Native American Legends
Why the Chipmunk has a black stripe
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Once upon a time the porcupine was appointed to be the leader of
all the animals. Soon after his appointment he called them all together
and presented the question, "Shall we have night all the time
and darkness, or daylight with its sunshine?"
This was a very important question, and a violent discussion took
place, with some wishing for daylight and the sun to rule, and others
for continual night.
The chipmunk wished for night and day, weeks and months, and night
to be separate from the days, so he began singing, "The light
will come; we must have the light," which he continued to repeat.
Meanwhile the bear began singing, "Night is best; we must
have darkness."
While the chipmunk was singing, the day began to dawn. When the
others saw that the chipmunk had won, they were very angry and their
leader the bear went after the chipmunk.
The chipmunk managed to escape uninjured, but the huge paw of the
bear grazed his back as he entered his hole in a hollow tree, leaving
a black streak that chipmunks wear to this day.
But night and day have, ever since, continued to alternate.
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