Story Hour Readers — Book Three

								

Then he thought of a plan.
He lifted his bow and aimed a magic arrow through the door of the
wigwam.
The arrow sped onward in the forest, until it passed through the body of
a bear. It held the bear fast to a tree.
Manitou and his wife went into the forest together. There they found the
bear.
Then Manitou said, "We will have a feast and invite our friends."
The birds and beasts were glad to accept the invitation. A large company
arrived.
The woodpecker was the first to taste the food. He began to eat
greedily, for he was very hungry.
When he put the meat into his mouth, it turned to ashes.
The woodpecker began to cough. "This is very impolite; I must not let
Manitou hear me cough," thought he.
The fox was the next to taste the meat. It turned to ashes, and he began
to cough.
All the other guests began to cough as soon as they had tasted the meat.
They tried very hard not to let Manitou hear them.
They kept on tasting, but the more they tasted the harder they coughed.
At last Manitou became very angry.
"I will make you remember this," said he.
In an instant, the woodpecker, the fox, and all the other guests had
disappeared. In their place were many squirrels, running up and down the
trees and coughing as squirrels always do when taken by surprise.
To this day, squirrels do not eat meat, but instead they nibble acorns
and nuts.
"If you have sharp eyes," added the grandmother, "you will find hollow
places in the trees, where the squirrels hide their acorns and nuts."

THE SWIFT RUNNER

In the olden times, the animals were fond of sports. They often held
contests, with prizes for those that won.
Once a prize was offered for the animal who could prove himself the
swiftest runner.
The reward was to be a pair of great antlers. Each animal was to carry
the antlers on his head, while running the race. The animal that should
win, would have the antlers for his own.
A path through the woods was chosen for the race course. There were many
bushes and brambles along the way.
All the animals gathered at the place of meeting. They chose Black Bear
to be judge of the race. It was decided that the rabbit and the deer
alone should try for the prize.
"They are the best runners. None of the rest of us could hope to win,"
said the other animals.
White Rabbit was given the first chance.
"I am willing to try for the prize," White Rabbit said, "but I would
like first to look over the ground where I am to run."
So White Rabbit disappeared in the woods. He was gone so long that Red
Fox was sent to look for him.
Red Fox found the rabbit hard at work, cutting off twigs to clear a path
along which to run.
Red Fox went back and told the other animals what White Rabbit was
doing.
Pretty soon White Rabbit came out of the woods. He was all ready to put
on the antlers and begin the race for the great prize.
"Oh, no!" said Judge Bear. "We cannot allow you to enter the great race.