"The Star Maiden"

Ojibwa

There are some countries which are especially loved by the fairy world. Often these are lands with great forests, deep lakes and grassy meadows. where fairies live quietly in harmony with the local people. One such land is the home of the Ojibwa, a proud and fearless nationwhich once lived freely in the continent that is now North America. In the wild parts of this land, the fairies made their winter homes in the roots and hollows of the old trees. In springtime they came out to live among the sweetly scented blossoms which clustered thickly on fruit trees and bushes. In autum the fairies sheltered among the mushrooms that grew in the safe parts of the valleys and forests.

The Ojibwa knew all about the fairies who lived among them. They enjoyed the special friendship which sometimes flourished between the humans and the spirit world, and they were careful not to destroy the secret places where the fairies lived. At the end of the day when their work was done, the people would sit quietly in the entrances of their homes and rest. They would watch the smoke of their pipes curling up into the still air, listening in silence to the voices of the fairies. The fairies' voices wer little more than whispers or hums, rather like the sound of honey-bees, which even the youngest Ojibwa children could recongnize. One evening, a clan of Ojibwa was gathered as usual near their campfire. Everyone was listening to the tiny noises of the night when one of the young braves saw something which made his eyes grow wide. Silently he rose to his feet. The others turned to see what he was looking at. Then they, too, stood up in wonder. Just beyond the glow of the fire stood several tall trees and in the very top of the tallest tree they could see a bright, shining light. What could possibly be making this flittering light? Without a sound they all moved towards the trees to have a closer look.

At the foot of the tallest tree, the people stopped and gazed upwards. The young brave with the sharp eyes knew at once what was shining so brightly. "It's a great star," he told the other warriors. "It's caught in the top branches of the tree."

The wise chiefs were quickly summoned and they all gathered for a pow-wow. For three nights they sat in council trying to decide what to do about the beautiful star which was trapped in the tree top. At the end of the third night, they still did not know why the star had come to earth or how to help it. Then, on the fourth night, the young brave who had first seen the star came before the council. He explained that he had learned the truth about the star while he had been sleeping.

"As I lay asleep," he said, "the West Wind lifted the curtain of my wigwam. The light so brilliant that I could hardly look at it. Then I saw a beautiful girl, lovelier by far than any human woman. I was struck dumb with astonishment. The girl spoke to me and her voice was like the voice of the birds at sunrise. she told me that she was the Star Maiden and her home was in the star. Then she told me how together she and the star had wandered in the skies above the earth, and she had seen many beautiful countries but none so fair as this land of ours.

'If you would allow me,' she said, ' I would like to live among you and wander no longer above the earth. If you were to let me stay, the star would be released to return to the heavens and I would make my home with your people for ever,' Before I could repley she dissolved into the light around her. Then the beam of light disappeared, the curtain of my wigwam closed, and everything was quiet once more."

When the council of elders heard this, they were very pleased and honored. They told the young brave that if the Star Maiden returned to him the following evening, he was to invite her to choose any place among their prairies and mountains and lakes in which to make her home. And so it happened. That night, the Star Maiden returned to him the following evening, he was to invite her to choose any place amonth their prairies and mountains and lakes in which to make her home. And so it happened. That night, the Star Maiden came again to the young brave's wigwam and he gave her the elders' message.

At once the Star Maiden started to search for the best place to make her home. On the vast prairies which stretched to the horizons, she found beautiful prairie flowers growing. Close to these flowers was a ring of mushrooms, and the Star Maiden hoped that earthly fairies would gather here on moonlit nights. "I shall rest here until the fairies come." she thought. " and then make a home among them." So she perched on one of the mushrooms waiting for the night. But the fairies never came and the star did not move- it still lay trapped in the top of the tall tree. then, the Star Maiden heard a terrible, thundering sound that shook the earth. In great fear, she fled from the mushroom just as a herd of buffalo charged across the prairie. this was no place for the Star Maiden to make her home!

Leaving the plains behind her the Star Maiden next tried the mountains. Here she found fragrant wild rose bushes hugging the soft, moss-covered slopes. There was a wonderful, peaceful silence.

This is where I shall live,"thought the Star Maiden. "There ar no buffalo herds and from these mountain tops I can see my friends among the stars." So she settled down inside a perfect wild rose. But, again, the star did not move-it still lay trapped in the top of the tall tree.

Before many days had passed, the Star Maiden found that she was not happy. The mountains were steep and great rocks towered round her resting place. "I cannot see the people of this beautiful land," she thought. " They live in the valleys and I cannot see them from the mountain top."

So once again the Star Maiden set off to find a home. She flew back towards the valley where her star lay trapped and where the Ojibwa wigwams stood. Soom she came to the lake and looked around to see if there was any place for her to settle. In the middle of the water she noticed a gleaming white flower with a golden center, which shone in the warm sunlight. The flower was a water lily floating on the still surface of the lake. As the star Maiden gazed at this beautiful plant, she saw a canoe glide across the water close to where the water lily was growing. then she saw that the canoe was steered by the brave who had first discovered her star in the tree top.

"This will be my home," she announced happily, and she flew across the water to the great golden heart of the water lily. As she settled inside it, the star lifted free from the treetop and spun away into the sky. That night, the Star Maiden saw the stars reflected in the waters of the lake. "From Here I can still see my star friends." she thought contentedly.

The next morning she saw that many of the Ojibwa children were playing on the edge of the water while the young braves canoed on the lake. "This is the best place to be," the Star Maiden decided. "Here I am safe from buffalo, here I can see the stars, and here I am among my new friends. "So she made her home in the creamy petals of the water lily. And if you sit quietly at the shores of the lake where water lilies grow, you may be lucky enough to see or hear her - for the Ojibwa say that she lives there still, and that her song is like the voice of the birds at sunrise.

If you have difficulties using Java just click on Chloe and she
will take you to my Main Menu. There you will be able
to go anywhere you wish to go!

Sign guestbook
View Guestbook 2
View Guestbook 1

This page hosted by

Get Your Own Free Home Page

"The Star Maiden"

What path would you like to take?

Jump to another page on the Internet