy hunting-grounds in the regions of the sun. These places of departed souls were said to be in the south. The Indians sang themselves to sleep, by thoughts of the happy hunting-ground.

The making of wampum was one of the arts of the Indian schools. Wampum was made of shells, and was the Indian money.

It was reckoned by "fathoms," or the length of the string. The making of beads and ornaments of fur, feathers, and shells was also among their arts.

When the children of the braves began to grow rapidly, they were put into the hardening process, or what might be termed physical education. They were cast out into the cold in winter that they might endure cold; they were tortured that they might learn never to complain. An old song tells this story--

"The sun sets at night and the stars shun the day, But glory remains when the light fades away. Begin, ye tormentors, your threats are in vain, For the son of Alknomok will never complain."

How to become stolid was one of the arts of this forest education.

As the months passed on, the hostility of the Indians toward the white people grew, and Susan every day talked with Roger about what would happen if hostile Indians were to "come diving down the road, right past her door."

"Mother," Roger used to say, "they would remember what the little prince has said of us. An Indian never harms a friend. The women all know how we have treated Metacomet."