Dolly knows the Jack Frost motions; I taught her, and
she did them with the children down at camp. But I shall not tell the
teacher, for Dolly has no pretty things to wear. That is why I won't
let her play the games. If my father saw her in the Jack Frost songs
and games, he would be glad she is so smart and just like he would let
her come to school. But you would be so sorry if my big and little
sister came to school. You think Susie is a skin-white girl and Dolly
is a very copper-colored Indian."

"You do not speak true," was the denial. "I should not be sorry, and I
do not think Susie is a skin-white girl. She is very copper-colored,
too."

"But you do not wish Dolly would be in the Jack Frost song and wear a
red dress just like Susie's!" challenged Hannah Straight Tree,
disconcerting her companion with the piercing gaze habitual to her race.

Though not quite innocent of all the charges laid to her, Cordelia
Running Bird was a truthful girl, and she would not disown a failing
plainly set before her by another. She evaded her companion's gaze in
silence.

"You are thinking hard! You cannot say it!" was the fierce indictment
from Hannah Straight Tree.

"But--I wish she could be in another motion song--and wear a--green
dress," came the hesitating answer.

"Ee! You think they would not watch Susie all the time if Dolly
motioned Jack Frost, too, and looked like Susie! And you do not wish
that Dolly had a blue dress--only ugly green--and looked like Susie in
the games," said Hannah Straight Tree.

"But little white girls do not need to wear alike dresses," was Cordelia
Running Bird's argument. "Because the little white visitor last summer
looked just like a fairy in the pretty pink with white lace, did her
sister have to wish another little white girl looked the very too same?"
she asked.

"There is a difference, but I cannot tell," answered Hannah Straight
Tree, taking down her broom in puzzled moodiness.

The two girls went about their work in a most unfortunate state of mind.
Hannah's discontent at Dolly's lack and Susie's plenty, and the prospect
of Cordelia's triumphs through the petted little sister, grew upon her,
and resulted in unlooked-for trials to Cordelia, who was much
discomfited by the force of her companion's criticisms.

Cordelia Running Bird was a bright, attractive girl, quite conscientious
in discharging her industrial and school duties, and much interested in
the Sunday-schoo