The Wedding Blanket

So many years ago, before people forgot how
to speak with the animals, there was a deal
The rabbit found this woman by the waters
edge her tears flowing with the stream. Rabbit
approached the woman and asked why she shed
so many tears? The woman replied she had
been a poor wife, she had taken a husband
four winters past and had yet to give him any
children. She could not cook his food the way
he liked. She could not make his clothes to fit
him well and she felt she had not been a good>
wife at all.
~
The rabbit told the woman that she knew her.
"I know well the man you live with". The man
who has you shedding tears is the man who
took my husband from me for food. At that
the woman cried even harder, feeling that she
had not even honored the rabbit by cooking
him
well.
~
The rabbit woman asked if she could make a
deal. She told the woman that she would teach
her how to be a good wife. She would teach her
how to make clothes that fit properly, how to
cook food well and where to find food in the
winter when game was scarce. What roots and
greens she could eat and not get sick, and she
would give her help in giving her husband
children.
~
"What do you want in return?" The woman
asked, "I have nothing to offer you" The rabbit
looked deep into the water and said; "I am not
long for this world. Soon I will die and there is
no one to look after my children. I will teach
you all you need to know if you will take care
of my children until they can care for
themselves".
~
The deal was made, both agreed. For the
next summer the rabbit kept her end of the deal.
She showed the woman the best berry patches,
told the woman how to measure buckskin for
shirts leggings and shoes. She told the woman
how to tell when food was cooked enough and
when
it was cooked too much.
~
As time passed the woman could see the rabbit
getting weaker and weaker. The woman brought
remedies made from recipes the rabbit herself
had taught her. They seemed to help for awhile
but the rabbit was not long for this world.
~
The rabbit called to the woman and said:
"its time for me to go, my time here is almost
done. Its time for me to share my last secret
with you. If you keep you word, all I have>
promised you will be done.
~
When I am cold, take my fur and make a
blanket, lay with your man on this blanket and
you will have several children. But you must
keep your word and honor my children.
~
"This I will do my friend" The woman kept her
word indeed and cared for the rabbit children.
She showed them all their mother had shared
and told them of the wonderful being they never
knew. And as the rabbit had told her to do,
she made a blanket from the rabbits fur and
was given several children, just as the rabbit
had promised. Never again did her tears flow
with the waters of the stream.
~
James Running Turtle
(Indian-Outlaw)