THE LEGEND OF JUMPING MOUSE
tile #1
Little mouse lived comfortably with her friends, gathering everything around her, never wandering far from her safe home. Eagle might see her
or something terrible could happen,
and she was often fearful, never quite happy.
One day she heard a magical sound ...
it would not go away.
So even though she was very afraid,
she decided to find Raccoon
and ask him to help.
tile #2
Raccoon wasn’t sure what the sound meant, but took Little Mouse to visit Frog.
“There is something wonderful to see, “ Frog said. Jump into the air and you will find the answer. Just trust!” So she gathered her courage and jumped... and way in the distance, she could see the mountains, the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. “Now your name is Jumping Mouse” said Frog with a smile.
She was very afraid, and even though Eagle circled overhead, she decided to follow her sound and find the mountains.
tile #3
She ran out onto the prairie, hiding under leaves and grass, stopping now and then to see if Eagle’s shadow was overhead. Soon she came upon a great animal, lying in the grass. “What is wrong?” she asked.
“I am a buffalo,” he said. “And i am very sick and I am dying. And the only thing that will save me
is the eye of a mouse.”
“Oh no” thought Jumping Mouse. “I am afraid, but he is so magnificent... I cannot leave him to die.”
So she gave Buffalo her eye and immediately he was made well. “Oh thank you, Jumping Mouse for you have saved my life. I know of your journey, so run along under my belly and i will shield you from Eagle as we cross the prairie!” They had to say good by at the prairie’s edge, but they knew they would
always remember each other’s gift.
tile #4
The deep forest stretched all the way to the mountains, but Jumping Mouse became afraid again as she imagined all the dangers along the trail. Then she remembered Frog’s words of trust. Suddenly on the path,
a beautiful animal sat looking very confused.
“What is wrong?” asked Jumping Mouse. “I don’t know who I am...I think I may be dying.” he said sadly.
“The only thing that will save me is the eye of a mouse.”
She felt so much compassion for the beautiful creature that she didn’t hesitate and offered him her eye. At once he became well. With tears of gratitude, he thanked her and told her he knew of her journey to see the mountains.
“Ride on my back, under my fur and Eagle will never see you.” he said. They became great friends as they traveled together through the forest. Eagle circled overhead but never saw the little mouse.
tile #5
Finally Jumping Mouse reached the mountains...
she could feel their beauty and strength.
It was magical!
“How I wish I could see the mountains.” she said.
“Oh but you can” said a voice. It was her friend Frog.
“You have learned so much about trust and compassion. Trust again and jump into the air
and you will see your mountains.”
She hesitated for a moment...”I cannot see...”
”Just trust.” he encouraged.
tile #6
This time she was not afraid,
and she gathered her courage
and jumped ...
she went higher ... and higher ... and higher ...
“Look.” called Frog from far below,
“Now your name is EAGLE ! “
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