Me

Brush

Brush is the narrator's closest friend and companion, sharing nearly all daily activities and adventures.

Graybeard

Graybeard is the narrator's grandfather, a wise elder who guides and teaches him.

Lester

Lester is a close friend and fellow member of the Middle Five, often involved in shared exploits.

Frank La Flesche

Frank La Flesche is a friend and fellow student, sharing experiences at the mission school.

Joseph

Joseph is a friend and peer in the Middle Five group, often participating in group activities.

Little Bob

Little Bob is a younger friend and companion, often looked after by the narrator.

Alexander

Alexander is a friend and member of the Middle Five, sharing in the group's camaraderie.

William T. Sherman

The narrator encounters General William T. Sherman as a notable figure during a visit to the school.

Eve

Eve is the narrator's sister, sharing a close sibling bond.

Ga-imʻ-ba-zhe

Ga-imʻ-ba-zhe is the narrator's mother, providing care and guidance.

George Washington

George Washington is a fellow student at the mission school, interacting with the narrator.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln is a fellow student at the mission school, known for his name and interactions.

The Middle Five

The narrator and central figure, reflecting on his school experiences.

I: The Mission

The narrator, a young Omaha boy experiencing his first day at the Mission school, feeling homesick and overwhelmed.

II: Brush

Narrator; accompanies Brush, helps new boys, and learns about mourning customs.

Edwin

The narrator, who helps Edwin adjust to school life, sits with him at supper, and shares a bed with him and Lester.

Little Bob

Narrator who stays after school for punishment, fights a larger boy to protect Little Bob, and later befriends him.

V: Warren

Narrator; teaches Warren wrestling holds and advises him during the fight.

VI: Lester

Narrator; participates in the bee swarm chase and belfry spying.

The Splinter, the Thorn, and the Rib

Narrator; participates in storytelling and has a splinter removed from his toe by his aunt.

Fraudulent Holidays

The narrator; responsible for the hydraulic ram, catches the white rabbit, and later sells it for cakes.

IX: William T. Sherman

The narrator, who observes the events and participates in the boys' discussions.

X: A Runaway

The narrator, who reluctantly returns to school before deciding to run away with Lester and Warren to join the buffalo hunt.

A New Study

Narrator; orchestrates a wasp distraction to protect a classmate, gets stung, and later is forced to sing bass despite his protests.

XII: Ponka Boys

Narrator; participates in the fight against the Ponka boys, grappling with an impish opponent.

The Secret of the Big Seven

Narrator and member of the Middle Five, participates in the secret society and later cuts switches for Graybeard.

A Rebuke

The narrator returns home, plays bone slides, witnesses the persecution of a Winnebago boy, and is rebuked by his father for his passive presence.

XV: Joe

The narrator observes Joe's arrival, makes a sling for Bob, and feels hatred toward Graybeard after Joe's punishment.

The Break

The narrator, who searches for Brush, visits his family, plays with village boys, and witnesses Brush's final moments.