The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-14
Two Little saynges.

This Is a book on, woodcraft, by Ernest
Thompson Seton, and was written mainly
20 interest boys. Like all the stories printed
by the same author. the book is profusely
illustrated, the designs for the cover, title
page and the general makeup being the
work or his wife. Grace Gallatin Seton. To
be frank, '@The Little Savages" is not up
10 the previous high standard Of Mr..
Thompson Seton's writings, probably be-
cause IL contains more fiction and less fact
than some of his earlier stories. More pre-
tentious In size than any Of the authors
other works, and, being a continuous story,
IL Is tedious In places. However, there is
no doubt it win interest the class of read
ers for whom IT was written. All boys like
to camp and hunt. even If they do not care
20 play Indian. and the information given
by Mr.. Thompson Seton in regard to camp
life and woodcraft will therefore prove
interesting and instructive.
Yam Is the hero of the story. He Is a
twelve-year-old town boy, with fondness
for outdoor life and a yearning for knowl-
edge OF the birds, beasts and fishes of the
field, forest and stream. His parents are
poor and his information is gained under
great difficulties. After spell Of sickness
he IS sent to a farm to spend the summer,
and there he finds time and opportunity
TO pursue his study of natural history. The
farmer has a son named Sam, who is
fond of outdoor life as Van. and who knows
more about the wild creatures Of the woods
than the town boy, but who has had little
schooling. Vans book learning and the
education he received at school soon enable
him to outstrip Sam in natural history. One
of his talents Is his ability TO draw we'll,
and his note books become filled with draw
ings Of birds and little four-footed animals,
a well "A outlines n all the rocks he finds
In the sand and mud on the shores OF
streams and ponds. This method OF study,
coupled with his observations in quiet
places. his watching OF wild animals feed
Ing and at play, from hidden points of van
tage. make him expert In woodcraft and
an old trapper and Indian fighter, serves as
his mentor. and also assists the nsighbor
hood boys in establishing a summer camp
In true Indian style. Caleb shows the boys
how 10 construct tepee, how to arrange
the smoke or ventilation flaps, how to make
SOFT beds or fragrant balsam brush; in fact,
how TO do everything as real Indians would
have done. He also takes them coon-hunt-
ing His dog once trees a wild cat, and
Yam climbs the tree and shoots the ami
thus becomes tie hero of the camp.
Before Yam leaves home for the farm his
mother, a very religious woman, upbraids
sfantly, instead OF spending his spare time
IN the woods This Is Vans reply:
II have been Obliged 70 read the Bible all
do not love IL. 1 read IL because / am
forced to do IL. 1t tells me nothing that L
want To know. 1t does not teach me to love
God. which, you say. is the one thing need
full But go out into the woods and every
bird and flower / see stlrs me TO the heart
with something's do not know what 1t is.
only love them. I love them with all my
strength and they make me feel like pray
ing when your Bible does not. They are
my bible. This is my nature. God made
me So
Later Yam throws stick at a shorelark
and kills 1t. His mother seizes this incident
as text for another lecture. accusing her
SON Of hypocrisy in pretending TO love wild
creatures. but can give reason for the
impulse that led him TO kill the bird.
Weeks afterward. when he had time to
consider the matter, he says to his mother:
81 did love the little bird. know now
why killed it-because IL was going away
from me- II could have seen 1t near and
could have touched II, or even have heard
II every day, i should never have wished
TO harm IL. didn't mean to kill IL, only to
get IL. You gather flowers because you
love 10 keep them near YOU not because
you want to destroy them. They die and
you are sorry. / only tried to gather the
shorelark as you would q flower. 1t died,
and i was sorry. very sorry"
This IS the spirit that moves you through
out the story, and while many good people
may not fndorse what he says about the
Bible, his protest will find sympathetic re-
sponses In the hearts OF many boys whose
youthful joys have been curtailed by too
spuritanical mothers. Doubleday Page &;
Co., New York