The Turquoise Story Book: Stories and Legends of Summer and Nature — John Shaqi
The Turquoise Story Book: Stories and Legends of Summer and Nature
General
The Turquoise Story Book: Stories and Legends of Summer and Nature
Nature -- Juvenile literature; Summer -- Juvenile literature
They found themselves in a land of wondrous beauty. The air was soft and
warm and a delicious fragrance rose from rich, green meadows thick with
brilliant flowers. Ojeeb and Wolverine walked toward a group of tepees
which stood near a lake of crystal-clear water bordered by cool
stretches of woodland. Evidently the people were away on a hunting
adventure for the tepees were vacant. Presently Ojeeb saw a great cage
made from the finest of willow withes and enclosed therein were the
beautiful summer birds. Robins, orioles, bluebirds, thrushes, jays,
swallows, woodpeckers, veeries, and redbirds, all were flitting silently
about in their prison.
"Let us free the summer birds quickly," whispered the hunter.
With Wolverine's help the cage was broken in a very short time. Out flew
the bright-feathered prisoners. As soon as they were free they began to
sing rapturous songs of happiness. Away they darted toward the opening
in the sky-dome and many of them passed through, carrying with them the
warm, summer air.
But alas! the sweet singing reached the ears of the Sky-People who were
in the neighbouring forests. They hurried toward their tepees to see
what had happened. They soon discovered that the summer birds had been
freed and were flying toward the earth through a great rent in the
sky-dome. Many of the Sky-People, shouting at the top of their voices,
rushed to the opening and prevented some of the birds from escaping.
Others searched for the intruders who had caused the confusion.
Wolverine's quick ears heard the Sky-People running from the forest and
with great leaps he reached the hole in the sky-dome and plunged
through. Ojeeb followed as quickly as he could but before he reached the
opening it was surrounded by some of the Sky-People. He turned and fled
in another direction, but there was no other way of escaping to the
earth. On and on he ran until finally he came to the land of the stars
and he has dwelt there ever since.
Among the Earth-People there was great rejoicing. The warm air from
Sky-Land melted the frost and snow which had covered the land for many,
many months. In the brown meadows the grass sprang forth and flowers
bloomed. The summer birds built their nests in the leafy branches of the
forest and cheered the Earth-People with happy songs.
The mighty hunter is not forgotten. Often the Indians point to Sky-Land
and say:
"It was brave Ojeeb who journeyed to Sky-Land and freed the summer
birds. He gave us the precious gift of summer and that is why we call
him 'The Summer Maker.'"
SUMMER
Then came the jolly Summer, being dight
In a thin, silken cassock, colour'd green,
That was unlinèd all, to be more light;
And on his head a garland well beseen
He wore.
EDMUND SPENSER.
IN THE KITCHEN-GARDEN
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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