(An Indian folk-tale)

Long, long ago, there was a kingdom of animals called Siminikum. It was a land of forests and meadows, canyons and rushing streams. And here the Indians settled, and here they told tales of Coyote, the great king of Siminikum.

Once upon a time Coyote called a meeting. It was a great meeting which lasted for many moons and where they decided many important things — how long winter should last, where animals should live and how to divide day from night.

"How much light shall we have and how much darkness?" asked Coyote.

Grizzly Bear was first to speak, "Let's have five years of day and five years of night. That way we could all sleep for a long time and needn't worry about looking for food."

"How foolish," shouted Chipmunk. "That's all very well for you, you big fat bear, but little animals can't eat enough to live so long without food."

"Well, what shall we do?" asked Coyote.

"Let's have one day and one night just as it is now," said Chipmunk. "Why change it?"

Then Grizzly said, "I don't like it. It doesn't give me enough time for a really good sleep."

So they argued, and argued, until Coyote lost patience and said, "All right, you two. We'll have a contest and the winner will decide how long the days and nights shall last. You, Grizzly, will repeat over and over again, "Five years day, five years night" and you, Chipmunk, will say "One day, one night"! The first one to make a mistake will lose, and day and night shall be divided according to the wishes of the winner."

So Grizzly Bear sat down beneath a tall pine-tree and Chipmunk climbed up into its branches. The Coyote gave the signal to begin.

The bear repeated slowly "Five years day, five years night", over and over again.

But the chipmunk chattered as fast as he could, "One day, one night," until all who heard him were quite dizzy with the words.

It was not long before Grizzly, who was not very clever, became thoroughly confused, and before he knew it was repeating with Chipmunk, "One day, one night."

"Stop!" shouted Coyote. "You made a mistake! Hereafter we shall have one day and one night as Chipmunk wants."

Then Grizzly became very angry and when Chipmunk came down from the tree, he grabbed him, and scratched stripes down Chipmunk's back with his long sharp claws. And that is why all chipmunks have dark stripes to this very day.

But Coyote felt sorry for Grizzly Bear and said, "You do not have to wake up every morning like the rest of the animals. There are many dark caves up and down the great rivers, and in our mountains. You may find a place to sleep through the long cold winter."

And even today, after so many years, bears find quiet caves where they sleep during the cold months of winter.

Sean Townes

Copyrighted material; do not reprint without permission.

 

View all articles by Sean Townes