IT PREFATORY NOTE T is a pleasure to express my thanks to publishers and authors for courteous permission given me to include in this book stories from their collections. To Houghton, Mifflin & Co., the publishers of “Algonquin Legends," by J. G. Leland, and of Bryant's translation of the "Odyssey"; to J. B. Lippincott Co., the publishers of "Gods and Heroes of Old Japan," by Violet M. Pasteur, and of "Old Deccan Days," by Mary Frere; to A. Wessels Co., the publishers and to Mr. W. W. Canfield, the author of Legends of the Iroquois "; to Ginn & Co., the publishers of "Classic Myths in English Literature," based on Bulfinch's "Age of Fable," by Charles Mills Gayley; to Macmillan & Co., publishers of "Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus, Done into English Prose," by A. Lang; to Scott, Foresman & Co., publishers of “Norse Mythology," by Melville B. Anderson. Other collections, out of print, as far as I know the original publishers no longer being in existence, from which I have taken stories, are: "Indian Fairy Tales Based on Schoolcraft," by Cornelius Mathews, and "Indian Myths," by Ellen R. Emerson; also from the following English publications: "Polynesian Myths," by Sir George Grey; "Russian Stories," by Ralston. I am also deeply indebted, as every one who studies mythology must be, to the following works, among others in various branches of the subject: Max Müller's "Chips from a German Workshop," Cox's "Mythology of the Aryan Races," John Fiske's "Myths and Mythmakers," Frazer's "Golden Bough," Hartland's "Myth of Perseus," Clodd's "Childhood of Religions," Andrew Lang's "Custom and Myth," Tyler's "Primitive Culture," Mills's "Tree of Mythology," Chamberlain's "The Child and Childhood in Folk Thought," De Gubernatis's "Zoological Mythology," Dr. Brinton's "American Hero Myths," "Myths of the New World," as well as to many collections of folk-tales. My aim in this book on Mythology for young readers has been to give them solid knowledge on the subject, as far as it is advisable to go with immature minds, based upon the most recent investigations of scholars, and to select the myths used in illustration of the plan, with a view to giving them interesting stories to read, which will, almost unconsciously to themselves, lay a firm foundation for the fascinating study of Comparative Mythology, should they wish to go more deeply into it in the future. There is much talk nowadays as to the authenticity of the records of savage myths. Much of this talk seems to me futile, for a myth is not a fixed entity. Each successive narrator is almost sure to vary and embellish somewhat the material that comes If, to him, according to his own inventive fancy. therefore, a savage myth recorded by a white man retains the chief characteristics of the savage myth, in spite of some fanciful turns given it by him, to the degree, say, that a story of Ovid's retains those of a Greek myth, it is to all intents and purposes a savage myth, and the embellishments may be disregarded, as Ovid's are when we are considering Greek Mythology. I have, therefore, included in this volume those versions of the myths that seemed most readable and attractive, provided the primitive attitude of mind and customs were fully emphasized. STORIES: How the muskrat made the world (Indians of British Columbia).-How a kite helped to make the world (Philippine Island). -How Maui fished up the earth (Polynesian). -The origin of the robin (Odjibwa, Cornelius Mathews, based on Schoolcraft).-The origin of the hare (Aino, B. F. Chamberlain).—How the mole became blind (North American In- dian, Mill's "Tree of Mythology").—The boy |