When the tree flowered : $b An authentic tale of the old Sioux worldNeihardt, John G.
History
When the tree flowered : $b An authentic tale of the old Sioux world
Neihardt, John G.
Historical fiction; Oglala Indians -- Fiction
“Meadowlark and his wife waited and waited for their boy to come back
home. And when the sun was halfway down the heavens, Mother Meadowlark
began to cry, and she said, ‘I am afraid something has happened to our
boy, and he will never come home.’ But her husband said, ‘Nothing will
hurt him. Did you not see the little day he made where he walked? He is
_wakon_ and nothing can hurt him.’
“And Meadowlark was right; for all at once they saw Falling Star coming
up the creek. And what do you think he was bringing?”
“Muskrat or maybe rabbit!” exclaimed Moves Walking.
Eagle Voice shook his head.
“A big fat beaver?” queried No Water.
“_Dho_,” continued Eagle Voice. “In his right hand he had a fine bow
and arrows. In his left hand he had a big fat beaver. And when he came
closer, Meadowlark and his wife could see that he had been growing
all day. Mother Meadowlark was so happy that she jumped up and down,
flapped her wings and cried, ‘O see what our grandson has brought
us! O see what he has brought us and how big he has grown!’ And when
Meadowlark tried the bow, it was so strong that even he could not pull
it at all.
“So they feasted on fat beaver, and while they feasted, Falling Star
told the story of his hunting. Then they slept.
“So it was early morning again, and the nest was empty as before. But
Meadow Lark and his wife were not afraid, for they knew Falling Star
had gone hunting. They just sat and waited and waited, and wondered
what he would bring this time. ‘It will be a big jack rabbit, or maybe
two,’ Meadowlark guessed. But his wife did not think so. ‘It will be a
fawn,’ she said. ‘I am sure it will be a fawn, or maybe a bison calf.’
And her husband said, ‘How could he carry a bison calf or even a fawn?
I am sure it will be a jack rabbit or maybe two.’
“While they were arguing, the morning star went back to his tepee and
the day was coming over the edge of the world. And when it had come,
Falling Star came also, but he was not a boy any more. He was a tall
young man, and what do you think he was bringing home?”
“Jack rabbits!” exclaimed Moves Walking. “Two, maybe--big fat ones!”
“It was not so,” Eagle Voice went on. “In his right hand he had his
bow and arrows, and in his left hand he was holding the legs of a fawn
which he carried on his back. Meadowlark and his wife just stood and
looked with their beaks wide open. He was so big and handsome that he
was a stranger, until he smiled. When he did that, starlight came out
of him all over, and it was so kind that he was not a stranger any
more. So they had a big feast, and sang much.
“Next morning, Falling Star went hunting again before Meadowlark and
his wife awoke. And what do you think he brought home?”
“Big buffalo bull!” blurted Moves Walking.
Eagle Voice shook his head.
“Buffalo cow, maybe?” queried No Water; “--Big fat one?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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