Treasury of American Indian TalesRessler, Theodore Whitson
General
Treasury of American Indian Tales
Ressler, Theodore Whitson
Indians of North America -- Folklore; Indians of North America -- Juvenile literature
Each day was a new adventure for Little Turtle and he welcomed each dawn
with great excitement. He never knew just what was planned for him or
what the other children of the village would decide to do, but he was
always ready to take part in whatever would happen.
For some time now, Little Turtle, who had just turned ten, had been in
the complete charge of his father. On certain days his father would take
him far from the village to hunt and learn how to stalk wild game and
find their signs. He learned his lessons well. At night in the tepee, he
would sit next to his father because he was the youngest, and he would
listen carefully while his father explained many things a young brave
must know to become a strong and great Comanche warrior.
Because the Comanche village had been at peace for the last three years,
Little Turtle had only love in his heart for everyone he knew or met.
Sometimes his brothers and his father would speak to him of the hated
Apache and Kiowa and the many reasons the Comanches had for hating them.
But this meant very little to the lad. He never let such thoughts of war
spoil his fun.
One evening after the three boys were asleep, Little Turtle’s father
spoke with his mother.
“Blue Star,” he said, “for many days now I have talked to our youngest
son of the Apaches and the Kiowas, but he does not seem to understand. I
have told him of their many cruel ways and about our warriors who have
fallen under the arrow and the tomahawk of the Apaches and the Kiowas.
Still he refuses to speak harshly of such neighbors. Maybe Little Turtle
is right. Maybe I am wrong in hating these neighbors to the north. You
are wise, Blue Star. Your advice is often sought. Tell me now what I
should teach our son. Shall I teach him to hate the horse stealers from
the north? Or shall I not speak even their names in our daily talks?”
Blue Star thought for a moment and then said, “My husband and great
warrior of the Comanches, hatred is a word which Little Turtle will
learn soon enough. Now he is young and innocent. He enjoys the coming of
each new day for the adventures that it will bring in his world of
dreams. He is a happy child and to us a very wonderful boy. Do we want
to change this wonderful boy to a grown warrior filled with hate? He
knows nothing but love. Possibly peace will be a long time upon our
village. We, his parents, would not want to spoil that happy world in
which he lives.”
Great Hawk thought long about his wife’s words. Then he left the tepee
to walk alone and solve this problem which lay so heavily upon his
heart. Since his early days, Great Hawk had been taught to hate the
Apaches and the Kiowas. His own father had lost his life in a battle
with the Apaches. His brother’s hair now hung from the tepee of Grey
Wolf, the Kiowa chieftain who sat at the head of the council lodge. And
Grey Wolf was a cruel leader of a tribe that always looked for enemies
to kill.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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