THE BOY WHO BECAME A ROBIN
(Chippewa)
ONCE upon a time there was an old Indian who had an
only son, whose name was
Opeechee. The boy had come to the age when every Indian lad makes a fast, in
order to secure a Spirit to be his guardian for life.
Now, the old man was very proud, and he wished his son to fast longer than
other boys, and to become a greater warrior than all others. So he directed him to
prepare with solemn ceremonies for the fast.
After the boy had been in the sweating lodge and bath several times, his
father commanded him to lie down upon a clean mat, in a little lodge apart from
the rest.
"My Son," said he, "endure your hunger like a man, and at the end of twelve
days, you shall receive food and a blessing from my hands."
The boy did carefully all that his father commanded, and lay quietly with his
face covered, awaiting the arrival of his guardian Spirit who was to bring him good
or bad dreams.
His father visited him every day, encouraging him to endure with patience
the pangs of hunger and thirst. He told him of the honour and renown that would
be his if he continued his fast to the end of the twelve days.
To all this the boy replied not, but lay on his mat without a murmur of
discontent, until the ninth day, when he said:—
"My Father, the dreams tell me of evil. May I break my fast now, and at a
better time make a new one?"
"My Son," replied the old man, "you know not what you ask. If you get up
now, all your glory will depart. Wait patiently a little longer. You have but three
days more to fast, then glory and honour will be yours."
The boy said nothing more, but, covering himself closer, he lay until the
eleventh day, when he spoke again:—
"My Father," said he, "the dreams forebode evil. May I break my fast now,
and at a better time make a new one?"
"My Son," replied the old man again, "you know not what you ask. Wait
patiently a little longer. You have but one more day to fast. Tomorrow I will myself
prepare a meal and bring it to you."
The boy remained silent, beneath his covering, and motionless except for the
gentle heaving of his breast.
Early the next morning his father, overjoyed at having gained his end,
prepared some food. He took it and hastened to the lodge intending to set it before
his son.
On coming to the door of the lodge what was his surprise to hear the boy
talking to some one. He lifted the curtain hanging before the doorway, and, looking
in, saw his son painting his breast with vermilion. And as the lad laid on the bright
colour as far back on his shoulders as he could reach, he was saying to himself:—
"My father has destroyed my fortune as a man. He would not listen to my
requests. I shall be happy forever because I was obedient to my parent; but he will
suffer. My guardian Spirit has given me a new form, and now I must go!"
At this his father rushed into the lodge, crying: "My Son! my Son! I pray you
leave me not!"
But the boy, with the quickness of a bird, flew to the top of the lodge, and
perching upon the highest pole, was instantly changed into a most beautiful Robin
Redbreast.
He looked down on his father with pity in his eyes, and said:—
"Do not sorrow, O my Father, I am no longer your boy, but Opeechee the
Robin. I shall always be a friend to men, and live near their dwellings. I shall ever
be happy and content. Every day will I sing you songs of joy. The mountains and
fields yield me food. My pathway is in the bright air."
Then Opeechee the Robin stretched himself as if delighting in his new wings,
and carolling his sweetest song, he flew away to the near-by trees.
The Boy Who Became A Robin
Engelsk for 7. klasse
Skole-forum.dk
Opgaver til "The Boy Who Became a
Robin"
vermilion = zinnober
What do you think of this story?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Have you tried to fast? _______________________________________
Fast is still used by muslims (Ramadan) and Catholics.
What is the religious intention of fasting?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
If you could ask the Indians, they would say that fast gives you a clear mind.
What does that mean?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Some modern people do fast. They feel they get clear in their spirits.
What do you think?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
What is a guardian spirit?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Do we all have guardian angels?
Opgaver til "The Boy Who Became A Robin"
Engelsk for 7. klasse
Skole-forum.dk
