46 THE SUMMER-MAKER

I

Once upon a time there was only one season in the whole year, and that season was winter.

Years and years went by, but it was always cold. Snow covered the ground, and ice covered the rivers. The trees were always bare. There were no leaves to dance and to play in the wind. There were no birds to sing, and no sweet flowers to bloom.

Ojeeg was a little Indian boy who lived in this land of snow. Big Hunter was his father.

Big Hunter did not mind the cold. He often went hunting and brought home a deer or a bear, to make a feast for his friends and for little Ojeeg.

Now, Ojeeg loved to hunt, too. He had a little bow and arrow, and often went out to hunt for food.

But he never could go far. He was a very little boy, and his small fingers always got numb with the cold. Then he could not use the bow and arrow, so he had to go back to the wigwam.

He often cried because he had brought back no food. All the big Indian boys laughed because Ojeeg could not keep his little hands warm.

Ojeeg got very tired of this. One day he said to himself, “I am going to ask my father to make summer.

“Grandmother told me all about summer. She says father can use magic and can make summer if he will. Then I can stay out of doors all day. I can learn to be a big hunter.”

That night Big Hunter came back to the wigwam with a fine bear.

Little Ojeeg went to meet his father. His eyes were full of tears.

“Father, help me, ”he said, “I am tired of the cold and the snow. It makes my fingers so numb that I can not hold the bow and arrow.

“I want to hunt all day long, as you do. I want to bring home food for my mother.”

His father smiled, for he was very fond of his little son.

“How can I help you? ”he said, “You must learn to wait. You will grow, and your hands will get big and strong. Then they will not get so cold.”

“I do not want to wait, ”said little Ojeeg, “I want you to make summer. Grandmother says you can. Do make summer, for me. Oh, do, Father, do! Then I can be a big hunter like you.”

Big Hunter thought a long time. “It will be very hard to do what you ask, ”he said, “but I will try.”

II

So Big Hunter made a great feast. He roasted a bear, and asked three of his friends to come to the feast.

Then he told them about little Ojeeg and his troubles.

“Will you go with me to make summer for him? ”he asked.

“We will go, ”they said, “Then Ojeeg can hunt all day long. He will bring home a bear and make a feast for us.”

Big Hunter and his three friends, Otter, Beaver, and Badger, started on their long journey.

On and on they went, for many, many days, until they came to a high mountain. It almost touched the sky, it was so high.

Big Hunter and his friends climbed to the very top.

“We must make a hole in the sky.”said Big Hunter. They stretched out their hands, but they could not reach the sky.

“We must jump, ”said Big Hunter, “Otter, you are a great jumper. You must try first.”

So Otter jumped as high as he could, but he could not reach the sky. He fell back and rolled down the mountain.

“That is enough for me, ”he said, “I shall not try such a jump again.”He ran home as fast as he could go.

Then it was Beaver's turn. He took a deep breath. Then he jumped—oh! how he jumped! But he could not reach the sky.

He had such a hard fall that he lay very still on the mountain-top.

“We must try another way, ”said Big Hunter to Badger, “You stand on the very top of the mountain, and I will climb upon your shoulders. Then I will jump.”

So Badger stood like a rock. Then Big Hunter climbed on the strong shoulders of his friend.

Then he jumped! No one had ever jumped so high before. He touched the sky!

He fell back, but Badger caught him in his strong arms. Big Hunter jumped again, and beat at the sky with his fists.

This time he made a little hole in the sky, and a warm breeze came through it.

Once more Big Hunter climbed on to the shoulders of his friend. Once more he gave a great jump.

This time he struck such a mighty blow that the sky opened.

Then down through the great hole rushed the birds and the soft, warm winds and summer-beautiful summer!

Away they went to the cold land of snow, where little Ojeeg waited.

The soft, warm air melted the snow and ice. Little brooks began to run over the stones. Rivers flowed and sparkled in the sun. Leaves came out on the trees. Flowers bloomed, and birds sang.

Then little Ojeeg hunted and fished as much as he wanted, and brought food home to his mother. He made a great feast for the summer-maker and his friends.

Little Ojeeg learned to be a great hunter, like his father, and the big boys laughed at him no more.

Ever since that time summer always comes once a year.

(Native Legend)

Word list

bare: having no covering such as leaves

native: the first people to live in an area or country

feast: a very large meal

numb: stiff and hard to move because of cold

wigwam: a traditional hut made by native people of North America

fond: to like something very much

journey: a long trip

breeze: a light wind

You Practice

A) Answer the following questions.

1) Why was this story written?

2) Who are the main characters in the story?

3) What was Ojeeg's problem?

4) What did Ojeeg want his father to do?

5) Who helped Big Hunter make summer?

6) How did Big hunter make summer come?

B) What's the word? Using the clues, write the correct words from the story.

1) flowers do this when they come out: b _ _ _ _

2) this is a kind of hut or house: w _ _ _ _ _

3) these are water from the eyes: t _ _ _ _

4) this animal helped Big Hunter: b _ _ _ _ _

5) this is another word for strong: m _ _ _ _ _

C) Beginning, middle, and end—Draw pictures of the beginning, middle, and end of this story.

1) Beginning:

2) Middle:

3) End: