Ever wonder how the moose came to be as he is today? I love to read Indian legends, one of my favorite books is by Mourning Dove, "Coyote Stories". I used the characters Coyote, Mole, and Mouse to show how......
The Story of How Moose Came To Be How He Is Today.
Way back before there was a people like us and animals talked amoungest themselves there was Moose. Moose was very handsome and would steal the wives of other braves by his good looks and charm. When one was stolen, they were made into his slaves.
One day Coyote the trickser was out hunting for food. While he was away Moose came by his lodge and saw Mole making a buckskin shirt for Coyote. Moose thought, "Mole would make a very good slave for me." So he went over to Mole and took her by suprize. Mole was very dedicated to her husband, but when she saw Moose she forgot all about him. Moose said to her, "Follow me to my family's lodge dear Mole, for I wish to make you my bride." Mole followed Moose under his spell and was soon trapped and made into a slave.
When Coyote returned to his lodge he didn't see Mole. he looked and he looked, calling her name. He saw the buckskin shirt she had been making for him, it looked as if she left in a hurry for all the tools were left laying on the ground. Then Coyote saw Mouse, and Mouse said she would tell what she had saw if Coyote gave her part of the meat he had gotten. Coyote missed his hard working and loyal wife and willingly gave Mouse half of his meat. "Now I will tell, said Mouse, it was Moose that came and stole your wife." Soon Coyote was on the trail that lead to Moose's lodge deep in the heart of the dark forest.
When Coyote reached Moose's lodge he could see the stolen wives working on making Moose his supper. Coyote used his magic to make him into an old woman so he could sneak up on Moose. He took the food from a tired woman and said, "Here, rest my dear and I'll take this to Moose." The woman was greatfull and paid no mind that this old woman was a stranger. When Coyote entered Moose's lodge he saw Mole making very handsome buckskin shirt with beading on the sleeves. This made Coyote angry but he hid his feelings and brought Moose his supper. Moose grunted a reply and started to eat when Coyote called on his magic to turn him back into himself. Moose was startled and started to rise to kill this threating Coyote. Once again Coyote called on his magic and made himself very strong. He took Moose's nose and streched it out and made it big and ugly. He then made his antlers big and cumbersome. Next Coyote made Moose's body very big, but his legs very long and skinny. When Coyote was done he laughed at Moose's comical apperance. "Now you can no longer steal wives with your good looks and charm!" Moose was so humiliated that he ran from his lodge and never returned. That is why Moose looks the way he does today and why he is always alone.
Written by Lauren Stevens.
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Coming Soon! Real Native American Moose Legends!
