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The name given her by a noted medicine…man was Makah…oesetopah…
win。 It means The…four… corners…of…the…earth。 As she was rather small；
the abbreviation with a diminutive termination was considered more
appropriate； hence Oesedah became her common name。
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Although she had a very good mother； Un… cheedah was her efficient
teacher and chaperon Such knowledge as my grandmother deemed suit…
able to a maiden was duly impressed upon her susceptible mind。 When I
was not in the woods with Chatanna； Oesedah was my companion at home；
and when I returned from my play at evening； she would have a hundred
questions ready for me to answer。 Some of these were questions
concerning our every…day life； and others were more difficult problems
which had suddenly dawned upon her active little mind。 Whatever had
occurred to interest her during the day was immediately repeated for my
benefit。
There were certain questions upon which Oese… dah held me to be
authority； and asked with the hope of increasing her little store of
knowledge。 I have often heard her declare to her girl compan… ions： 〃I
know it is true； Ohiyesa said so！〃 Uncheedah was partly responsible for
this； for when any questions came up which lay within the sphere of man's
observation； she would say：
〃Ohiyesa ought to know that： he is a man I am not！ You had better
ask him。〃
The truth was that she had herself explained to me many of the
subjects under discussion。
I was occasionally referred to little Oesedah in the same manner； and I
always accepted her child… ish elucidations of any matter upon which I had
been advised to consult her； because I knew the source of her wisdom。 In
this simple way we were made to be teachers of one another。
Very often we discussed some topic before our common instructor； or
answered her questions to… gether； in order to show which had the readier
mind。
〃To what tribe does the lizard belong？〃 inquired Uncheedah； upon
one of these occasions。
〃To the four…legged tribe；〃 I shouted。
Oesedah； with her usual quickness； flashed out the answer：
〃It belongs to the creeping tribe。〃
The Indians divided all animals into four gen… eral classes： 1st； those
that walk upon four legs； 2nd； those that fly； 3rd； those that swim with fins；
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4th； those that creep。
Of course I endeavored to support my assertion that the lizard belongs
where I had placed it； be…。 cause he has four distinct legs which propel him
everywhere； on the ground or in the water。 But my opponent claimed
that the creature under dispute does not walk； but creeps。 My strongest
argument was that it had legs； but Oesedah insisted that its body touches
the ground as it moves。 As a last resort； I volunteered to go find one； and
demon… strate the point in question。
The lizard having been brought； we smoothed off the ground and
strewed ashes on it so that we could see the track。 Then I raised the
question： 〃What constitutes creeping； and what constitutes walking？〃
Uncheedah was the judge； and she stated； with… out any hesitation； that
an animal must stand clear of the ground on the support of its legs； and
walk with the body above the legs； and not in contact with the ground； in
order to be termed a walker； while a creeper is one that； regardless of its
legs； if it has them； drags its body upon the ground。 Upon hearing the
judge's decision； I yielded at once to my opponent。
At another time； when I was engaged in a sim… ilar discussion with my
brother Chatanna； Oesedah came to my rescue。 Our grandmother had
asked us：
〃What bird shows most judgment in caring for its young？〃
Chatanna at once exclaimed：
〃The eagle！〃 but I held my peace for a mo… ment； because I was
confusedso many birds came into my mind at once。 I finally declared：
〃It is the oriole！〃
Chatanna was asked to state all the evidence that he had in support of
the eagle's good sense in rearing its young。 He proceeded with an air
of confidence：
〃The eagle is the wisest of all birds。 Its nest is made in the safest
possible place； upon a high and inaccessible cliff。 It provides its young
with an abundance of fresh meat。 They have the fresh… est of air。 They
are brought up under the spell of the grandest scenes； and inspired with
lofty feelings and bravery。 They see that all other be… ings live beneath
them； and that they are the chil… dren of the King of Birds。 A young eagle
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shows the spirit of a warrior while still in the nest。
〃Being exposed to the inclemency of the weather the young eaglets are
hardy。 They are accustomed to hear the mutterings of the Thunder Bird
and the sighings of the Great Mystery。 Why； the lit… tle eagles cannot
help being as noble as they are； because their parents selected for them so
lofty and inspiring a home！ How happy they must be when they find
themselves above the clouds； and behold the zigzag flashes of lightning all
about them！ It must be nice to taste a piece of fresh meat up in their cool
home； in the burning sum… mer…time！ Then when they drop down the
bones of the game they feed upon； wolves and vultures gather beneath
them； feeding upon their refuse。 That alone would show them their
chieftainship over all the other birds。 Isn't that so； grand… mother？〃 Thus
triumphantly he concluded his argument。
I was staggered at first by the noble speech of Chatannna； but I soon
recovered from its effects。 The little Oesedah came to my aid by saying：
〃Wait until Ohiyesa tells of the loveliness of the beautiful Oriole's home！〃
This timely remark gave me courage and I began：
〃My grandmother； who was it said that a mother who has a gentle and
sweet voice will have children of a good disposition？ I think the oriole is
that kind of a parent。 It provides both sun… shine and shadow for its young。
Its nest is sus… pended from the prettiest bough of the most grace… ful tree；
where it is rocked by the gentle winds； and the one we found yesterday
was beautifully lined with soft things； both deep and warm； so that the
little featherless birdies cannot suffer from the cold and wet。〃
Here Chatanna interrupted me to exclaim： 〃That is just like the white
peoplewho cares for them？ The eagle teaches its young to be ac…
customed to hardships； like young warriors！〃
Ohiyesa was provoked； he reproached his brother and appealed to the
judge； saying that he had not finished yet。
〃But you would not have lived； Chatanna； if you had been exposed
like that when you were a baby！ The oriole shows wisdom in providing for
its children a good； comfortable home！ A home upon a high rock would
not be pleasant it would be cold！ We climbed a mountain once； and it
was cold there； and who would care to stay in such a place when it storms？
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What wisdom is there in having a pile of rough sticks upon a bare rock；
surrounded with ill…smelling bones of animals； for a home？ Also； my uncle
says that the eaglets seem always to be on the point of starvation。 You
have heard that whoever lives on game killed by some one else is
compared to an eagle。 Isn't that so； grandmother？
〃The oriole suspends its nest from the lower side of a horizontal bough
so that no enemy can approach it。 It enjoys peace and beauty and safety。〃
Oesedah was at Ohiyesa's side during the dis… cussion； and
occasionally whispered into his ear。 Uncheedah decided this time in favor
of Ohiyesa。
We were once very short of provisions in the winter time。