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Seton, Ernest Thompson, 1860-1946

"Rolf in the Woods"

He had
big round eyes, so we called him Wee-wees, 'our little owl,' and
we were very happy. When Gamowini sang to her baby, the world
seemed full of sun. One day when Wee-wees could walk she left
him with me and she went to Stamford with some baskets to sell.
A big ship was in the harbour. A man from the ship told her that
his sailors would buy all her baskets. She had no fear. On the
ship they seized her for a runaway slave, and hid her till they
sailed away.
"When she did not come back I took Wee-wees on my shoulder and
went quickly to Stamford. I soon found out a little, but the
people did not know the ship, or whence she came, or where she
went, they said. They did not seem to care. My heart grew
hotter and wilder. I wanted to fight. I would have killed the
men on the dock, but they were many. They bound me and put me in
jail for three months. 'When I came out Wee-wees was dead. They
did not care. I have heard nothing since. Then I went to live
under the rock, so I should not see our first home. I do not
know; she may be alive. But I think it killed her to lose her baby."
The Indian stopped; then rose quickly.


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