LEGENDS - 2
alphabetical by title
THE LEGEND OF JUMPING MOUSE
Little Mouse lived quite comfortably with her friends and family, gathering food each day and being careful never to wander too far from her safe home. She had learned to keep a watchful eye on the sky, for the mighty Eagle could at any moment choose her for his meal. So she was always very careful and fearful and sometimes wondered what it would be like to be completely happy.
One day, Little Mouse heard something. Soon this sound became a roaring in her ears. What was this? It became too loud to ignore so finally she ventured from her safe home to find Raccoon hoping he could help.
“The sound you hear is the River.” said Raccoon. “I will take you there and maybe you will understand more.” Little Mouse was afraid to leave the safety of her home, but she also had a great need to find the answer to this noise that would not go away. So together they went to the River. It was beautiful and very exciting to see.
“Where does it go?” asked Little Mouse. “What is it all about?”
“I can show you.” said Frog from his lily pad.. “There is something wonderful to see. Just Jump into the air and you will find the answer.”
“I'm afraid.” said Little Mouse. “What if I fall in? What if Eagle sees me?”
“Trust, Little Mouse.” said Frog. So even tho she was afraid, she trusted Frog, gathered her courage and jumped into the air, as high as she could. And way off in the distance, she saw the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. It was the Mountains. Never had she seen anything like it. “I must go there, I must see the Mountains”
Frog smiled. “You are learning to trust and so now your name will be
Jumping Mouse. Perhaps you will follow your sound to the Mountains.”
“Oh I don't think so. I'm afraid ... it's so far to go. And
Eagle might see me.” And she ran home. But the sound in her ears kept calling her. Her friends told her not to go ... it was too risky. “Stay here where you are safe.” they said. But Jumping Mouse remembered how she trusted Frog and was able to see the beautiful Mountains. And the sound kept calling her. Finally one day she left home... she knew she just had to see the Mountains. She was so afraid. The prairie stretched before her, so
very big and scary. What if Eagle saw her? But on she went, stopping every few minutes to see if Eagle's shadow was overhead.
Soon she came upon a great animal lying in the grass. “Oh great creature” she said “Who are you and why are you lying in the grass?” “I am Buffalo, and I am dying.” The great animal looked so very sad. Jumping Mouse trembled in fear. The animal was so big and she could see shadows overhead.
“My Medicine tells me the only thing that can save me is the eye of a mouse.” said Buffalo. Jumping Mouse ran off into the grass. She was terrified. Buffalo might know she was a mouse and he would want her eye. But still, he had not asked. He was truly a beautiful creature. She just could not let him die; so she ran back to where he was lying and told him she was a mouse and he could have her eye. And as she did so, her eye flew into Buffalo and he immediately became well.
“Look, I am well” he cried. “Oh thank you Jumping Mouse, thank you for your gift. And I know of your journey to see the Mountains. Run along under my belly and I will guide you to the other side of the prairie. You will be safe from Eagle” Jumping Mouse knew she could trust Buffalo and it felt good. They became friends as they traveled together. At the other side of the prairie, Buffalo and Jumping Mouse had to say goodbye, but they knew they would always remember each other.
Before her the deep forest stretched all the way to the foot of the Mountains. Jumping Mouse became afraid again as she thought of all the dangers in the woods. But her desire to see the Mountains was greater than her fear, and she ran on. Soon she came upon another beautiful creature. He was very confused. “I don't know who I am” he said sadly. “Maybe I”m a bear ... maybe a wolf...I just don't know.”
Jumping Mouse felt sad for Wolf. “You are such a beautiful creature.” said Jumping Mouse. “What will make you well?”
“Only the eye of a mouse can heal me.” he said. “And I do not even know what a mouse is.” A great tear fell from his eye. Jumping Mouse was very afraid ... and sad. “I do not want to give him my eye.” But she could feel his great sadness, and felt so much compassion for him that her fear disappeared. So she told him that she was a mouse and wanted him to have her eye. At once he became well. “I am a Wolf!” he cried. “Thank you Jumping Mouse, thank you, thank you for your gift! And I know of your journey to see the Mountains. Come, hop on my back and hide in my fur and I will take you safely through the forest. The Eagle will never see you.” Jumping Mouse knew she could never see the Mountains, but her desire to be near them was very strong. “I trust you to keep me safe.” she said and tho she could hear the eagles screeching and circling, looking for mice to eat, she went with him. As they traveled together, they became great friends. At last they arrived at the Mountains, and Wolf and Jumping Mouse had to say goodbye. But they would always remember each other’s gifts.
“How I wish I could see the Mountains.” she whispered.
“Oh, but you can.” said a voice.
“Who are you?”
“I am your friend Frog” the voice answered. “You have come on a long journey, Jumping Mouse, and have learned much. Trust one more time ... jump into the air and you will see the Mountains.”
“But I am blind now .......” she began ....
“Trust.” said Frog. “Just trust and jump into the air.”
This time she was not afraid. So she gathered her courage one more time and jumped. Up she went, higher and higher .... and still higher.
“Look.” called Frog from far below. “Now your name is EAGLE ! “
from a Sioux legend