servant, and the average Indian was keen
to follow this ideal. As every one knows, these characteristic traits
become a weakness when he enters a life founded upon commerce and gain.
Under such conditions the life of Crazy Horse began. His mother, like
other mothers, tender and watchful of her boy, would never once place an
obstacle in the way of his father's severe physical training. They laid
the spiritual and patriotic foundations of his education in such a way
that he early became conscious of the demands of public service.

He was perhaps four or five years old when the band was snowed in
one severe winter. They were very short of food, but his father was
a tireless hunter. The buffalo, their main dependence, were not to
be found, but he was out in the storm and cold every day and finally
brought in two antelopes. The little boy got on his pet pony and rode
through the camp, telling the old folks to come to his mother's
teepee for meat. It turned out that neither his father nor mother had
authorized him to do this. Before they knew it, old men and women were
lined up before the teepee home, ready to receive the meat, in answer to
his invitation. As a result, the mother had to distribute nearly all of
it, keeping only enough for two meals.

On the following day the child asked for food. His mother told him that
the old folks had taken it all, and added: "Remember, my son, they went
home singing praises in your name, not my name or your father's. You
must be brave. You must live up to your reputation."

Crazy Horse loved horses, and his father gave him a pony of his own when
he was very young. He became a fine horseman and accompanied his father
on buffalo hunts, holding the pack horses while the men chased the
buffalo and thus gradually learning the art. In those days the Sioux had
but few guns, and the hunting was mostly done with bow and arrows.

Another story told of his boyhood is that when he was about twelve he
went to look for the ponies with his little brother, whom he loved much,
and took a great deal of pains to teach what he had already learned.
They came to some wild cherry trees full of ripe fruit, and while they
were enjoying it, the brothers were startled by the growl and sudden
rush of a bear. Young Crazy Horse pushed his brother up into the nearest
tree and himself sprang upon the back of one of the horses, which was
frightened and ran some distance before he could control him. As soon
as he coul