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
One night after the Moon of Flowers had given her place in Sky Land to
the Hot Moon the chief dreamed that a beautiful maiden stood by his side
and said, "Young brave, how beautiful your world is when the Summer
Queen reigns. Great stretches of prairie glisten with dandelions and red
lilies; butterflies flit about in the sunlight; gentle breezes touch the
forest leaves and they sing soft answers to the rapture of the birds;
little children shout for joy in merry laughter. I long to live among
you. Ask your wise men how I may become a part of this beauty, and how I
may add to the children's happiness."
Then the young chief awakened. He sprang to his feet, called his braves
together in the council-lodge and told them his dream.
"It's the message of the radiant star," they said. "Let us smoke the
pipe of peace as a sign of our welcome."
Accordingly a band of young braves led by the chieftain climbed the
wooded hill and smoked a pipe of peace filled with sweet-scented herbs.
Then they stretched forth their hands towards the star and bade welcome
to her. At the close of their ceremonies the light grew more luminous
than ever before and the braves knew their welcome was understood. They
walked back to the village and the star followed them all the way, and
shone over their wigwams until daybreak.
At night the chief dreamed that the beautiful maiden stood again by his
side. "I'm coming to dwell among your people," she said. "I'm wondering
what form I shall take in order to add to the children's joy."
"They love to hear the birds sing," said the chief.
But the maiden shook her head. "I shall not live in the tree-tops," she
answered.
"Choose your own way to live, Star-Maiden," said the chief.
"I shall live among you as a flower," she said. "Surely the children's
hearts are gladdened by the blossoms of the earth."
"They are, indeed," declared the chief. "The mountain-rose is wondrously
beautiful."
"Oh, but it is too far away from the children," sighed the maiden.
"The prairie dandelion makes our little ones clap their hands in glee,"
suggested the chief.
The maiden thought awhile; then she said, "The buffalo's hoof often
crushes the prairie dandelion."
The chief was sorely puzzled. Finally he said, "You would be safe from
harm if you should choose the rocky cliffs for your blooming place."
But the maiden said, "The children seldom climb the cliffs. I must live
where the children can see me."
Suddenly her face brightened and she said, "I know! I know! I'll live in
the clear streamlet and bloom on its surface. I shall feel soft breezes
blow and hear the birds sing. In the branches which bend over me the
warblers will build their nests. The children will play on the banks,
and they will touch me with their little hands as they glide safely
along in their canoes. Look for me in the streamlet."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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