Native American Legends
A story of the Coyote and the bag of salt
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
I am Elijah. My Medicine Name is "Racing Waters". My
totem is a dolphin. A totem is your special animal. I am ten years
old. I am very lucky to be able to tell you all this. I would like
to share with you, one of the stories I know.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, "Coyote" and his "Wife"
lived near a village. One day a great Ceremony was scheduled for
two days away. They would be dancing and eating all day. The women
would bake bread and other goods to get ready.
At that time, salt was needed to make anything, almost, taste good.
Now, Mrs Coyote said to her husband, go get a bag of salt from
Salt Lake. It is time for me to bake lots of bread. So, Mr Coyote
ran to the lake as fast as he could. When he got there, he thought,I
had better fill the bag with salt. But before he could fill the
bag half way, he fell down, and before he hit the ground, he was
fast asleep.
Then a little Butterfly happened to be flying around. He thought
of a trick he could play on Coyote. He went and got his buddies.
When they got there, they all lifted Coyote and carried him away
to his lodge and put him back in his hammock. When he woke up, he
thought, I must have been dreaming when my wife said I had to go
to Salt Lake to get salt.When his wife came in, carrying her bucket
of water, Coyote knew it was not a dream. She said, Why you lazy
bones, can't you do a lick of work? She poured her water bucket
on his head.
He went back to Salt Lake the next day. When he got there, the
same thing happened. And the day after that, he got there breathless,
he filled his bag of salt. Then he fell down as fast asleep as ever.
This time the butterflies took pity on him and took him back to
his lodge with the bag of salt.
Mrs Coyote got to bake the bread.
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