Corn Flower In Blowing Snow on the Great Plains: Third in a Fiction Series Based on the Four Seasons

By James D. Lester

Corn Flower, an eleven-year-old Native American girl, is a member of the Kansa tribe living along the Cottonwood River in the 1820s. When winter arrives on the Great Plains, Corn Flower and her best friend Night Sparrow build a sled to challenge their brothers in a hillside race. Because of the icy temperatures, many activities such as bead making, storytelling, and completing the winter count for the yearly history of their tribe remain in their family lodge. As the ice pack hardens, the children participate in the snow snake as they throw a long rod or stick down a narrow channel in the snow. When a stray coyote attacks Corn Flower and her goat along the river, she is saved by her horse Brownie. Along with her father and brothers, Corn Flower travels to the trading post. On her return home, Corn Flower is startled to find that the tribal storyteller Walks at Night has fallen in the snow. Corn Flower nurses Walks at Night back to health by using her wild crafting skills with herbs and roots for healing. At the shell ceremony Corn Flower and Night Sparrow each receive a new shell on their necklace for surviving their twelfth winter season on the Great Plains. Includes Readers Guide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sunstone Press
• Release date: Dec 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781611395808

James D. Lester

James D. Lester, Jr., PhD is a veteran English instructor with over thirty-seven years of experience as a secondary teacher at Alpharetta High School and a college instructor at Gwinnett Technical College, both located near Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the author of the popular texts Writing Research Papers, 16th edition and The Research Paper Handbook, 4th edition. In this third in his series based on the four seasons, Lester has again tapped into his unique outlook about the joys and challenges of Native American life in Kansas during the early 1800s. Much like children in modern culture, Corn Flower pursues an endless quest for adventure as she cherishes the closeness of her family and the fun times and trials that she faces with her best friend Night Sparrow.

Book preview

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Special thanks is extended to my artist June Hyde and to Grace Hirsch for acting as a reading consultant.

Dedication

To my lovely grandchildren, Peyton, Paris, and Hudson.

May your hearts always seek adventure.

Preface

Corn Flower, Blowing Snow on the Great Plains tells of the life, adventures, and challenges faced by an eleven-year-old Native American girl. Corn Flower is a member of the Kansa tribe living along the Cottonwood River in the 1820s. When winter arrives on the Great Plains, Corn Flower faces the icy challenges with activities like sledding, bead making, storytelling, and basket making. As the snowpack hardens, the children participate in winter games. Corn Flower also faces danger when a stray coyote attacks her and her goat along the river. She is saved by her forceful horse Brownie. Along with her father and brothers, Corn Flower next travels to the trading post. After their return, a raging blizzard sweeps across the Kansa village. While checking on the well being of the tribal storyteller Walks at Night, Corn Flower finds that she has fallen in the snow. Corn Flower nurses Walks at Night back to health by using her wild crafting skills with herbs and roots for healing. The story ends with the shell ceremony as Corn Flower and her close friend Night Sparrow each receive a new shell on their necklace for surviving their twelfth winter season on the Great Plains.

As a grandparent, I wanted to share an adventure story with my grandchildren like the tales that inspired me as a boy. Moreover, I want my novel to leave my grandchildren and all middle readers in grades four to seven with an uplifting adventure that includes folk stories to enrich a young person’s moral compass.

I have always had an affinity for the kinship of friends and family while growing up. Books were abundant in my early life, and the simple tales of adventure with an ethical twist helped me to grow into a caring and compassionate person. This tale is close to my heart, for I was a Kansas boy who played in the vast expanses of the Great Plains.

I encourage each parent to read along with their children. Corn Flower is not just a character—she is a sketch of life from a simpler time of growing and discovering. In like manner, this novel can inspire today’s young reader who faces many trials and obstacles in our modern world.

This novel is dedicated to my two adventurous granddaughters, Peyton and Paris, and to my gentle grandson Hudson. Heartfelt appreciation is also extended to their parents, my son Caleb and his wife Jessica, as well as my daughter Sarah and her husband Logan. Their love and patience made this project possible.

1 An Icy Chill

The first heavy snowfall at the Kansa village soon turned from a deep, fluffy, white blanket into a muddy mire on the trails between lodge homes and in the animal pens. Most moccasins, feet, and hoofs became covered in a brown goo. Yet each evening the icy chill of the night air created a sparkling scene under the light of the moon to re-freeze the slushy puddles.

Late one afternoon Corn Flower and her close friend Night Sparrow returned from leading their goats to the river for a fresh yet chilly drink of water. At the side of the family lodge, the girls found Corn Flower’s brothers Red Cloud and Two Bears working with straight sticks of wood and a stack of old Bison ribs.

See, sister. Look what we are making, Two Bears looked up. His breath was a misty fog in the cold afternoon chill.

I know what you are making—a sled!?

It is true. We have straight branches and Bison ribs for the runners.

That will be fun. The hillside is still white and deep with the snowfall, she replied.

Oh, it will snow more, and we will be ready.

Red Cloud was using a sharp-pointed stone to poke a hole at the end of a white Bison rib as he spoke to his sister and Night Sparrow.

What happened to the sled that we used last year?

Do you not remember, sister? Wanji was the last to ride our sled last winter. He hit a rock on the far side of the hill. That was the end of the sled for that winter.

It is true. Now I remember. He was so mad that he threw the sled onto the logs of the fire pit and burned it up.

This year we will make two sleds, for we have saved many large rib bones to fashion and use as smooth runners.

Two Bears looked up proudly and stated, Night Sparrow, you should let your brother know what we are doing to see if he will also make a glider for our winter fun.

I will ask him. He must always work to try to win each contest with you and Red Cloud.

Well, he can try, but we shall be the champions of hillside sledding.

Maybe Corn Flower and I will make our own sled? Night Sparrow spoke up.

Both Two Bears and Red Cloud looked at each other, looked and the girls, looked at one another again, and then began laughing.

You are a funny girl, Night Sparrow. The boys returned to their work, shaking their heads and smiling.

Come, Night Sparrow, let us warm our feet by the fire outside my lodge.

Bully goat, the oldest and largest of the herd sniffed at the stack of old rib bones before following Corn Flower to the entrance of his pen with the other goats.

As they walked to the fire pit, Corn Flower and Night Sparrow were greeted by the friendly smile of Running Dove, the wife of Corn Flower’s brother Wanji. Happy day, girls.

Running Dove, it is pleasant to see you.

Yes. Are you cold?

It is true. We have come to warm our feet at the fire. Where is my mother?

Your mother Kicking Swan went into the lodge to get spices. She is teaching me how to make Bison stew. Please do not tell my mother, but Kicking Swan’s stew is the very best in our village.

Bison stew is good, remarked Night Sparrow.

Yes. Whether it is with fresh meat or jerky, my mother cooks the best stew.

Not needing direction or prompting, Corn Flower’s goats entered their corral and moved to the stack of fresh hay. Just then, Kicking Swan emerged from the lodge.

Ah, my daughter. It is good that you are here. I am showing Running Dove how I make my Bison stew.

Yes, it will be good. We like Bison stew. Corn Flower thought silently for a moment before speaking again. Running Dove?

Yes, sister?

Is Wanji at your lodge?

Yes, probably. He was fishing on the upper edge of the river where the ice has not covered the water flow. He promised my parents some fresh fish for their evening cooking fire. He is probably home now. Why?

My brothers are making new sleds with Bison rib bones for runners. I was wondering if Wanji could help me and Night Sparrow to fashion one that will sled down the hillside faster than Red Cloud’s sled or the one made by Two Bears.

I think that there is just enough little boy in Wanji that he will help you both to make a fast sled. You should ask him for help before your brothers find out that he is helping you. And please tell him that I will be bringing home hot Bison stew this evening.

With her goats secured in the pen, Corn Flower walked beside Night Sparrow and her three goats to the lodge of Wanji and Running Dove. As they approached his lodge, the girls could see that he was sitting at the cutting board cleaning fresh fish that he had caught at the river.

Corn Flower. It is good to see you, sister. Night Sparrow, I hope that you are well.

We are keeping warm, but the chill is already quite harsh.

It is true. I know too well. Try casting a wet net into chilly water while standing in snow. That is very frosty.

Wanji?

Yes?

Will you help me and Night Sparrow to build a sled for the hillside slope?

Ah, competition with your brothers?

How did you know that?

They came to me earlier today to ask about the extra Bison rib bones. I gave them a few bones, but I kept the best and strongest ones for myself.

So, are you building a sled?

I was going to make one to haul wood and other items from the tree line, but I think that I can help both of you win a race against our silly brothers.

Oh, thank you! Thank you!

Yes, thank you, added Night Sparrow. But I must be getting home to feed my goats. I will see you in the morning, Corn Flower.

Go softly, Night Sparrow. The friends parted with a small wave to one another.

When can we get started on the sled?

Perhaps later when the sun sets. I promised these fish for Running Dove’s parents for dinner.

That is good, brother. That reminds me. Running Dove is preparing Bison Stew with mother. She will bring some home for both of you.

That will be a special treat. Running Dove is my wife, but mother’s cooking is the very best.

Yes. It is true.

Wanji and Corn Flower looked up to see Running Dove carrying a steaming pot on a wooden tray.

Did you tell him, Corn Flower?

Yes. He is excited for the Bison stew. And Wanji is going to help me make a sled.

That will be very good. Running Dove smiled and entered her lodge.

Wanji looked up at his sister. Let us begin work on the new sled tonight after dinner. I will see you when the bowls are empty. We can work together inside my lodge to make a very fast glider.

Very well.

And Corn Flower.

Yes?

"Do not tell your brothers that I am