Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/191

pretty bird with a shining tail came and hovered around them. After admiring its beautiful plumage, some one said, 'Pretty bird, what do you want? Pretty bird, where do you come from?' 'I came,' replied the bird, 'from a beautiful country far away, bringing you all the blessings of Hieuc (fire). That which you see about my tail is fire. I have come to give it to the children of the Whullemooch conditionally. First, you must, in order to value it, earn it. Again, no one who has been guilty of a bad deed or of a mean action need try for it. To-day get ready, each of you, some chummuch (pitch pine). To-morrow morning I shall be here with you.' When it came next morning it said, * Have all of you got some chummuch?' 'Yes,' said all. 'I go,' said the bird, 'and whosoever catches me and puts his chummuch on my tail shall obtain a blessing, a something whereby to warm himself or herself, cook his food and do many a service to himself and to the children of the Whullemooch for ever. I go.' It went; every man and woman, boy and girl of the tribe followed helter-skelter, some laughing, some shouting, others in their heedless haste fell over rocks into water-holes, got torn and scratched by bushes and thorns. Some who lacked perseverance turned back and went home, saying anything so beset with trouble and danger was not worth the trying for. All of the hunters were getting tired and hungry, when one of the men came near the bird and tried to catch it, but the bird eluded his grasp, saying, 'You can never get the prize: you are too selfish. You don't care for any one, whether sick or hungry, so long as you are right yourself.' With that away flew the bird, and another man took up the chase. Hearing what was said to the other, he changed his tactics, saying, 'Pretty birdie, let me catch you; I never did anything bad or mean. If ever I saw any one hungry or thirsty I gave them silthtun (food and drink), or if I could I gave them a skin or a blanket.' 'All you say is good, but in one point you fail. You stole your neighbour's wife by flattery.' This saying, away went the bird, a number still following. Passing a woman nursing a sick old man, she said, 'Pretty bird, I cannot follow you; won't you come to me and give me your hieuc?' 'What good have you done,' said the bird, 'that you should get it?' 'I have done nothing but what was my duty always to do,' replied the woman. 'Good woman,' said the bird, *'you are always doing good,