WHAT THE ASH AND MAPLE LEARNED

Hi dear friends and followers today we return for another visit with  to the stories the Iroquois tell their children.

Every living thing has a reason for being in this world. Its mission here might not be apparent to us but it is important all the same. Please enjoy this lesson that was given to the great Maple and Ash trees, back in a time almost forgotten.

WHAT THE ASH AND MAPLE LEARNED

Long ago, birds, trees, animals, and men knew each the language of the other, and all could talk together.

In those days, the trees of the forest grew large and strong. At last they came to know their strength too well. They became selfish, and proud, and quarrelsome. Each tree boasted that he was the greatest and the strongest. Each one struggled to gain for himself the most earth, the best air, the brightest sun. No tree had a thought for the other.

One day the trunk of a great Maple tried to crowd out an Ash. The Ash, of course, thought he had as much right to stand there as the Maple, and he said he would not stir a limb.

“Get out of my way,” cried the Maple. “I am greater than you, and of more use to man; for I furnish the sweet water for him to drink.”

“Indeed, I will not!” said the Ash. “I am greater than you, and of more use to man than you; for I furnish the tough wood from which he makes his bow.”
At this the trees fell back to wrestling. Back and forth they swayed, each trying to throw the other. They forgot that they were brothers in the wood.

Then the South Wind came along. He heard the voices and stopped to find out what the quarrel was about.

“I am greater than you, for I furnish the sweet water for man to drink,” came the angry voice of the Maple, as he threw his huge trunk against the Ash.

“No you are not,” retorted the Ash, and he sent the Maple back with a great push of his strong elbow. “I am greater than you, for I furnish the tough wood from which he makes his bow.”

For a time the South Wind watched them writhe and twist and try to throw each other to the ground. Then he said softly, “You, O Maple, do not cause the sweet water to flow for man; nor do you, O Ash, make your wood to grow pliant and tough for his bow.”
“Who does, then?” they asked defiantly.

“Listen,” said the South Wind, “and you shall hear.”

Then the Maple and the Ash forgot their quarrel. They bent their heads so low and close to listen that an arm of the Maple slipped through an arm of the Ash.

And as they stood thus listening, each with an arm locked in an arm of the other, the South Wind gently swayed to and fro. Then a voice was heard, singing, “San noh-eh! San noh-eh! San noh-eh!” which means “The Mother of all things.

Thus it was that the Ash and the Maple learned that it was Mother Earth who gave them their life, and power, and strength, and that they were brothers, because they had one Mother.

The Ash and the Maple whispered the secret to the birds. The birds came and listened to the voice, and went and told the animals. The animals came and listened, and went and told men. And thus all the Earth children learned that there is one Great Mother of every living thing, and that all are brothers.

And now, whenever two trees lock arms lovingly, and the South Wind sways them gently to and fro, that same voice may be heard singing, “San noh-eh! San noh-eh! San noh-eh!”

Thank you for visiting my blog and for reading this story, I hope everyone liked the Iroquois story for the day. Comments are welcomed and appreciated.

✿ڰۣ❤ With love from The Fairy Lady ❤ڰۣ✿