THE INDIAN CINDERELLA
by Cyrus MacMillan … Canadian Wonder Tales

Like other girls, the chief’s two eldest daughters tried to win Strong Wind. One evening, as the day went down, they walked on the shore with Strong Wind’s sister and waited for his coming. Soon he came home from his day’s work, drawing his sled. And his sister asked as usual, “Do you see him?” And each one, lying, answered “Yes.” And she asked, “Of what is his shoulder strap made?” And each, guessing, said “Of rawhide.” Then they entered the tent where they hoped to see Strong Wind eating his supper; and when he took off his coat and his moccasins they could see them, but more than these they saw nothing. And Strong Wind knew that they had lied, and he kept himself from their sight, and they went home dismayed.

One day the chief’s youngest daughter with her rags and her burnt face resolved to seek Strong Wind. She patched her clothes with bits of birch bark from the trees, and put on the few little ornaments she possessed, and went forth to try to see the Invisible One as all the other girls of the village had done before. And her sisters laughed at her and called her “fool”; and as she passed along the road all the people laughed at her because of her tattered frock and her burnt face, but silently she went her way.

Strong Wind’s sister received the little girl kindly, and at twilight she took her to the beach. Soon Strong Wind came home drawing his sled. And his sister asked, “Do you see him?” And the girl answered “No,” and his sister wondered greatly because she spoke the truth. And again she asked, “Do you see him now?” And the girl answered, “Yes, and he is very wonderful.” And she asked, “With what does he draw his sled?” And the girl answered, “With the Rainbow,” and she was much afraid. And she asked further, “Of what is his bowstring?” And the girl answered, “His bowstring is the Milky Way. “Then Strong Wind’s sister knew that because the girl had spoken the truth at first her brother had made himself visible to her. And she said, “Truly, you have seen him.” And she took her home and bathed her, and all the scars disappeared from her face and body; and her hair grew long and black again like the raven’s wing; and she gave her fine clothes to wear and many rich ornaments. Then she bade her take the wife’s seat in the tent.

Soon Strong Wind entered and sat beside her, and called her his bride. The very next day she became his wife, and ever afterwards she helped him to do great deeds. The girl’s two elder sisters were very cross and they wondered greatly at what had taken place. But Strong Wind, who knew of their cruelty, resolved to punish them. Using his great power, he changed them both into aspen trees and rooted them in the earth. And since that day the leaves of the aspen have always trembled, and they shiver in fear at the approach of Strong Wind, it matters not how softly he comes, for they are still mindful of his great power and anger because of their lies and their cruelty to their sister long ago.