Indian dolls," replied the trader. "Indian dolls are growing mighty
scarce, now the young squaws get so much put into their minds to do.
Only the old-timers understand the trick of making dolls."

"I am disappointed that you have none, for I wished to send one to my
little niece. But I must wait and try to get one elsewhere."

While the two teachers were examining the moccasins, Cordelia Running
Bird and the children were absorbed in looking at the china dolls and
other articles displayed upon the shelves and hanging from a wire
stretched above the counter.

"I was telling Hannah Straight Tree I should buy a big doll for Susie,
and a red silk handkerchief for my father, and a blue silk handkerchief
for my mother, and should hang them on the Christmas tree," said
Cordelia, partly to herself and partly to the little girls.

"Kee! I would not hang them," said a prudent little maid of ten years.
"Hannah Straight Tree told the other girls, and they are very yelous--
that is not the word, but I forget it--for they say they cannot hang
their people anything. They say you think the name 'Running Bird' is
very stylish, and you wish to hear it called so often at the Christmas
tree."

"Of course I shall not hang them," said Cordelia, firmly. "And I shall
not buy a doll for Susie, for my father always buys her one. I was
going to brag about her having two," she added candidly. "And I shall
not buy the silk handkerchiefs. They have the issue cotton ones and
some other ones that my father bought;" and she withdrew her eyes from
the display of cheap and gaudy handkerchiefs of so-called silk material