THE ARTIST

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1926, Page 16

THE ARTIST

Peter lived on the prairie, miles* and miles away from anywhere. Of course, ho did not live there alone. His mother and father, and several Indians, and an old Nannie named Mammy Eva lived there, too. Peter loved Mammy Eva, who, .--- though she could neither read nor write, 1 told him the most wonderful stories of Indian folk. "Peter could not read- or j write either, but he was learning. He could spell his own name, and he would often write letters to Mammy Eva. 1 She could read these because Peter would draw what he wanted to say, and Mammy would reply with drawings. That was a fine game, not a bit liko lessons. ■, Ono day Peter's daddy went away hunting, and told Peter to look after tho ranch till he came back. What a man Peter felt! Of course, tliore were Indians left at the ranch, but Peter was the only white "man." Three days after Peter's father had gone away his mother was taken ill. Sh3 was so ill that she did not know Peter was at her bedside; and the little boy, very frightened but quite calm j and "quiet as a British boy should be, went to consult Mammy Eva as to what was the. best thing to do. "If only we could get a doctor!" sobbed Mammy Eva. . "Hut tho doctor' lives over a hundred miles away, and not one of the Indians can write a message to take to him. They don't speak much English either." Peter, thought for a moment. "I'm going to write him a letter," ho said. "Will you please ask Redfeathers to bring tho car? I want hinj to take a message to that doctor." "But Kedfeathers doesn't speak English," said Mammy. However, seeing Peter prepare his writing paper, sho went to find tho Indian. Peter's letter needed much attention, and the little boy was very inky when he had finished. He put. it in the envelope and gave it to Ecdfeathers to take to the doctor. This gentleman was surprised at having a visit from a. Eed Indian, and niore surprised at the letter, which w.ns a series of pictures. Peter had drawn a lady in bed. Sho had a whito face, and was surrounded with people with black faces. He had drawn a little boy with a whito face writing a letter with a hundred dots after it, and at tho end of these a motor-car. At the bottom of the page was the ono word Peter. The doctor looked at it in surprise for a few minutes, then it dawned on him what it meant. He entered the car, and away the Indian drove him, right back to the ranch, where he found Peter waiting for him. That is how Peter saved the life of his mother, and the Indiana have named him Peter the Artist.