So he left them , and took his wife and three children , and they journeyed on until they found a spot near to a clear stream , where they began to cut down trees , and to make ready their wigwam . For many years they lived peacefully and happily in this sheltered place , never leaving it except to hunt the wild animals , which served them both for food and clothes . At last , however , the strong man felt sick , and before long he knew he must die . So he gathered his family round him , and said his last words to them . ` You , my wife , the companion of my days , will follow me ere many moons have waned to the island of the blest . But for you , O my children , whose lives are but newly begun , the wickedness , unkindness , and ingratitude from which I fled are before you . Yet I shall go hence in peace , my children , if you will promise always to love each other , and never to forsake your youngest brother . ` Never ! ' they replied , holding out their hands . And the hunter died content . Scarcely eight moons had passed when , just as he had said , the wife went forth , and followed her husband ; but before leaving her children she bade the two elder ones think of their promise never to forsake the younger , for he was a child , and weak . And while the snow lay thick upon the ground , they tended him and cherished him ; but when the earth showed green again , the heart of the young man stirred within him , and he longed to see the wigwams of the village where his father 's youth was spent . Therefore he opened all his heart to his sister , who answered : ` My brother , I understand your longing for our fellow-men , whom here we can not see . But remember our father 's words . Shall we not seek our own pleasures , and forget the little one ? ' But he would not listen , and , making no reply , he took his bow and arrows and left the hut . The snows fell and melted , yet he never returned ; and at last the heart of the girl grew cold and hard , and her little boy became a burden in her eyes , till one day she spoke thus to him : ` See , there is food for many days to come . Stay here within the shelter of the hut . I go to seek our brother , and when I have found him I shall return hither . ' But when , after hard journeying , she reached the village where her brother dwelt , and saw that he had a wife and was happy , and when she , too , was sought by a young brave , then she also forgot the boy alone in the forest , and thought only of her husband .
Now as soon as the little boy had eaten all the food which his sister had left him , he went out into the woods , and gathered berries and dug up roots , and XXXXX the sun shone he was contented and had his fill .
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