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Monday, March 14, 2005
The origin of stories
Native American legend tells of how the greatest stories came to be known by the People.
Once, there was an orphan boy, who lived wit his grandparents. He was a very good boy, who learned everything he was taught, and always obeyed his elders. one day his grandfather said to him, It's time to teach you how to hunt. the boy was very excited, and ran to get a bow and a quiverfull of arrows. the grandfather showed his grandson how to shoot, how to spot even the best camouflaged quarry. he also taught him to praise the animal that had given its life so the people could live, and to never take more than he needed. and so the boy, no longer a boy but now a man, set out. he proved a good hunter; so good he provided not only for himself and his grandparents,, but also for many in the village who were old or weak and had no one to hunt for them. he rose early every day and came back just before dusk, with a sack full of food. the whole village loved him and his grandparents were very proud of him.
one day, while out hunting, he stopped for a moment to rest on a stone. the stone said, Would you like to hear a story? the man was surprised, but then he remebered what his grandmother had told him: everything can communicate with us, we just choose not to listen most of the time. so the man said, Yes, i would like to hear a story, because back then then there were no stories. the stone said, I know all the stories, for i have been since the beginning of the Earth. but first, you must make an offering. so the man emptied out his game bag onto the stone, and the stone told him many wonderful stories. when the man saw Father Sun headed for home in the west, he said, Stone, i love your stories, but now i must go home. he bagged two birds and a rabbit on the way home. his grandparents were standing outside, waiting, and when he came they were surprised at the short amount of food. the boy, not wanting to make a fool of himself, said, The luck was not with me today. i shall hunt elsewhere tomorrow.
the following day, he set out, nabbing some prey to leave for the stone; then he went to hear more stories. when once again the sun was setting, he went home, and this time only managed a small bird. his family did not go hungry, for they had corn and berries, but the man knew he had to do better.
the next day, as he was hunting, he passed the stone. the stone called out, Do you want to hear a story? the man replied, I would love to hear a story, but i must hunt for my family and my village. Good, the stone said. You do what you must. but or your generosity, i will share all i know with you and your People. tell them to gather here tomorrow, and to bring anough food and water for three days. the man did as instructed, and the stone told the People many stories. he also taught them to appoint people who would remember the stories and pass them on. and, to this day, some Native Americans still carry stones in their pockets, in memory of the first ever Story Teller, who gave knowledge to the People.
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