The Gift
Story Stats
Rating: 5
Grade Level: 5, 6, 7, 8
Page count: 6
Appeared in
In Short: How to Teach the Young Adult Short Story
Story Summary
A young Onondaga girl has been chosen by her elders to go to a special Indian School in Virginia. But she can't understand why the minister's wife who is accompanying her treats an elderly black porter like a servant. Faithful to her Onondaga upbringing, she presents the porter with a corn husk doll - made to remind people of the great gifts given to them - and says, "Grandfather, thank you for what you've given me."