Native American Legends
The story of Mink
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
In the early times warriors often played flutes and played music
from their heart and spirit when a warrior saw a woman he was interested
in he would try to make a song to win the woman's interest if the
woman liked his song.
She might talk to him to see if she liked him as well and if the
song and the magic were strong enough, they would marry and the
song would become a lullaby they would sing to their children.
In those days, Mink was a very handsome warrior with a beautiful
pelt who was very sure of himself. He had a cedar flute that he
had made from the heart of an old storm struck tree. It had great
power.
He had been alone for many years and decided he wanted a wife so
he looked at the women around him. His eyes fell on Woodpecker and
she was beautiful. Her bright red head. She was an excellent carver.
She made her homes by carving out trees.
So Mink took his flute and devised a song to win her heart. When
he played the song where Woodpecker could hear, her heart was captured
and she asked herself "who is playing such a beautiful song?"
Then she saw Mink and his flute She flew to him. She told him "Your
song is lovely, if you promise to play it only for me, I will make
you happy and build us a home and Mink agreed.
Woodpecker made them a beautiful home in a large oak tree and
they were happy for many years.
One day, Mink had started to become tired of Woodpecker. He loved
her, but her constant pecking and constant flying from tree to tree
was becoming tiresome so he took his flute and played a song which
broke Woodpeckers heart and he left her crying.
Mink looked around for another woman to woo and his eyes settled
on Raccoon. Oh, she was Beautiful she had a banded tail and a mask.
So Mink played a song to win her heart. When Raccoon heard the
song, it caught her heart and she asked herself "Who can be
playing such a beautiful song?"
And when she looked around, and saw it was Mink, she went to him
"what a beautiful song, Mink" "If you promise to
play it only for me, I will be your wife and make you happy."
Mink agreed, and lived with Raccoon for 4 years.
Then Mink tired of Raccoon. Raccoon had endless energy and always
wanted to play. She would toss him out of bed when he wanted to
sleep, so Mink played a song on his flute to break her heart and
left Raccoon crying.
Mink decided to find another wife so he looked around and saw Bear.
Oh, She was so big. She was beautiful. Her sleek black fur, the
'V' on her chest.
Raccoon knew she was the woman for him so he took his flute and
made a song to capture her heart and played where Bear would hear
him.
When Bear heard the song her heart was caught.
When she saw it was Mink playing she went to him and told him "If
you promise to play that song only for me, I will make you happy
and be your wife" and Mink agreed and they lived in her den.
After two years Mink grew tired of Bear and decided to leave, he
would play a song to break her heart too. But Bear saw when Mink
reached for the flute and she grabbed it in her paw, before he could
reach it, and threw it to the ground, and stepped on it with her
paw, breaking it.
She grabbed Mink and picked him up in her two massive paws and
squeezed him."Oh, Mink, what have you done? I promised to love
you and now you would break my heart."
Bear Squeezed Mink, and he became a little smaller."What you
have done is not nice" and she squeezed again, and Mink became
smaller still.
"You have hurt me." and she squeezed "you have hurt
Woodpecker" and she squeezed "and you have hurt Raccoon"
and she squeezed, and Mink was even smaller. And Bear gave a final
great squeeze and released Mink. And he was very small. And ran from
Bear. For he was no longer Mink, he had become the first Weasel!
And even to this day weasels are still running from bears. And
the story is told to each generation: "Young men do not think
to trifle with the affections of women, or you shall be made smaller
than you are."
Aho. It is so.
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