WHY THE FROGS CROAK
The Seneca tribe was having
a big celebration. Tonight was the night when Grandfather Bear
was to tell a story. A story is very important to the Seneca people.
It tells of times long ago. Bright Morning looked at the oak tree
crackling in the red-orange dancing fire. Bright Morning looked
around. There were many oak trees near her. Grandfather Bear stood
up, and asked, "What story should I tell?" Bright Morning
yelled out, "Why the
Frogs Croak." Everyone agreed. The Seneca tribe all sat together
around the fire. It looked as if the whole Iroquois Nation was
there, but it really wasn't. The Seneca tribe is one of the five
tribes of the Iroquois Nation.
He began, "Long ago when the earth was new and animals could
speak there was a frog named Talking Frog. Talking Frog was a
young frog, but was known for his talking. All of the frogs could
speak, but Talking Frog loved to talk and talk. He never listened.
He didn't care what other animals said he would just talk about
himself.
One day Rabbit came up to him and said, "Isn't it a lovely
da-"
"Well today I am going to go swimming in the pond and then
take a sun-bath. It will be fun," Talking Frog interrupted.
He kept on talking. Rabbit got very upset and walked away.
When the Creator saw this she marched down from her kingdom (which
was on the tallest mountain). She had a mean look on her face.
This was a sign to all the animals that something strange was
going on because the Creator hardly ever came down from her mountain.
As she thumped down the animals bowed and welcomed her. This was
the respectful thing to do. Talking Frog never paid any attention
to how the animals reacted to the Creator. He didn't think much
of anyone but himself.
When the Creator finally got down from the mountain. She walked
straight up to Talking Frog. Talking Frog then spilled out every
word he could think of. The Creator got annoyed, and with a snap
of her finger she shut the frog up immediately. The Creator was
very powerful. Then the Creator told him, "Talking Frog,
I have watched you for many days from my mountain, all you do
is talk. You have to start to listen to others. You will learn
something from it. I promise. I shall be back in one week, and
if you have not mastered listening there will be trouble."
With those last words, she turned, snapped her other finger (which
made Talking Frog able to talk again) and started up the mountain.
"Wait I almost forgot," she said. "I'm watching
you." In almost an instant she was gone.
All the animals looked at Talking Frog. Talking Frog didn't think
much of it, and went back to his normal day which was as followed:
Wake up find some one to talk to, talk to them until they walk
away. Then go swimming in the pond, and find some one to talk
to under water, sunbathe and wait for some one to pass by to talk
to, then go to sleep early to get ready for the next day of talking.
One week passed. The Creator came back with horrible news. She
said
"Talking Frog if you do not start to listen to others I will
band you and your people from talking." All the frogs gasped.
They didn't want to lose their ability to talk. Their voices were
depending on Talking Frog. Talking Frog was scared. He didn't
know how to listen. Who could help him?
The next day when Talking Frog woke up Rabbit was there as if
she were waiting for him. "What are you doing here,"
Talking Frog asked. I've come to help you learn to listen,"
she told him. "Relaigy?" he asked. The word came out
wrong. Maybe because he had no teeth (as all frogs do) and it
rubbed of wrong. "But I was so mean to you why do want to
help me?" "I want to help you because you are my friend,
and what are friends for?" Rabbit told him. "Gee that
is so nice of you to say.
"When do we start?" Talking Frog asked.
"Right now" Rabbit told him. "First things first.
The key to listening is ... paying attention and looking who ever
you are talking to right in the eye."
"Wow I never knew that" Talking Frog said. They worked
day and night.
Talking Frog was learning so much. He learned how not to be rude
when someone is talking, that you are allowed to say something
after the person is finished talking, and you have to think about
what person said before you speak. Talking Frog was told all this,
but was not taught how to do it and new skills take a lot of practice.
On the sixth day Rabbit said, "I think you are ready to listen
to the Creator, just remember what I told you.
Now go get some rest tomorrow is a big day." Talking Frog
did as he was told, but he knew he didn't have enough practice
at listening.
The next day the Creator came back and she had great news. "Talking
Frog I am very proud of you. You have shown to me that you can
listen. You understood and listened to my rules.
"Wow I really did listen,"
Talking Frog thought to himself.
"You and your people will not be band from ta-"
"Thank you Creator," Talking Frog interrupted.
"You dare interrupt me? How disrespectful! You and your people
will now only be allowed to croak and you will never talk unless
spoken to."
That is why listening is golden. Have you ever tried talking to
a frog?
They are very good listeners. Today the Seneca people are very
good listeners because they want to keep their ability to speak.
THE END