Indian mythology -- North America -- Juvenile literature; Indians of North America -- Folklore -- Juvenile literature
“The old man went to the lodge of the two maidens and begged a bit of
food. The younger sister asked him to come inside the lodge and
rest. Then she prepared some nourishing food and gave to him, and
while he ate it she noticed that his feet were barely covered with
pieces of skins tied about the ankle. She hastened to finish the
moccasins that she was embroidering, and gave them to him, so that his
feet should not be bruised with walking.
“The older sister looked on with scorn, and made unkind remarks. She
asked her sister why she should spend time upon a forlorn old man who
could never repay her. She laughed at his ragged garments and at his
quivering chin and feeble knees. Then in a sharp voice she bade him
begone before her lover should come from the hunt.
“The old man went away, after thanking the younger sister for her
kindness.
“A short time later, the young warrior came to the door of the lodge,
bearing upon his shoulders a deer which he had shot. Both sisters
smiled at him and bade him enter. He passed the older sister without a
glance, and laid the deer at the feet of the younger.
“As they looked down at the deer, both sisters discovered that the
young man had upon his feet the moccasins that the younger sister had
just given to the strange old man.
“‘I seek a maiden to be the light of my lodge,’ he said, ‘and by magic
I have found that one. I was the old man who came hither for shelter
and comfort, and so I learned how to escape a sharp tongue and bitter
words.
“‘But the Medicine Man’s charm has not yet finished its work,’ he
added. ‘I do not want another to suffer the fate I have so narrowly
escaped.’
“He took the younger sister by the hand and led her from the lodge.
The older sister followed, and as she stepped outside, her feet became
rooted to the ground, and she was turned into an aspen tree.
“The younger sister became the light of the young warrior’s lodge; but
the aspen tree, like the older sister, while beautiful to look upon,
has since that day had a whispering and unruly tongue.”
WHY THE BABY SAYS “GOO”
(Algonquin)
MANY, many moons ago there lived among the Red people a warrior who
was greatly respected and admired by all his tribe.
When an enemy came to attack them, this warrior was always the first
to resist. His arm was strong, and his arrows went true and straight
to the mark. He had gone alone on many a daring hunt, and had
contended with the fiercest beasts of the forest and slain them. But
greatest of all, he had fought alone with mighty giants, and overcome
them, so that his tribe was rid of their evil magic. It was no wonder
that the people thought him great.
But then, as so often follows, the warrior became puffed up with
thoughts of his own courage and power, and he was filled with pride,
and boastings.
“There is no one, among men or beasts,” he said, “who does not fear
me. All men obey me. They tremble at the sound of my voice.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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