 Section one of Canadian Wonder Tales. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Sean Michael Hogan. Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus McMillan. Section one, Forward and Preface. Forward by Sir William Peterson KCMG. This is the book of a soldier student. Major McMillan interrupted his teaching work in Montreal to go overseas with one of our McGill batteries, and from somewhere in France he has asked me to stand sponsor for his volume. The author's method resembles that followed by the brother's grim a century ago. He has taken down from the lips of living people, pretty much as they were given to him, a series of stories which obviously contain many elements that have been handed down by oral tradition from some far-off past. There are mostly animal stories, with all the usual features of magic and transformation, articulate speech on the part of the animals, and interchange of more or less kindly offices between man and beast. The result is a collection of fables which, especially as illustrated by an eminent artist, will provide a very acceptable Christmas book for children, and will give their elders also some food for reflection. Not that there is so far as I have been able to discover any moral about some, at least, of the tales. They are not stories with a purpose, but they suggest to the adult reader the essential identity of many of the methods by which, in a more or less remote antiquity, the human race expressed itself in various parts of the world. That has now become a matter of scientific study. The floating material of popular tradition at different times and in different places has been spread out, as it were, on a dissecting table by our folklore societies, and the thoughts and beliefs, customs and superstitions therein preserved have been studied from the comparative point of view for the light they throw on the primitive development of the human mind. Those of us who read the Journal of American Folklore, or the papers on Indian mythology recently contributed by C. M. Barbeau to the anthropological series issued by the Geological Survey of Canada have many sources at hand with which Mr. McMillan's folk tales may be profitably compared. Some of the stories, those, for instance, that refer to Shrove Tuesday on the one hand and packed sardines on the other, are obviously of no earlier date then, the days when Canada was owned by the French. But many of them go back too long before the white men came to Canada. That these are folk tales of the universal type is evidenced by the primitive traditions which they embody. In all such stories striking resemblances occur, whether they are the records of Algonquins or Zulus, Hottentuts or Australian Bushmen. To say nothing of charms and incantations, magic coats and magic wands, ogres and giants, merman and mermaidens, supernatural creatures and speaking beasts, evil spirits in disguise. There are the standing dishes of all such folk tales, the strong man and his adventures, the bride carried off by the youthful hero and pursued by her father, the promise that the bride shall be given to anyone who can accomplish some difficult task with death as the penalty of failure. These and such-like features are all examples of primitive methods of self-expressions and represent in the case before us the Indians' elemental ideas of the universe around him and his relation to it. Thus Mr. McMillan's wonder tales, while serving for the pleasure and delight of children, have their points of contact with what we must take to be the background of prehistoric culture on the continent of America. But the children will read and enjoy them for their own sake and unhampered by any such applications of the comparative method. They will learn in this book the answers to such conundrums as the following, why frog croaks, why bear eats fish, why bunny has a short tail and long hind legs and a split upper lip, why partridge makes a drumming noise, why mosquitoes sting, why aspen leaves tremble, what woodpecker and bluejay were before they were changed into birds, why the moose usually travels alone in the forest. And if they find anything unsatisfactory about the answers herein recorded, they will have the opportunity of exercising their imaginations to better purpose than was done by those who gave these answers in the days when the world was young. W. Peterson, October 1917 Preface The tales in this collection have been gathered in various parts of Canada. They have been selected from a larger collection of folk tales and folk songs made by the writer for more academic and scientific purposes. They are not the product of the writer's imagination. They are the common possession of the folk. Many of them are still reverently believed by the Canadian Indians and all are still told with seriousness around campfires in forests and on plains, upon the sea and by cottage hearths. The dress in which they now appear may be new, but the skeleton of each story has been left unchanged. Canada is a country with a romantic past. The atmosphere in which our ancestors lived in the early days of exploration and colonization, if not one of enchantment, was at least one of mystery. The traditions and tales of our country's past are rapidly disappearing in its practical present, and the poetry of its former times is rarely heard above the hum of its modern life. Its old unhappy far-off things and battles long ago are fading memories, for comparatively little has been done to save its old tales from oblivion. That the children of the land may know something of the traditions of the mysterious past in which their forefathers dwelt and labored is the writer's only excuse for the publication of this volume. The writer's deepest thanks are here expressed to the nameless Indians and habitants, the fishermen and sailors, the spinners and the knitters in the sun from whose lips he heard these stories. It is perhaps but fair to explain that the proofs were corrected by the writer in the intervals between other duties on Vimy Ridge, France, and that to this fact and the subsequent haste any minor errors may in part at least be attributed. End of Section 1. Recording by Sean Michael Hogan, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Section 2 of Canadian Wonder Tales. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Sean Michael Hogan. Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus McMillan. Section 2. The Baker's Magic Wand. Once very long ago in the days when Canada was owned by the French, there lived on the banks of a great river a wicked lawyer who was in love with a baker's wife. He tried in various ways to get rid of the baker but without success. They lived not far from the senior who owned all the land around and was very powerful. Now in front of the senior's palace there was a great lake of more than 12,000 acres. One morning the lawyer went to the palace and knocked at the door. When the senior came out he said to him, Sire there is a man not far from here who boasts that in less than twice 24 hours he can change this lake into a beautiful meadow covered with grass that would give hay enough for all your horses and would be to the great advantage of the colony. Then the senior said, Who is this man? The lawyer answered, He is no less than the baker who furnishes your household with bread. So the senior said, I will send for him. The lawyer went away and the senior sent a letter to the baker saying that he wanted to see him. The poor baker thought he was to get his pay for the bread he had provided for the senior and all his servants and soldiers. So he was very glad and went quickly to the palace and knocked at the door. When the senior came out he asked what was wanted of him. The senior answered that he had heard of his boast that in less than twice 24 hours he could change all the lake into a beautiful meadow covered with grass and clover that would feed all the senior's horses and would be a great advantage to the colony. Now unless within twice 24 hours the lake was changed into a meadow the baker should be hanged before the door of the palace. Then the senior turned away and the baker went out discouraged for he did not know what to do. He walked off into the woods and sat down on a log to weep. After a long time an old woman came along and asked what was the matter. He said he was very miserable. He was going to be hanged in twice 24 hours for the senior had commanded him to change all the lake into a meadow covered with grass and clover that was not able to do it. Now this old woman was a good fairy in disguise and when the baker had done speaking she told him not to be troubled but to go to sleep. She gave him a wand just like a broken stick which she told him to wave before he slept. It had great power she said and while he slept it would bring to pass whatever he desired. So he waved the wand and went to sleep. When he had slept an hour he was awakened by the smell of hay and when he waved about him he saw that the lake was all gone and that there was only a small river that ran through the middle of a beautiful meadow down to the great river not far away. The good fairy was still by his side. She told him to go to the senior and show him what he had done. He went to the palace and when he came near he saw the senior looking out of the window at the meadow and all the men and horses at work making hay. He knocked at the door and when the senior came downstairs he was satisfied. The senior said he was not satisfied because the river had been left running through the middle of the meadow. The baker told the senior that the river had been left to provide water for the animals and to help in making hay because there was so much hay that all the horses in the land could not draw it and it would have to be brought in boats. Then the senior was satisfied and sent the baker away. Soon the wicked lawyer came again and the senior showed him the meadow and the horses making hay. The lawyer was much surprised to see all this but he did not say so. Instead he told the senior that he had no doubt the baker could do a great deal more than that. The baker, he said, had boasted that he could make a tiambon-là for the senior that would be worth a great deal more than the meadow and would be a great advantage to the colony. What is a tiambon-là? asked the senior. I do not know, answered the lawyer but the baker said he could make one. I will send for him, said the senior. So he sent for the baker who was just making his bread. When he had put the bread into the oven he went to the palace and knocked again and the senior came to the door. The senior said, I have heard that you boasted that you could make a tiambon-là that would be worth more than the meadow and a great advantage to the colony. Now you shall go home and make it and unless you bring it to me in twice 24 hours you shall be hanged before the palace gate. The baker asked, what is a tiambon-là? The senior said, I do not know but I must have one within twice 24 hours. Then he went into his palace again. The poor baker went away more sorrowful than before. He had no idea of what a tiambon-là was but yet he knew he should be hanged unless he made one within twice 24 hours. He went out into the forest again and sat down on the same log as he had sat on before and wept as hard as he could. When he had cried himself to sleep the good old fairy came again and waked him up and asked him what was the matter. He told her that he should certainly be hanged this time for he had been ordered to make a tiambon-là for the senior and he did not know what it was. Then the fairy said, it is only the wicked lawyer who is in love with your wife and wants to get rid of you. You must do what I tell you and the lawyer will be punished for we shall make a tiambon-là that will satisfy the senior. Go to your home and tell your wife that you were commanded to make a tiambon-là and that you have nothing to make it of. Tell her to put two days provisions in a bag for you and when she has them already go to your room and take the latch off the window. Then say goodbye to your wife and walk about the country until it is dark. As soon as you are gone your wife will send for the lawyer and invite him to supper. Before he comes and after it is dark you must come back to your house and get in at the window and hide yourself under the bed. Then when he comes your wife will send him into the room where you are hiding to wash and when he takes hold of the wash basin you must cry out tiambon-là take this wand that I will give you and anything you wave it at when you cry tiambon-là will hold fast to whatever it is touching. Then she gave him another wand and went her way. The baker did as the fairy had told him and his wife was very glad to learn that he was going away and as soon as he was out of the house she sent a note to the lawyer telling him that her husband was gone away for two days and that she would like to have him come to supper. The baker walked around the country until it was dark and then came back and hid himself under the bed. His wife told the servant to set the table and prepare a nice supper and then she went to get ready to receive the lawyer. Soon the lawyer arrived. The servant showed him into a room where he might wash his hands after his day's work and the baker was under the bed in the room. There was some water that was not very clean in the wash basin and when the lawyer took hold of the basin to throw the water out the baker who was under the bed waved his wand and cried out tiambon-là and the lawyer's hands stuck to the basin so that he could not let go and the basin stuck to the wash stand. He called out to the servant to come and help him but she was busy about the supper and did not hear him and when the baker's wife heard him she was dreadfully frightened and ran in to see what was the matter. When she found the lawyer stuck to the wash stand which was very large and heavy she took hold of him with both hands to pull him away then her husband cried out from under the bed tiambon-là and the wife could not let go the lawyer. Then the baker went out and called in some of his friends and they ate the supper and drank the wine that had been prepared when morning came the baker took the wand that the fairy had given him and told his wife and the lawyer that if they wanted to get loose they must do as he told them with his wand he loosened the basin from the wash stand then he made them go out into the street and he started them towards the senior's palace as soon as they all came out into the light the baker saw that there was a hole in his wife's dress so he pulled some grass and twisted it into a wisp and filled up the hole feeding by the side of the road there was not much grass there and the cow was hungry so when she saw the wisp of grass sticking from the woman's dress she began to eat it but the baker waved his wand and cried tiambon-là and the cow's teeth stuck in the grass and the grass stuck to the dress they all went along until they came to a house where there was a large dog on the doorstep when the dog saw the people he jumped over the fence the baker cried tiambon-là and the dog stuck to the cow's tail and went along with the rest when the old woman who owned the dog saw him going off in this manner she was very angry she called him but he would not come then she ran out with the broom that she was using to sweep the floor and began to beat the dog to drive him home but the baker cried out tiambon-là again and so the broom stuck to the dog and the old woman could not let go the broom the old woman's husband was quite lame he ran after his wife limping along with the stick he could not go very fast but he went as well as he could to see what his old woman was beating the dog for when he came up he took hold of the woman's dress to pull her away but the baker cried out tiambon-là again and the lame farmer had to go limping along with the others so they all went to the senor's palace the lawyer with the heavy wash basin the woman holding on to the lawyer the cow trying to eat the wisp of hay the dog barking at the cow and sticking to her tail the old woman with her broom and the lame farmer limping along with his stick the baker knocked at the door and when the senor opened it he said oh my senor you ordered a tiambon-là and I have brought you one the best that was ever made if you will be pleased to try it I hope you will be content the senor took hold of the basin to take it away from the lawyer the baker cried tiambon-là again and the senor was held to the basin he tried hard to get away but the tiambon-là was good and would not let go then the senor asked the baker what he would take to let him off after a long time the baker said he would let him go if the senor would give a great sum of money every year to himself and to each of his fifteen children the senor consented but the baker said he must have a deed made by a notary so they sent for the notary and the deed was made and the senor signed it on the wash basin and on backwards the tiambon-là was broken and they all went away happy again and the baker's wife never again deceived her husband end of section 2 recording by Sean Michael Hogan St. John's Newfoundland, Canada section 3 of Canadian Wonder Tales this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus McMillan section 3 Starboy and the Sundance Once long ago when the black-feed Indians dwelt on the Canadian prairies it happened that a band of the people were camped near the mountains it was springtime and the warm winds blew over the prairies laden with the scent of wildflowers one hot cloudless night two girls slept in the long prairie grass beside their tents with no covering but the sky the elder awoke before dawn and saw the morning star just rising very beautiful and bright he looked in the clear morning air with no smoke or dust to hide him the girl looked long at the star and she had strange fancies and imagined that he was her lover at last she called her sister and said look at the morning star he is bright and wise I love only the morning star for he is more beautiful than man one day in the autumn when the flowers were faded and the grass was yellow with age the winds blew over the prairie and the birds were flying south as the girl was returning home from a long walk she met a young man on the trail in his hair was a yellow plume and in his hand a small shrub with a big spider web hanging to it he was very beautiful and he wore fine clothes of soft skins and the odor of his dress was that of the sweet grass and the pine as the girl drew aside from the trail to pass he put forth his hand and stopped her she said but he answered I am the morning star one night in spring when the flowers were blooming I saw you sleeping in the long grass outside your tent and I loved you I heard you say you loved only me and now I have come to ask you to come with me to the sky to the home of my father the son where we shall live together and you will have no more troubles nor cares it is the land of little people the land of the ever young all are happy like children and no one ever grows old then the girl remembered the hot cloudless night in the springtime when she slept in the tall grass and she knew now that morning star was to be her husband and she said I must first say goodbye to my father and mother but morning star said there must be no leave taking and he would not let her go home he fastened his yellow plume in her hair and gave her the shrub to hold he told her to place her feet upon the lowest strand of the spider's web and to hold the uppermost strand in her hands then he told her to shut her eyes after a brief time when he asked her to open her eyes they were in the sky they passed on to a large tent morning star said this is the home of my father and mother the son and the moon and he asked her to enter as it was day the son was away on his long journey but the moon was at home and she welcomed the girl as her son's bride and the girl lived happy in the star country with her husband and she learned many wonderful things not far from her home near the tent of the spider man who weaved webs a large turnip was growing about which she wondered greatly but the moon seeing her wonder said you may dig any roots that grow in the sky but I warn you not to dig up the large turnip if you do unhappiness will follow you after a time a son was born to the girl and everywhere the girl went and buried the child she called him star boy she often saw the large turnip near the tent of the spider man who weaved webs but mindful of the moon's warning she was afraid to touch it one day however her wonder overcame her and she decided to see what was underneath the turnip she tried to pull it up but it stuck fast and she was unable to move it then two large cranes flying from the east came to her aid and catching the turnip with their long they moved it from side to side loosened it and pulled it up the girl looked through the hole and saw the earth far beneath her it was the same hole through which Morningstar had brought her to the sky she looked long through the hole and she saw the camps of her people the black feet on the planes far below what she saw was well known to her it was summer on the prairies the men were playing games the women were tanning skins or gathering berries on the rolling hills she grew very lonely as she watched for she wanted to be back on the green prairies with her own people and when she turned away to go home she was crying bitterly when she reached home Morningstar and his mother the moon were waiting for her Morningstar had once knew from her face what had happened and he said you have pulled up the sacred turnip when she did not answer the moon said I warned you not to dig it up it was day and the sun was away on his long journey when he came home in the evening he asked what was the matter with his daughter for she looked sad and troubled and the girl answered that she was lonely because she had looked down that day upon her people on the planes then the sun was very angry and said to Morningstar if she has disobeyed she must go back to her people she cannot live here Morningstar and the moon pleaded with the sun to go back to the prairies for she would no longer be happy in the sky then Morningstar led the girl to the house of the Spider-Man who had weaved the web that had drawn her up to the sky he placed Starboy on her breast and wrapped around them both a bright robe then he bade them farewell saying we will let you down where your people on the planes can see you as you fall then the Spider-Man with his web let her down as she had come through the hole in the sky it was a hot still evening in mid-summer when the girl returned to her people many of the people were outside their tents and they saw a bright light in the northern sky they watched it slowly drop until it reached the ground they thought it was a shooting star they ran to the place where the bright light fell and there they found a strange bundle inside of which were the woman and her child her parents knew her and she returned with them to their home and lived with them often she took Starboy to the top of a high hill in the west where she sat and mourned for her home in the sky and daily she watched Morningstar rise from the planes once she begged him to take her back to the country of the stars but he answered, you disobeyed and therefore I cannot take you back your sin is the cause of your sorrow and it has brought great trouble to you and your people so the star woman lived alone and unhappy upon the earth because she had disobeyed after a time she died and her son Starboy was left alone although born in the home of the son he was very poor he had little of the world's goods and but few clothes to wear he was so timid that he never played with other children and he lived much by himself on his face was a strange scar which became more market as he grew older because of this and his shy and timid ways he was laughed at by everybody other boys stoned him and abused him and called him Scarface when starboy became a man he loved a girl of his own people she was very beautiful and many young men wanted to marry her but she refused them all she told starboy that she would not marry him until he removed the strange scar from his face he was much troubled by this answer and he talked about it to an old medicine woman who knew many things the medicine woman told him that the scar had been placed on his face by the son and that only the son himself could take it off so he decided to go to the home of the son he went across the prairies and over the mountains for many days meeting many dangers and suffering great hardships at last he came to the great water in the west the pacific ocean for three days and nights he lay on the sand fasting and praying to the sun god on the evening of the fourth day he saw a bright trail leading across the water to the west he ran along this path across the water until he came at last to the home of the son where he hid himself and waited early next morning the son came out of his tent ready for his day's journey he saw starboy but he did not know him for starboy had grown since he left the country of the stars the son was angry when he saw a creature from the earth and calling his wife the moon he said we will kill him for he comes from a good for nothing race but the moon being kind he waited it and saved the boy's life then morning star the boy's father handsome and bright came from his tent he recognized his child and after the usual fashion in the sky he brought dried sweet grass and burned it so that the smoke curled around the boy and cleansed him from the dust of the earth then he brought him to his father and mother the son and the moon and told them who the boy was and starboy told his story of his long journey and of the marriage refusal of the girl he loved because there was a scar on his face and they took pity on him and promised to help him starboy lived in the home of the son and the moon with morning star once he went hunting and killed seven large birds which had threatened the life of his father he gave four of the dead birds to the son and three to the moon and the son glad to be rid of these pests resolved to pay him well for his work as a reward he took the scar from his face as the medicine woman had said and he made him his messenger the blackfeet people on the canadian plains and promised that if they would give a festival in his honour once a year he would heal their sick the festival was to be known as the sun dance he taught starboy the secrets of the dance and the songs to be used in it so that he could tell his people and he gave him two raven feathers to wear as a sign that he came from the sun and a very wonderful robe and he gave him a magic flute and a wonderful song with which he could charm the heart of the girl he loved so starboy returned to his people the black feet of the plains running along by the milky way the short bright path to the earth when he had taught them the secret of the sun dance he married the girl he loved and the son took them back to live with him in the sky and he made him bright and beautiful just like his father morning star and gave him work to do sometimes the father and son can be seen together in the sky the people of earth sometimes call the father venus and the son jupiter but indians call them morning star and little morning star and since that time once a year the black feet of the plains hold the sun dance that their sick may all be healed as it was promised to starboy by the sun god in the old days end of section 3 recording by Sean Michael Hogan st. john's newfoundland canada section 4 of canadian wonder tales this librevox recording is in the public domain recording by Sean Michael Hogan canadian wonder tales by Cyrus McMillan section 4 jack and his magic aids there was once a poor widow who had but one child a son jack by name her husband had left her money when he died but in a few years it was all used up jack was a silly fellow he was always doing stupid things and was of no help to his mother although his father had said that someday he would do great deeds soon the widow became poor she lived on a large farm rented from a greedy landlord who lived in the town nearby the rent had to be paid once a year and when payday was drawing near she found she had no money to give the landlord she had several fine cows so she thought she would sell one and get money to pay her rent one morning she sent jack off to market with the finest cow she had as jack drove the cow along he passed a house standing in the forest near the road a man sitting on the steps called to him where are you going with the cow? he asked I'm driving her to market to sell her answered jack the man asked him to come in and rest a while and jack tied the cow to a tree and went in then the man said you must give the cow to me jack answered I cannot give her to you I will sell her to you for my mother needs the money he then asked jack to have something to eat and placed before him on the table a plate full of food jack ate heartily but the food did not grow less he ate and ate and could not stop soon he became so full that he was almost bursting but the food had grown no smaller and he could not stop eating though he tried very hard he called to the man to take away the food but the man answered if you will give me your cow I will take away the plate if not you may eat away jack agreed to give him the cow for he was afraid he would burst from overeating and in return for the cow the man gave him the dish of magical food then he went back home when he reached home his mother asked him for the money from the sale of the cow but he told her he had been robbed of the cow by the man in the forest she scolded him and called him many harsh names and took the broom to beat him but when she took hold of him he placed a little of the magical food he placed at once asked for more he gave her the dish and just as he had done at the man's house she ate and ate until she too was almost bursting but she could not stop when she pleaded with him to take the food away he said I will take it away if you will not beat me and she agreed the next morning his mother sent jack off to market with another cow he passed the same house as on the previous day and the same man was again sitting on the steps the man asked him for the cow but jack remembering what had happened the day before hurried on without reply then the man took off the belt he was wearing and threw it down in the middle of the road at once the belt leapt around both jack and the cow tying both tightly together the man said he would let them free if jack would give him the cow but jack refused then the belt began to tighten slowly it got tighter and tighter pressing jack to the cow until they could hardly draw his breath at last when he could stand it no longer he agreed to give up the cow and the man set him free in return jack received the magic belt when he reached home his mother again asked him for the money from the sale of the cow when he told her that he had again been robbed she was more angry than before she called him harsh names again and rushed at him saying she would kill him but jack unclasped his magic belt threw it on the floor and at once it leapt around his mother tying her hand and foot as the belt became tighter and tighter his mother began to gasp for breath and cried out to be set free but jack said I will untie you if you promise not to beat me so his mother almost smothered agreed then he untied her and she kept her promise as the rent day was near at hand his mother resolved to try once more to sell a cow and the next morning jack was again sent to market driving the third cow as he passed the same house by the side of the forest road the man who had already taken two cows from him sat on the steps he asked jack to give him the cow he was driving just as he had done before but in answer jack picked up a large stone and threw it in anger at the man's head the man dodged the stone and took from his pocket a small flute and began to play it in spite of his efforts to keep still jack began to dance the cow joined in the jig and both danced and danced up and down the road they danced until jack was tired out but he could not stop although he tried hard he pleaded with the man to stop playing the flute the man said I will stop if you give me your cow but jack had already lost two cows and he refused then dance away said the man and jack danced until he was almost dropping finally he agreed to give up the cow the dance was stopped and in return for the cow jack received the magic flute when he reached home and told his mother that he had been robbed a third time her rage knew no bounds she said she would surely kill him this time but as she sprang upon him he began to play his flute his mother began to dance and when she ordered him to stop playing he said I will stop if you promise not to beat me at first she refused but as she danced until she was very tired she finally agreed and jack escaped punishment he found too that by playing another tune he could call with his flute a great swarm of wasps which could not be seen by anyone but himself and which would obey all his commands the next day was the rent day and there was no money to pay the landlord the widow was troubled but jack said I will pay him be not troubled soon the landlord and his servant drove up to the widow's house when they entered the house the widow hid herself for she did not want to meet the cruel landlord without her rent but jack met them and politely gave them seats then he offered them food after their long drive and placed before them the dish of magical meat and they ate and ate just as jack and his mother had done and could not stop at last they were almost bursting with the food which grew no less on the dish and they pleaded with jack to take the dish away jack replied I will take it away if you will give up the farm to my mother for we have paid you more rent than the farm is worth finally the landlord fearing he would burst agreed jack removed the food and the landlord returned to his town leaving the farm to jack and his mother jack soon left the farm and all upon it to his mother and started out to make his own fortune taking with him his magic dish belt and flute he traveled far and came at last to a town where a great man lived who had one beautiful daughter she had many suitors and a man who could make her laugh three times jack resolved to make the trial and went to the man's house he was an awkward ugly fellow and the girl looked on him with great disgust but she consented to let him make the trial first jack produced his magical dish and offered it to the girl she tasted the food and liked it so well that she ate more she ate and ate as all who had eaten from it had done before her until she cried out to have it taken away jack would take it away on one condition she must first laugh finally when she too was almost bursting she agreed but she'd said to herself he will not make me laugh a second time as soon as jack had taken away the dish the girl and her servants rushed upon him to punish him but he threw down his magic belt and at once they were all bound together in a heap tied from head to foot they begged to be untied I will untie you said jack to the girl if you will laugh at first the girl refused but as the belt slowly tightened and she could stand it no longer she agreed and laughed feebly then jack let them go no sooner were they set free then they rushed at jack again to punish him but he began to play on his flute and at once the whole company began to dance when they retired they tried to stop but they could not they begged him to stop playing but he replied I will stop and he laughed for a long time she refused but when she became so weary of the dance that she could scarcely stand up she agreed and laughed the third time before jack could claim her her father heard what had happened and he ordered jack to be brought before him when he saw such an ugly fellow he too was disgusted and said that jack must be secretly put to death so poor jack was seized unexpectedly before he could use his magic aids in the cage of wild beasts but when the beasts rushed upon him to eat him up he threw down his magic belt and they were all tied up in a heap while jack escaped from the cage meanwhile a very rich man had won the hand of the man's daughter on the day of the wedding jack went again to the man's house and waited just as the wedding ceremony was to begin jack went in he sat behind a door in the corner and played a soft tune on his magic flute with a swarm of wasps the wasps could not be seen by any eyes but jack's but they swarmed into the room jack told them to sting the rich man waiting at the altar to be the girl's husband at once the man, feeling them stinging but unable to see anything began to jump and scream like a madman the people looked on in terror believing that he had become suddenly crazy the man jumped and yelled and slapped himself until the girl declared that she would not marry a madman and her father led her away and the people went out in great disorder as the girl's father went out he saw jack sitting behind the door he was surprised to see that he had escaped from the wild beast's cage for he believed that the beasts had eaten him up he knew too that in some mysterious way jack had been the cause of the uproar then the servants brought him word that the beasts in the cage were all tied up and could not be set free the man then knew that jack had great power so he sent for him and said you are a very wonderful man you have won my daughter so with great joy and splendor the wedding took place jack built a great house and when the girl's father died he received all his lands and he lived happily ever afterwards with his bride because of the magic dish and belt and flute he had taken in exchange for his cows End of Section 4 Recording by Sean Michael Hogan St. John's Newfoundland, Canada Section 5 of Canadian Wonder Tales This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus McMillan Section 5 The Bad Indians Ashes In the old days when giants roamed along the North Pacific coast there lived on the banks of a great river a poor Indian woman she was the daughter of a dead chief a great man but she had fallen on evil days against her parents wishes she had married a worthless fellow he was lazy and useless and she was very poor and unhappy one night a sun was born to her it was a wild stormy night the winds roared the thunder crashed and terrible lightnings forked the sky the boy was born with strange marks upon him and on his head were horns like sharp arrow points the wise men of the place shook their heads and said no good can come from him he will come to a bad end as the boy grew up it was seen that the prophecy of the wise men would surely come true he was very wicked and he soon became known for his bad deeds he was the terror of all the country on the Pacific coast but his mother loved him well for he was her only child and she petted him like a baby even after he was a big boy he did not take kindly to his mother's caresses and when she petted him he always grew angry and said don't pet me I am not a baby as she petted him he became very cross as was his habit and in his rage he ran the arrow points of his head into her breast and killed her then he took to the woods and lived as an outlaw in the forest he robbed all who came his way until he had a great store of goods hidden in a secret place his hand was against everybody's and everybody's was against his soon the tale of his crimes spread all over the north pacific coast and he was held in great fear the chief of the people called a meeting of his wise council to decide what should be done they resolved that he must be killed and the land rid of his terrors so they drew lots to see who should seek him out in the forest the lot fell to his uncle the brother of his mother a very brave man and the uncle set out into the woods to seek his wicked nephew who was known as the arrowheaded one the outlaw had found a cave in the forest and there he lived in security he killed everybody who came near it and he marked on his spear a notch for each one he killed in a very short time the notches on his spear numbered 50 he heard of the council of the wise men and of their effort to capture him and that his uncle had drawn the lot for the task he resolved to defend himself against an attack and he made his cave as strong as he could he thought that his uncle would come to the cave in search of him but his uncle was a very wise old indian he knew better than to attack his nephew's stronghold instead he too selected a cave and turned it into a fort he took bundles of dry grass and leaves and shaped them like men and stood them up around his cave like soldiers always on guard and he told all the people of the village to stay and hiding until the arrowheaded one was killed then he waited alone at his cave for several nights the arrowheaded one stayed in his cave waiting for his uncle's attack but no attack was made then he grew tired of waiting and in a spirit of recklessness and daring he resolved to attack his uncle for he knew that he was in the cave hard by he took his spear and bow and arrows and went to his uncle's cave to kill him he took with him his helping evil spirit in the form of a small bird about the size of a robin when he came to the cave he thought that one of the dummy grassmen was his uncle and he hurled his spear at it and while he was about it his uncle hidden behind a rock he shot a poisoned arrow at him and wounded him so badly that he fled back to his own cave the small bird sucked the poison from his wound but the wound left him very weak his uncle had followed in his tracks and soon came upon him but the arrowheaded one tired out because of his wound had little stomach for a fight and when his uncle entered the cave he pleaded with him not to kill him do not kill me he said I have a great store of goods hidden in the cave all and make you rich and I will never kill another person but his uncle resolved to put him to death because he had killed his mother and had so many notches on his spear so he killed him and dragged his body outside and burned it then he went home fear no longer he said to the villagers the arrowheaded one is dead but the evil that the bad Indian had done lived after him the four winds drove his ashes from the spot where his body was burned the ashes blew everywhere and were changed into the little black flies whose descendants today torment people in the summer in the northern woods of Canada and the bad Indians wickedness still lives in the black flies that came from his ashes End of Section 5 Recording by Sean Michael Hogan St. John's Newfoundland, Canada Section 6 of Canadian Wonder Tales This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Sean Michael Hogan Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus McMillan Section 6 The Mermaid of the Magdalens Far off the northeast coast of Canada is a group of rugged islands called the Magdalens They are a lonely barren group where grass and flowers and trees grow scantily They are the northern storms rage with their wildest fury and the sea breaks with its greatest force upon the bleak rocks numberless birds of strange cries and colours fly constantly about On days when the storm dashes the sea white angry against the coast even the thunder of the surf is almost shut out by the screaming of countless gulls and on clear days the sun is hidden when the birds rise in clouds from their nests The Isle of Birds the Jesuits called one of the islands when they first visited the group hundreds of years ago and it is an Isle of Birds still it is a wild and rock bound desolate land But although the islands are barren of grass and flowers and trees the waters around and between them are rich and fish The Kingdom of Fish, men call the place for adventurous traders grow wealthy there reaping the harvest of the sea The greatest product of the waters is the lobster He always inhabited these northern seas and about his power in olden times strange tales are told Away from the coast of one of the islands you can still see on fine moonlight days in May and also during the day once a year a maiden holding a glass in her hand combing her long hair and looking wistfully to the land Sometimes too on calm nights you can still hear her strange song above the murmur of the waves She is the phantom lady of the island over whom the lobster in faraway days used his power She is now a prisoner in the deep for her deeds Now it happened that long ago when fish were first canned for food there was a great slaughter of sardines the tiny fish of the sea by cruel money greedy traders who caught them, packed them in small boxes and shipped them to farer countries just as they do today These traders received large money rewards for their labor for people all over the world like the little fish and paid a high price for them The sardines saw their number slowly growing smaller for being little they were helpless against their captors and among all their family there was great sorrow In despair they asked the big fish of the sea to help them At last in answer to their appeal a meeting of all the fish in the sea was called Here the big fish took an oath to help their small cousins in their struggle with man and to punish when they could all who ate or fished the sardine family and the little fish rejoiced greatly One May day a large ship loaded with packed fish was wrecked on the sunken rocks of the Magdalene Islands Soon the ship was broken up by the heavy surf on the sharp reef and her cargo was strewn along the shore It happened that in the cargo were many boxes of sardines and they too were washed up on the beach by the tide In the evening after the sea had calmed a fair maiden who lived on the island with her father, a fish trader walked along the shore alone to view the broken ship She found to her delight one of the boxes in which the sardines were packed She resolved at once to eat the contents for she too, like all the world at that time like the little fish But although she tried as hard as she could she was unable to open the box She sat by the side of the sea and sang a song of lament calling on anyone who could to open the box for her She sang, I love sardines when they're boiled with beans and mixed with the sands of the sea Away out from the beach a skate fish was resting on a sandbar Hearing the song of the maiden he quickly swam towards the shore When he came close enough to hear the words of the song and to know what the box contained he swam away in great disgust for he was cousin to the sardines in the box and came from the same family tree as they But he was too timid to try to punish the maiden Then a bold merman heard the song He had long looked for a landwife home under the sea Now he said, here at last is a shore maiden for me, for the voice of the singer was beautiful to him So he went to his looking glass to dress himself in the most gentile fashion From bright clean seaweeds and sea leaves he quickly made himself a new suit, all green and yellow And he covered his feet with bright coloured shells and his neck with pearls which the oyster gave him and dressing himself carefully he hastened in the direction of the song But when he came close enough to hear the words and to know what the box contained he remembered his oath at the great gathering of the fish and although he loved the singer he swam hurriedly away for like the skatefish he too feared to try to punish the maiden The maiden was now sore distressed for it was growing late and the moon was already far up in the sky The box was still on opened and the girl was hungry for the fish Going to the edge of the sea The box hurried against a large rock that lay in the water hoping thereby to break it open But the box would not break Now a chance that under the rock a large black lobster lay sleeping quietly after a long battle with an enemy in the sea The tapping on the roof of his sleeping place awoke him and he rubbed his eyes and listened The maiden was again singing her song Oh I love sardines when they're boiled with beans and mixed with the sands of the sea Come, will nobody come and open this box for me Then the lobster remembered his oath at the great gathering of the fish Unlike the skatefish and the merman he had no fear of the maiden for he knew his power He determined to punish her and he resolved at once upon a crafty trick He came out of his hiding place and waving his claw politely he said, fair lady, I can open the box for you give it to me and let me try But when in answer he pulled out towards him in her hand he grasped her by the wrist with his strong claw and holding her fast he swam with her far out to sea Where he went and what he did with her, no man knows It is believed that he sold her to the merman who had long sought a shorewife and that she is still being slowly changed into a fish One thing is certain she never came back to land But on the first day of May she always appears on the water away from the coast of the island and if that day is fine and clear you can still always see her there She holds in her hand a looking glass in which in the sunlight she looks at herself to see if she is nearer to a fish than she was on May Day the year before when she last appeared in the sun and she is combing her long hair which is now covered with pearls and she looks with longing eyes to the shore in her old home and sometimes on moonlight nights in May when the wind is still calm the fisherman hear her strange sad song across the waters they know then that she is lonely and that she is singing her song to lure land comrades for company to her side and on these nights they stay on shore for they know that if they venture out to sea she will seize them and carry them off for playmates to her home of bright shells far under the sea End of Section 6 Recording by Sean Michael Hogan Section 7 of Canadian Wonder Tales This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus McMillan Section 7 The Boy and the Dancing Fairy Long ago two Indian boys lived in the Canadian forest with their parents One boy was much older and larger and stronger than the other He forced his little brother to do all the hard work about the place He stole from him all the good things his parents gave him and often he beat him until he cried with pain If the little boy told his parents of his brother's cruelty his brother beat him all the harder and the little boy found that it was more to his comfort not to complain But at last he could stand the cruelty no longer and he decided to run away from home So one morning he took his bow and arrows on an extra pair of moccasins and set out alone to seek his fortune and to find a kinder world Although the boy was small and young he could run very fast He could run so fast that when he shot an arrow from his bow he could outstrip the arrow in its flight So he ran along very quickly and when night came on he was very far from home He was lonely too for he thought of the bright warm campfires in the twilight at home and of his father and mother and he wished he was back again in his own soft bed He was frightened too by the strange noises and every sound startled him At last when he was about to cry in his loneliness an old man came along The man was very old but he had a kindly face all wrinkled and weather beaten and twinkling eyes that told of a merry heart Hello, he said to the boy Where are you from and where are you going? I have come a long way, said the boy and I am very tired and lonesome and far from home and I don't know where I am going I am looking for a pleasant land You look like a good boy, said the old man You say you have come a long way but I have come much farther than you and from a very pleasant place When I began my journey I was young like you I have never stopped and now you see that I am very old and bent and wrinkled while there is not a line in your face I have traveled a very long road the road of long life Then the boy said I want to go to the place you came from since it is pleasant but the old man answered you can never reach it it is the land of youth the childhood land men call it and those who leave it never go back it is a land of wonderful sights and sounds and dreams it can be reached only from the road on the other side you have passed that road and it is too late for you now to go back to it then they were silent for a long time the old man and wondered he saw that the old man's shoes were worn out from his long journey and that his feet were sore and weary so he gave him the extra pair of moccasins he carried the old man was very thankful he gave the boy a little box he had in his pocket and he said take this box you will find it will help you in times of need and it will be useful to you in your travels I am near the end of my journey and I shall need it no more you have a long journey before you the boy put the box in his pocket and lay down to sleep then the old man went on his way and the boy never saw him again the next morning before the boy began his day's journey he wondered what was in the box the old man had given him he took it out and opened it inside was a little man no bigger than his own thumb dancing as hard as he could as soon as the cover was opened and the light entered the box what do you want? the boy knew then that the old man had given him a little fairy to help him in his need he closed the box and answered I wish to be carried far away to a beautiful land where I can get a lovely girl for a comrade for I am very lonely at once darkness came upon him and he slept when he awoke he found he had been asleep but a few seconds but he was now in a large village in a beautiful land where many dreams where many birds were singing he came to a house on the border of the village and entered it inside was a very old woman she was the only person in the house when she saw the boy she began to cry he asked her why she was weeping she answered I know why you have come here I knew from a dream that you were coming you have come to seek a very lovely girl as your wife and comrade she lives in the village her father is very rich he asks that each man who seeks to win his daughter must do very hard and dangerous and impossible tasks if they fail they are put to death the girl has had many suitors but all have failed to do her father's tasks and all have been killed you too will fail and you will surely die then the old woman cried louder than before but the boy said I can do any task he sets for me he cannot kill me he knew that the dancing fairy would save him soon the boy went to the chief's house to ask him for his lovely daughter the chief told him the conditions on which she could be won he said that all her suitors had to try to do hard tasks if they failed they were put to death the suitor who succeeded should win his daughter the boy agreed to do as he wished the chief said the mountain before my house keeps me from seeing the sun in the mornings you must take it away before you can win my daughter if you fail you should be put to death the boy said he would take away the mountain that night but the chief did not think he could do it that night when all the village was asleep the boy went to the foot of the mountain it was a high granite hill with great trees growing on its top the boy took out his box and opened it the little fairy was dancing as hard as he could but when he saw the light he stopped and said what do you want you to take away this mountain before morning it shall be done said the little man then the boy closed the box and lay down and went to sleep he slept soundly all night when he awoke in the early morning the mountain was gone all around was only a level meadow the sun was too low in the eastern sky but all the village could see it when the chief awoke he wondered greatly he thought he had lost his daughter at last he decided to set another hard task for the boy to do soon the boy went to the chief to claim his bride but the chief said you must do another task for me not far away there is a village where my enemies live they have caused me great trouble you must destroy the village and drive all the people away before you can win my daughter if you fail to do it tonight you shall be put to death tomorrow the boy agreed to do as he wished and the chief thought the boy would surely be killed in making the attempt that night the boy set out for the distant village he ran very fast and soon reached the border of it then he took out his box and opened it the fairy stopped dancing and said what do you want I want you to destroy this village tonight and drive all the people away said the boy it shall be done said the fairy then the boy closed the box and went to sleep under a tree he slept soundly all night and in the morning when he awoke there was no village in sight all around him was silence not a sound of life came to him but the sounds of the forest the village had been destroyed in the night and all its people were now far away then the boy went back and told the chief that he had done the deed the chief sent a messenger to see if the boy spoke the truth and the messenger came back and said that the task had been done then the chief knew that he was beaten he knew that the boy had very great power he could not understand and he said you may take my lovely daughter so the boy took the girl as his wife and comrade the chief gave them a great lodge to live in and servants to wait on them and they were very happy but their happiness was soon ended for a time one day the boy went away with many others to hunt far in the forest he put on a hunting suit but he forgot to take his magic box along with him he left it behind in the pocket of his coat in the house was a wicked servant who wanted the boy's possessions for himself one day he had seen his master opening the box and talking to it he wondered what his master meant and what was in the box when his master had gone hunting the servant went to hang up his clothes he found the box in the coat pocket he took it out and opened it inside the little man was dancing as hard as he could when he saw the light he stopped and said what do you want the servant knew at last he had found the secret of his master's power what do you want me to do repeated the little man the man's servant said I want you at once to remove this house and all it contains to some place far away then he closed the box at once there was darkness and when light came again in a few seconds the house and all in it were far away in the depths of the forest the servant was very pleased soon the hunters came back they had taken much game when the boy came to where his home had been he found that his house was gone and his wife and servants and all his possessions were gone with it he knew at once what had happened but he knew how to overcome his wicked servant he took a magic bow and arrow that his mother had given him before he left his old home long before then he went out and shot his arrow into the woods he ran as fast as he could following the arrow he ran so fast that he could follow it in his flight and he kept under the arrow as it sped on and on when the arrow dropped far in the forest the boy stopped not far in front of him he saw his own house he hid among the trees until night came then he crept softly to the house there was not a sound everyone was asleep he went in and there sure enough was his coat hanging on a peg he slipped it on and in the pocket he found the magic box he opened it and there was the little man sitting as hard as he could when the cover was lifted the little man stopped and said, what do you want? the boy said, I want you at once to take this house and all it contains back to the village where it was before the little man said it shall be done then the boy went to sleep he awoke in the morning before the others were up and sure enough the house was back in the village then the boy asked the little man in the box to punish the wicked servant and the servant was sent far away to be a wanderer on the face of the earth and he wanders about to this day and he was always looking for something that never comes and he has always beautiful dreams that never come true after that the boy and his wife lived happily the boy never again left the box behind him he kept it always with him and when he wanted anything the little fairy always brought it to him soon the old chief died and the boy became chief in his place he traveled the road of long life over which the wrinkled old man had come when he grew old he asked the fairy in the box to bring him back to the land of youth but that was the one thing the dancing fairy could not do so at the end of the long road the old man disappeared over the hill and left his box behind him with the great deeds it had done End of Section 7 Recording by Sean Michael Hogan St. John's Newfoundland, Canada Section 8 of Canadian Wonder Tales This LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Sean Michael Hogan Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus McMillan Section 8 The Mouse and the Sun Long before the white men came to Canada and when the animals ruled the earth a little boy and his sister lived alone on the Canadian plains their father and mother died when the children were very young the children had no relations and they were left to look after themselves they lived many miles from other people indeed they had never seen any people but their parents they lived so far away the boy was very small he was no bigger than a baby the girl was large and strong and she had to provide food for both of them and do all the work in the house she had to take care of her little brother and she took him with her wherever she went so that no harm would come to him she made him a bow and a number of arrows with one day in winter she went out to gather wood for the fire she took her little brother with her she told him to hide while she walked farther on she said you will soon see a flock of snowbirds passing near you if you watch shoot one of them and bring it home the snow lay deep on the plains and many snowbirds were flying around looking for food the boy tried to shoot them but his aim was not good and he was unable to hit any of them when he came back to him he had no bird and he was very much ashamed but his sister said never mind do not be discouraged you will have better luck tomorrow the next day the girl took her brother with her again when she went to gather wood she left him behind at the place where he had hidden himself the day before again the snowbirds came flying past searching for food the boy shot several arrows at them and at last he killed one when his sister came back to him he showed her the bird he was pleased with his success and he said I shall try to kill one each day you must skin them and when we have enough skins I shall make a coat from them and his sister promised to do as he wished each day the boy went with his sister and waited for the snowbirds to fly past and each day he killed one and took it home they skinned the birds and dried the skins soon the boy had enough bird skins to make a coat for he was very small a few bird skins he made his coat his sister sewed the skins together and the boy put on the coat he was very proud of it one day the boy said to his sister sister we are all alone in the world we have never seen any other people except her father and mother are there any other people on the earth his sister told him that she had heard from her mother that other people lived far away to the east beyond the mists of the prairie and that others from whom his mother had come beyond the distant hills the boy said I should like to see my mother's people if they are anywhere on the earth so one day when his sister was away he put on his bird skin coat and took his bow and arrows and set out toward the distant hills to see if he could find his mother's people it was springtime in the north country the sun had melted the snow and little streams were flowing and little blades of grass had begun to peep above the ground but the earth was soft and wet it was hot and warm winds blew over the plains the boy walked for a long time by the time the sun was high up in the sky he was very tired for he was very small he came to a dry knoll and laid down to rest soon he fell asleep as he slept the sun beat down upon him it was so hot that it singed his bird skin coat then the coat shrank and shrank in the heat until it was only a small patch on his back when he awoke and stretched himself he burst his coat in many places it had grown so tight he was very cross when he saw how the sun had ruined his coat he shook his fist at the sun and said I will have vengeance you need not think you are too high to escape me I will punish you yet he decided that without his coat he could not go any farther to seek his mother's people and at evening he returned home when he reached home he showed his sister his ruined coat he was very sad and for weeks he would scarcely eat a bite at all the time he spoke bitterly of the sun his sister tried to comfort him she told him that next winter when the snowbirds came flying south again he could kill more of them and she would make him another coat but for a long time he would not be comforted at last he roused himself he asked his sister to make him a snare for he was going to catch the sun she made him a snare from a buffalo hide cord but he told her that it would not do then she cut off some of her long black hair and from it she made a braided noose the boy said that it would do very well then he set out to catch the sun he travelled many days until he came to the great water in the east it was summer in the north country and the sun rose early the boy placed his snare just where the sun would strike the land when he rose at dawn out of the sea and he watched from a distance sure enough in the morning just as the sun rose out of the sea and came above the earth he was caught in the snare and held fast the sun could not rise he was held fast to the earth the boy was quite pleased with the success now he said I have punished the sun for ruining my bird skin coat and he returned to his home on the plains that day there was no light upon the earth it was twilight in all the land the animals were in great fear and wonder to their nests and only the owl came out to look for food at last the animals and the birds called a council to see what they could do they found that the sun was tied to the earth by a snare they decided that someone must go up close to the sun and cut the cord that held him it was a very dangerous task for the heat was very great and anyone who tried to cut the cord would perhaps be burned to death so they drew lots to see who should go the lot fell to woodpecker and woodpecker went up and picked at the cord with his bill he tried hard to cut it but it was a strong braid of woman's hair and it could not be cut easily woodpecker picked and picked at it for a long time at last his head was so badly burned that he could stand the heat no longer and he had to fly away without cutting the cord his head was red from the great heat and ever since poor woodpecker has had a red head because the sun singed him when he tried to set him free then the animals called for a volunteer to undertake the task of cutting the snare mouse was at that time the largest and strongest animal in the world and he thought that because of his great strength it was his duty to attempt the hard and dangerous task so he set out when he reached the snare he tried to cut the cord with his teeth but the cord was strong and could not be cut easily the heat was very great mouse would have run away but he was so big and strong that he was ashamed to leave the task for he thought that the smaller animals would laugh at him so he stuck to his work and sawed the cord with his teeth one hair at a time soon his back began to burn and scorch and smoke but he stuck to his task then he began to melt away because of the great heat and the whole top of his body was burned to ashes but still he stuck to his task for a long time cutting hair after hair finally he cut the last hair the snare parted and the sun was at last free to continue his day's journey and give light to the world and the animals and birds rejoiced greatly over the success of mouse but poor mouse had melted almost entirely away in the great heat when he went up to the snare he was the largest animal in the world when he came down he was the smallest and his back was burned to ashes and ever since mouse has been the smallest animal in the world his coat has always been the colour of grey ashes because he was scorched when freeing the sun from a snare in the old days End of Section 8 Recording by Sean Michael Hogan St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada Section 9 of Canadian Wonder Tales this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Canadian Wonder Tales Section 9 Gluccaps Country In far back times many centuries before the white men came from Europe to live in the New World Eastern Canada was inhabited by Indians they were a mighty race great in size and strong in battle their descendants live in certain of these parts still dwelling in settlements of their own apart from the white folk you may still see them in their strange tents or wigwams making arrows and baskets and garden seats some of them are still fleet of foot and can run many miles without tiring but their real greatness has long since gone they have grown smaller in size and they are no longer powerful as in the old days in early times they were called the children of light for of all the people in America they dwelt nearest to the sunrise their great lord and creator was Gluccap where he was himself born and when no man knows from the place of his birth he sailed across the sea in a great stone canoe to the part of America nearest to the rising sun he landed on the eastern shores of Canada far out he anchored his canoe and it was so large that it became an island and great trees grew upon it when he needed it it was always ready to do his bidding but it always became an island when it was not in use on the shore of the Atlantic ocean Gluccap dwelt many years ages and ages until one day he sailed away to the hunting grounds of his fathers far over the sea about Gluccap's work strange tales are told from his birth and throughout his long life his deeds were very wonderful he was one of twin brothers the other being wolf the son of wickedness Gluccap was the son of goodness their mother died at their birth and the two children were left alone both had magic power which could keep them from harm and death could not come to them except in one way Gluccap could be killed only by a flowering rush and wolf only by a fern root and each alone knew the secret of his own death now it was known before Gluccap's birth that he should become the lord of the land of the rising sun in Canada but beaver and squirrel who were great in those days and even before his coming were jealous of his power when he arrived for they themselves wished to rule the land they tempted wolf to kill his brother and he being the son of wickedness would have been glad of the chance but he did not know the secret of his brother's death one night of bright starlight beaver hiding stealthily among the trees as was his custom heard Gluccap boasting to the stars about his charmed life he could trust the stars and he told them that he could be killed only by means of a flowering rush then beaver hurried away to wolf he told him that he knew the secret of Gluccap's death and that he would tell it if wolf would give him what he wished to this wolf agreed and beaver told him what he had heard Gluccap say to the stars what do you want in return for the secret asked wolf wings like a pigeon answered beaver but wolf said you have a tail like a file what could you do with wings like a pigeon and he laughed at him scornfully and would not grant him his wish as he had promised there upon beaver was very cross and resolved to have vengeance on wolf he went quickly to Gluccap and told him that wolf knew the secret of his death and that he had better be on his guard the next night Gluccap hid himself among the trees near to wolf's tent he heard wolf boasting to the stars about his charmed life and telling them the secret of his death that he could be killed only by a fern root and Gluccap fearing for his own life for he had no faith in the love of wolf the son of wickedness at once slew his brother with a fern root then he changed him into a mountain where he sleeps to this day like a huge hill Gluccap then ruled the country alone but soon he grew lonely without companions and he decided to people his land he first made the fairies and the elves and sent them to dwell in the meadows and tiny streams and among the hills and caves then he took his bow and arrows and for many days he shot at the ash trees in the forest and out of the bark of the trees at which he shot there came first men whom he called Indians the children of light then came the animals all that had not before lived in his land and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea and he gave them each a name at first all the animals were very large so large that the head of the deer could touch the tops of the tallest pines even squirrel could tear down the largest trees in the forest one day Gluccap called all the animals to him to learn if they were friendly to his people and he said to Bear what would you do if you should meet a man and Bear answered I should eat him up and Gluccap sent Bear away to the Northland far from the dwellings of men to live on fish from the frozen sea and he said to Squirrel what would you do if you should meet a man and Squirrel answered I should tear down trees on his head and Gluccap fearing for his men because of the strength of the animals decided to make the animals smaller so he took Squirrel and smoothed his back with his hand for a whole day until he became very small as he is now and he made him carry his tail on his back that he might thereby use up some of his strength but Squirrel still scratches as in the old days Gluccap made all the animals smaller and weaker than when they were first created he gave his people power over them so that the greatest and strongest of all his creatures was man the animals became his friends and the friends of his people they could talk like men and they often spoke to them and they were eager to obey Gluccap and to help him in his work two great wolves became his dogs he could change their size and make them kind or cruel as he will they guarded his tent by day and night and always followed him about even swimming behind him when he went far away over the sea the loons of the beach became his messengers and one of them, Old Tatler became his chief tail-bearer they always brought him news from other lands over the water and they also kept him well informed about the deeds of his own people telling him who were good and who were evil Fox too brought him tales from places deep in the forest and was one of his most trusted friends the rabbits became the guides of men one of them, Old Bunny was his scout of the woods and those who followed him never lost their way the partridge built boats for men and animals until because of the bird's stupidity Gluccap took away his power the whale became his carrier and Old Blob the whale came quickly to his call and carried him on her back and he wished to go far over the sea the great eagle made the winds for him when she moved her wings the winds blew she could make them great or gentle as Gluccap commanded and when Gluccap tied her wings the winds were still each animal and bird had special work to do Gluccap's only enemies were beaver and badger and bullfrog these always plotted against him and tried to destroy his power by stirring up strife among his people he would be patient with them no longer and he resolved to drive beaver away one day when beaver watched him from a distance Gluccap scooped up great handfuls of earth and stones and threw them in anger at his enemy and beaver in great fear because of Gluccap's great power fled far away the earth that Gluccap threw fell into the ocean and became islands the spot from which Gluccap had taken the earth became a beautiful bay to the shores of this bay Gluccap moved his tent there until he left the earth when beaver went away he built a dam from a high place on the south to the shore on the north and he thought to live there in comfort but the dam caused the high tides of the sea to overflow the valley and it was a constant source of trouble and fear to the people who lived near it there upon Gluccap in anger one day broke the dam and pushed part of it out into the sea the broken part which he moved out became a cape stretching into the ocean and there you may see it to this day then beaver knowing that Gluccap was more powerful than he troubled him openly no more but frequently by stealth he tried to do him harm when bullfrog was first created he was given power over all the fresh water streams in the land he dwelt in the stream from which Gluccap's people took water for their use for drinking and cooking but he too proved false to Gluccap and grew vain of his own great power once that he might show his skill and win a great reputation among men he dried up the water in the stream until only the mud remained the people thirsted without fresh water and were much distressed and at last they complained to Gluccap Gluccap told them not to worry for he would soon set things right that he might make sure of bullfrog's treachery he went himself to the bank of the stream and there he asked a boy to bring him water to drink the boy searched for water for a whole day while Gluccap sat on a log and silently smoked his pipe at last the boy came back bringing only a small cup no larger than a thimble filled with dirty water and said it was all the water he could get Gluccap knew then that his people had told him the truth about bullfrog's wickedness in great anger he went himself to the mud where bullfrog dwelt and asked for water but bullfrog stubbornly refused to let the water come forth then Gluccap grasped bullfrog with a mighty grip and squeezed him tight until he crumbled his back and made him soft with great force he hurled him far out into the mud and said, henceforth you shall live in dirty water and you shall always croak with a dry throat as a punishment for your sins then with his own magic power he brought forth water so that the stream flowed again and the people all rejoiced he promised that never again should any creature have power to dry up the streams and since that time bullfrog has lived in muddy pools he still croaks for his throat is always dry and to this day his back is wrinkled and crumpled and bears the marks of Gluccap's mighty fingers and since that day the supply of clear fresh water has never failed in the country and the streams have never dried up Gluccap was always kind to his people he taught the men how to hunt and how to build huts and canoes he taught them what plants were good to eat and he told them the names of all the stars but he did not dwell among his men he dwelt apart from them in a great tent but when they sought him they always found him he never married as they did they dwelt with him as his housekeeper a very wise old woman her name was Dame Bear but Gluccap called her always grandmother with him too there lived a little boy whom Gluccap always called little brother and Gluccap gave him a magic root from the forest by the use of which he could change his shape into various forms whether or not Dame Bear was really his grandmother or the little boy his brother no man knows but both lived with him until his death Gluccap and Dame Bear and the little boy lived together for many ages Gluccap had a magic belt which gave him power over sickness and hunger and danger and death and anyone on whom it was placed was given the same strange power and while Gluccap was with them his people lived very happily they never wanted for food or clothing for Gluccap was kind to his people and wished them to be contented and at peace when Gluccap first created the animals in Canada he took good care that they should all be friendly to himself and to his people they could all talk like men and like them they had one common speech each had a special duty to do for Gluccap and each did his best to help him in his work of all the animals the gentlest and most faithful was Bunny the Rabbit now in those first days of his life Rabbit was a very beautiful animal more beautiful than he is today he had a very long bushy tail like a fox he always wore a thick brown coat his body was large and round and sleek his legs were straight and strong he walked and ran like other animals and did not hop and jump about as he does now he was always very polite and kind of heart because of his beauty and his good qualities Gluccap chose him as his forest guide his scout of the woods he gave him power that enabled him to know well all the land so that he could lead people and all the other animals wherever they wished to go without losing their way one day in the springtime a chance that Bunny sat alone on a log in the forest his long bushy tail trailing far behind him he had just come back from a long scouting tour and he was very tired as he sat resting in the sun and Indian came along the Indian was weary and stained with much travel and he looked like a wayfarer who had come far he threw himself on the ground close to the log on which rabbit sat and began to weep bitterly Bunny with his usual kindness asked why do you weep? and the man answered I have lost my way in the forest I am on my way to marry this afternoon a beautiful girl whom her father pledged to me long ago she is loved by a wicked forest fairy and I have heard that perhaps she loves him and I know that if I am late she will refuse to wait for me to marry him instead but rabbit said have no fear I am Bunny, Glooscap's forest guide I will show you the way and bring you to the wedding in good time the man was comforted and his spirits rose and they talked some time together and became good friends when the man had somewhat got back his strength they began their journey to the wedding but rabbit being nimblefoot had ran fast and was soon so far in advance of his companion that he was lost to view the man followed slowly catching here and there through the green trees a glimpse of his guide's brown coat as he stumbled along thinking of his troubles he fell into a deep pit that lay close to the forest path he was too weak to climb out and he called loudly for help Bunny soon missed his follower but he heard the man's yells and turning about he ran back to the pit have no fear said rabbit as he looked over the edge I will get you out without mishap then turning his back to the pit he let his long bushy tail hang to the bottom catch hold of my tail he ordered hold on tight and I will pull you out the man did as he was told rabbit sprang forward but as he jumped the weight of the man who was very heavy was more than he could bear and poor Bunny's tail broke off within an inch of the root the man fell back into the pit with a thud holding in his hand poor rabbit's tail but Bunny in all his work as a guide had never known defeat never meant not to know it now holding to a strong tree with his front feet he put his hind legs into the pit and said to the man take hold of my legs and hang on tight the man did as he was told then rabbit pulled and pulled until his hind legs stretched and he feared that they too would break off but although the weight on them was great he finally pulled the man out after great difficulty he found to his dismay that his hind legs had lengthened greatly because of their heavy load he was no longer able to walk straight but he now had to hop along with a strange jumping-gate even his body was much stretched and his waist had become very slender because of his long heavy pull the two travellers then went on their way Bunny hopping along and the man moving more cautiously finally they reached the end of their journey the people were all gathered for the wedding and eagerly awaiting the coming of the bridegroom sure enough the forest fairy was there trying by his tricks to win the girl for himself but the man was in good time and he married the maiden as he had hoped as he was very thankful to Bunny he asked him to the marriage dance and told him he might dance with the bride so rabbit put rings on his heels and a bangle around his neck after his usual custom at weddings and joined the merry-makers through the forest green where they danced many tiny streams were flowing and to the soft music of these the dance went on the bride jumped across one of these streams during her dance with Bunny she accidentally let the end of her dress drop into the water so that it got very wet when she moved again into the sun her dress because of its wetting shrank and shrank until it reached her knees and made her much ashamed but rabbit's heart was touched as usual by her plight he ran quickly and got a deerskin that he knew to be hidden in the trees not far away and he wrapped the pretty skin around the bride then he twisted a cord with which to tie it on he held one end of the cord in his teeth and twisted the other end with his front paws but in his haste he held it so tight and twisted it so hard that when a couple waltzing past carelessly bumped into him the cord split his upper lip right up to the nose but rabbit was not dismayed by his split lip he fastened on the bride's new deerskin gown and then he danced all the evening until the moon was far up in the sky before he went away the man and his bride wanted to pay him for his work but he would not take payment then the bride gave him a new white fur coat and said, in winter wear this white coat it is the color of snow your enemies cannot then see you so plainly against the white ground and they cannot so easily do you harm but in summer wear your old brown coat the color of the leaves and grass and bunny gratefully took the coat and went his way he lingered many days in the new country for he was ashamed to go back to his own people with his changed appearance his lip was split, his tail was gone and his hind legs were stretched and crooked finally he mustered up his courage and returned home his old friends wondered much at his changed looks and some of them were cruel enough to laugh at him but bunny deceived them all when they asked him where he had been so long he answered, I guided a man to a far-off land which you have never seen and of which you have never heard then he told the many strange tales of its beauty and its good people how did you lose your fine tail, they asked and he answered, in the land to which I have been the animals wear no tales it is an aristocratic country and wishing to be in the fashion I cut mine off and why is your waist so slender, they asked oh, replied bunny, in that country it is not the fashion to be fat and I took great trouble to make my waist slight and willowy why do you hop about, they asked when you once walked so straight in that land, answered bunny it is not gentile to walk straight only the vulgar and untrained do that the best people have a walk of their own and it took me many days under a good walking teacher to learn it but how did you split your upper lip, they asked finally in the land to which I have been, said bunny the people do not eat as we do there they eat with knives and forks and not with their paws I found it hard to get used to their new ways one day I put food in my mouth with my knife a very vulgar act in that land and my knife slipped and cut my lip and the wound has never healed and being deceived and envying bunny because of the wonders he had seen they asked him no more questions but the descendants of rabbit to this day wear a white coat in winter and a brown one in summer they have also a split upper lip their waist is still very slender they have no tail their hind legs are longer than their front ones they hop and jump nimbly about but they are unable to walk straight and all these strange things are a result of old bunny's accident at the man's wedding long ago End of Section 10 Recording by Sean Michael Hogan St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada Section 11 of Canadian Wonder Tales this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus McMillan Section 11, The Partridge and His Drum In far back times when only Indians dwelt in Canada Glooscap who was lord and master of the tribes chose Partridge from among all his creatures to be the boat builder for the birds of the sea Partridge was then a very wonderful bird very different from what he is today he dwelt always along the ocean shore on the banks of great rivers and he could swim like a duck or a gull he could change his shape to that of a man he knew all the country well and often he wandered far through the woods looking for good trees from which to build his boats among all the people he was held in high regard because of his skill he was always industrious and always busy and at all hours of the day and late into the night he could be heard hammering at his canoes making a sound like a man tapping quickly on a drum but he lost his reputation through no fault of his own he no longer builds boats the power to make the strange sound of his hammering is all that remains with him of his former greatness it happened that one very cold day Partridge walked alone over the snow in the deep forest near the shore of a great lake looking for lumber for his boats on the bank of a stream he saw four beautiful maidens sitting on the ice braiding their long hair he knew that they were the nymphs or fairies of the stream and he watched them from behind a tree he had long desired to win a stream fairy for his bride but up to that time he had found it an impossible task for the fairies were very timid as he watched them now he thought to himself perhaps I can catch one of them and carry her off so he stealthily slipped from behind the tree and crept along towards the bank but the water nymphs who could hear the smallest sound heard his footsteps and looking around they spied him among the trees oh oh they all cried and at once they all dropped into the icy water and disappeared now Partridge being then a river-dweller and a very great strength was a good fisherman many a time he had caught the slippery harbour seals and often he had dined plentifully on their meat he hid upon a crafty trick by which to seize a nymph he cut a number of branches from a spruce tree and sticking them up right in the snow on the shore he hid behind them and waited for the nymphs to appear again sure enough they soon came back and sat again upon the ice braiding their long hair Partridge put his head over the boughs to take a peep at them so that he might pick out the most beautiful but again they saw him and with the same frightened cry he came back into the sea after them went Partridge although he knew that the water was very cold he caught one but she slipped from his arms and when he came to the surface he had only her hair ribbon in his hand now in those old days water nymphs in this part of the sea could not live long without their hair ribbons for the ribbons contained always much of their magic power Partridge knew this and he knew too that sooner or later the nymph would wander about on land so he put the ribbon in his pocket and with a light heart he went about his business of seeking wood for his boats that night when he went back to his tent he hid the ribbon not far from his hand in hope of the fairies visit then pretending to sleep he closed his eyes and waited he had not been there long when there came in very softly the beautiful water nymph in search of her lost ribbon now when a water nymph sets foot in the dwelling of man or animal with her ribbon she is always powerless this Partridge knew well he sprang quickly from his couch caught her with little trouble and easily persuaded her to remain with him as his wife this was against Glooscap's orders for Glooscap knew that if one of his people married a water nymph no good could come of it but Glooscap said nothing Partridge and his nymph wife lived happily enough for a time but he always feared for her safety when he went far away looking for lumber for his boats for many evil creatures were always about in the forest and he always said to her before he went away keep the doors tightly barred while I am gone for many wicked people and robbers prowl through the woods and they will try to enter the tent perhaps to kill you and she always promised to be on her guard one day Partridge went far away in search of lumber for a new fleet of boats he was then building in the afternoon he came to a grove with all cedar trees he wished to examine it carefully and his night was coming on for winter nights come early in the Canadian woods he decided to stay there until the next day so as the day went down he made a bed of boughs and went to sleep he had no fear for his wife's safety for she had promised to keep the doors barred meanwhile his wife waited at home for his coming when the stars came out she knew that he would not come home that night so she went to bed first seeing that the doors were securely fastened she felt very lonely all by herself in the big tent for Partridge because of the troublesome noise of his boat building dwelt a good distance away from his neighbours at midnight she was awakened by a loud knocking at the door open the door, said a voice outside I am cold and hungry and I have come far but mindful of the warning of Partridge the nymph wife paid no heed to the call now the voice was that of a wicked sorcerer who always prowled through the forest and who knew that Partridge was away he wished to kill and eat the nymph he was a very clever and sly fellow and he could imitate the voices of all men and animals to lure people to their death for a long time after his first call he was silent then he knocked again and imitated the voice of the nymph's brothers and sisters and said, oh sister we have followed you for a long time until at last we have found you, open the door to us but still the nymph was suspicious and refused to unborrow the door then the sorcerer imitated her father's voice and called her daughter but still she would not let him in at last he talked like her mother and said, oh daughter open the door I have come far in search of you and I am very cold and hungry and tired the nymph wife was deceived at last for she thought the voice was that of her old mother from the stream hastily she opened the door at once the wicked sorcerer the evil spirit of the woods pounced upon her and killing her to blow he greedily devoured her like a wolf until not a bone was left the next morning partridge came home he found the door of his house open and his wife absent he wondered greatly for he remembered her promise and he could not believe that she had been killed so he resolved to use his magic power to learn where she had gone he took his magic wooden plate and filled it with water and placed it in a corner of the tent while he slept when he awoke the dish was full not of water but of blood and he knew from this sign that his wife had been killed by the sorcerer he determined to punish her slayer and taking his axe and his bow and arrows and his magic charm he left his work and set out in pursuit of the sorcerer he knew that the sorcerers travelled in pairs they had many tricks by which to escape punishment and that they could take on various shapes so he went along cautiously by evening he reached a great lone land in the far north where he thought he found traces of two of the evil ones he came to a large cave which he entered intending to pass the night there from a huge rock at the side of the cave a man's foot was sticking he knew that here was one of the sorcerers who had gone into the rock to sleep as was their custom he was sticking out so that his comrade could pull him out when he had slept long enough the partridge quickly cut off the foot close to the rock and there the sorcerer was left closed up forever in the stone there the rock remains to this day just as partridge finished the cutting the sorcerer's companion came in and partridge knew for he had seen him often about his tent that here at last was the murderer of his wife when the sorcerer saw no foot sticking from the rock he knew at once he had never locked up in the stone and he became very angry then he saw partridge whom he knew to be his brother's slayer but giving no sign of his knowledge he received him kindly he bolted the door of the cave and then made a great fire thinking to roast partridge alive and thereby have a good meal but partridge used his magic charm against heat and helped the sorcerer to pile more wood on the fire saying that he was very cold until at last its sides became red and the flames shot high to the roof and even before he knew it the sorcerer was overcome by the great heat partridge threw him onto the fire where he was quickly burned to cinders then well pleased with his vengeance he returned quickly to his home but from that day poor partridge was never himself again he sorrowed greatly for his dead nymph wife until he became stupid and could not do his work well but he went faithfully about his duties finishing the great fleet of boats for the birds and animals finally came the day when all were to be launched and Glooscap and all his people gathered to see the fleet go by it was a very wonderful sight on a great inland sea the eagle had a large canoe which he paddled with the ends of his wings all the birds of the sea and the river had very wonderful boats the crane and the duck the snipe and the curlew the plover and the gull and the fisher and the boats were all of different colours each colour the same as that of the bird for whom the boat was made all the birds were supplied with boats even the hummingbird had a tiny canoe of many wonderful colours and he had a little paddle not larger than a small pin partridge's own canoe was the last to be launched the people all watched for it in patience and eagerness for they thought that because he had built such wonderful boats for the other birds he had made one for himself now partridge had built his own canoe last while he soared for his dead wife his brain had been muddled by his great grief he reasoned foolishly that since a boat with two ends could be rowed in two directions a boat with no ends at all could be rowed in all directions so he made his own boat round like a saucer but when it was launched and he tried to paddle it he made no headway for it turned round and round all the people and the birds when they saw it laughed heartily at him and called him fool then poor partridge's grief was increased he knew that he had forever lost his reputation as a boat builder among the birds of the sea he had no wish to dwell longer among them and he decided to leave them forever so he flew far away into the forest and since that time he has never been seen upon the shore of the sea nor near a river or a lake he stays on land far in the deep woods and he has forgotten even how to fish and how to swim but he still keeps one remnant of his old life he still makes a drumming noise as if he is hammering a canoe and deep in the forest you can still hear his strange sound you know then that he is mindful of old times when he built boats upon the shore and all day long and far into the night tapped lightly with his hammer end of section 11 by Michael Hogan St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada section 12 of Canadian Wonder Tales this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus McMillan section 12 how summer came to Canada once during Glooscap's lifetime and rain in Canada it grew very cold everywhere there was snow and ice and in all the land there was not a flower nor a leaf left alive the Indians built could not bring warmth the food supply was slowly eaten up and the people were unable to grow more corn because of the hard frozen ground great numbers of men and women and children died daily from cold and hunger and it seemed as if the whole land must soon perish over this extreme cold Glooscap had no power he tried all his magic but it was of no avail for the cold was caused by a powerful giant who came into the land from the far north to bring famine and death as his helpers even with his breath he could blight and wither the trees so that they brought forth no leaves nor fruit and he could destroy the corn and kill man and beast the giant's name was Winter he was very old and very strong and he had ruled in the far north long before the coming of man Glooscap being brave and wishing to help his people in their need went alone to the giant's tent to try to coax or bribe and to go away but even he with all his magic power at once fell in love with the giant's home for in the sunlight it sparkled like crystal and was of many wonderful colors but in the night during the moonlight it was spotlessly white from the tent when Glooscap looked out the face of the earth was beautiful the trees had a covering of snow that gave them strange fantastic shapes the sky was filled by night with flashing quivering lights with new brightness the forest too was full of mysterious noises Glooscap soon forgot his people amid his new surroundings the giant told him tales of olden times when all the land was silent and white and beautiful like his sparkling tent after a time the giant used his charm of slumber and inaction until Glooscap fell asleep for the charm was the charm of the frost for six months he slept like a bear then he awoke he was very strong and winter could not kill him even in his sleep but when he arose he was hungry and very tired one day soon after he awoke his tail bearer Tatler the loon brought him good news he told of a wonderful south land far away where it was always warm and where lived a queen who could easily overcome the giant indeed she was the only one on earth whose power the giant feared loon described carefully the road to the new country Glooscap to save his people from winter and famine and death decided to go to the south land and find the queen so he went to the sea miles away and sang the magic song that the whales obeyed his old friend blob the whale came quickly to his call and getting on her back he sailed away now the whale always had a strange law for travelers she said to Glooscap to open them as dangerous for if you do I will surely go aground or a sandbar and cannot get off and you may then be drowned and Glooscap promised to keep his eyes shut many days the whale swam and each day the water grew warmer and the air grew gentler and sweeter for it came from spicy shores and the smells were no longer those of the salt sea but of fruits and flowers and pines soon they saw in the sky by night the southern cross they found too that they were no longer in the deep sea but in shallow water flowing warm over yellow sands and that land lay not far ahead blob the whale now swam more cautiously down in the sand the clams were singing a song of warning telling travelers in these strange waters of the treacherous sandbar beneath oh big whale they sang keep out to sea for the water here is shallow and you shall come to grief if you keep on to shore but the whale did not understand the language of the little clams and she said to Glooscap who understood what do they sing but Glooscap wishing to land at once answered they tell you to hurry for a storm is coming to hurry along as fast as you can then the whale hurried until she was soon close to the land Glooscap wishing the whale to go aground so that he could more easily walk ashore opened his left eye and peeped which was contrary to the whales laws and at once the whale stuck hard and fast on the beach so that Glooscap springing from her head walked ashore on dry land the whale thinking that she could never get off was very angry and sang a song of lament and blame but Glooscap put one end of his strong bow against the whale's jaw and taking the other end in his hands he placed his feet against the high bank and with a mighty push he sent old blob again into the deep water then to keep the whale's friendship he threw her an old pipe and a bag of Indian tobacco leaves for Glooscap was a great smoker and the whale greatly pleased with the gift lighted the pipe and smoking it swam far out to sea Glooscap watched her disappear from view until he could see only clouds of her smoke against the sky and to this day the whale has Glooscap's old pipe and sailors often see her rise to the surface to smoke it in peace and to blow rings of tobacco smoke into the air when the whale had gone Glooscap walked with great strides far inland soon he found the way of which Loon had told him it was the rainbow road that led to the wilderness of flowers it lay through the land of the sunrise beautiful and fresh in the morning light on each side were sweet magnolias and palms at all kinds of trees and flowers the grass was soft and velvety for by night the dew was always on it and snow and hail were unknown and winds never blew coldly for here the charm of the frost had no power Glooscap went quickly along the flower-lined rainbow road until he came to an orange grove where the air was sweet with the scent of blossoms soon he heard sounds of music he peered through the trees and saw that the sounds came from an open space not far ahead where the grass was soft and where tiny streams were flowing and making melody it was lilac time in the land and around the open space all kinds of flowers in the world were blooming on the trees, numberless birds were singing birds of wonderfully colored feathers such as Glooscap had never heard or seen before he knew that he had reached at last the wilderness of flowers of which old tatler the loon had spoken he drew deep breaths of honey-suckle and heliotrope and countless other flowers until he soon grew strong again after his long voyage then he crept close to the edge of the open space and looked in from behind the trees on the flower-covered grass within many fair maidens were singing and dancing holding in their hands chains of blossoms like children in a maypole game in the center of the group was one fairer than all the others the most beautiful creature he had ever seen her long brown hair crowned with flowers and her arms filled with blossoms for some time Glooscap gazed in silence for he was too surprised to move or to utter speech then he saw at his side an old woman wrinkled and faded but still beautiful like himself watching the dance he found his voice and asked who are those maidens in the wilderness of flowers and the old woman answered the maiden in the center of the group is the fairy queen her name is Summer she is the daughter of the Rosie Dawn the most beautiful ever born the maids dancing with her are her children the fairies of light and sunshine and flowers Glooscap knew that here at last was the queen who by her charms could melt old winter's heart and force him to go away for she was very beautiful and good with his magic song he lured her from her children into the dark forest there he seized her and held her fast by a crafty trick then with her as a companion he began his long return journey north by land that he might know the way back to the wilderness of flowers he cut a large moose hide which he always carried into a long slender cord and as he ran north with Summer he let the cord unwind behind him for he had no time to mark the trail in the usual way when they had gone Summer's children mourned greatly for their queen for weeks the tears ran down their cheeks like rain on all the land and for a long time old Dawn the queen's mother covered herself with dark mourning clouds and refused to be bright after many days still holding Summer in his bosom for she loved him because of his magic power Glooscap reached the Northland he found none of his people for they were all asleep under the giant's power and the whole country was cold and lonely at last he came to the home of Old Winter the giant welcomed him and the beautiful girl for he hoped to freeze them both and keep them with him always for some time they talked together in the tent but although he tried hard the giant was unable to put them to sleep soon Old Winter felt that his power had vanished and that the charm of the frost was broken large drops of sweat ran down his face then his tent slowly disappeared and he was left homeless Summer used her strange power until everything that Winter had put to sleep awoke again buds came again upon the trees the snow ran down the rivers carrying away the dead leaves and the grass and the corn sprang up with new life and Old Winter, being sorrowful, wept for he knew that his reign was ended and his tears were like cold rain Summer, the queen, seeing him mourn and wishing to stop his tears, said I have proved that I am more powerful than you I give you now all the country to the far north for your own and there I shall never disturb you you may come back to Glooscap's country six months of every year and reign as of old, but you will be less severe during the other six months I myself will come from the south and rule the land Old Winter could do nothing but accept this offer gracefully for he feared that if he did not he would melt entirely away so he built a new home farther north and there he reigns without interruption in the late autumn he comes back to Glooscap's country and reigns for six months but his rule is softer than in olden times and when he comes, Summer, following Glooscap's moose hide cord runs home with her birds to the wilderness of flowers but at the end of six months he always comes back to drive Old Winter away to his own land to awaken the northern world and to bring it the joys that only she, the queen, can give and so in Glooscap's old country, Winter and Summer the hoary old giant and the beautiful fairy queen divide the rule of the land between them End of Section 12 Recording by Sean Michael Hogan, St. John's Newfoundland