Lesson in Pride

Long years ago, before man was in charge, the animals lived like people in lodges and in villages. They had a problem, and the problem was rooster. He was so proud of himself, and of his lovely tail-he was always crowing about it-he would get up early in the morning to brag.One day, at council, the animals planned a powwow.

Rooster jumped up, "I will be the lead dancer," he crowed. "I dance better than anyone." everyone looked at each other and shook their heads, but no one said a thing, so rooster appointed himself head dancer.The night of the dance, the beavers had worked very hard to build a huge bonfire.

The prairie chickens began beating their chests to make powwow drum music and all the animals began to move into the circle, the rooster in the lead, strutting and dancing-he threw his head back and felt so proud. he thought to himself, "if I dance closer to the fire, the flames will make my tail feathers shine and everyone will know just how beautiful I am "and so he did just that.

He struttedand pranced and did not notice when his tail began to smoulder. All the animals stopped and stared at him and he thought they were admiring his moves and then he smelled smoke. Looking back, he saw his tail burning. He shrieked and began to run but that only fanned the flames.

He jumped and began to fly, higher and higher until he was just a streak across the night sky. And even today, on dark fall nights look up in the sky and he is still up there, trying to put his tail out. White people call them shooting stars-we all know it is that rooster. So remember, speak up for what is right and do not be proud or Creator might have to set your tail on fire..

by Indian-Outlaw