Indian Myths

The Woman who fell down from Heaven had twin sons. One was good. The other was bad. They got their names from what they were. The good one was named Fire, or Man of Fire, for he was always doing good. He was also called Se' sta, as that name means "fire." The bad twin was named Ice and Stone, or Man of Ice and Stone, for he was always doing evil. He was also called Ska' reh, which means "ice or stone." They had magic power. They were Indian gods.

Se' sta tried always to turn his brother from his wicked ways. One day he said to his brother, "We have work to do. We were born for a purpose. We must make the Great Island a beautiful country. For at some time people wiII come to live in it. You take one half of the Great Island. I will take the other half. Each must do the best he can."

Ska' reh said he would do this. Each brother went his way to do his work. For hundreds of years they toiled at their task, for it was a mighty work, which only gods could do.

Se' sta made a beautiful land. Everything was good. The people would need food, so he placed animals and birds in the woods. And he put fish in all the streams. The trees were made to bear fruits and nuts. Corn, pumpkins, and tobacco grew in fields. The beanstalk was a tree bearing pods filled with beans as large as an egg. The water in the rivers flowed in two directions. On one side the Indian might float downstream without having to paddle his canoe. When he wished to go back, he had but to cross to the other shore. Then he would find the water going up the other way. He could float back without having to use the paddle.

When each brother had finished his part of the work, thqy met to see what had been done. Ska' rqh was not pleased to find the beautiful land made by his brother. He changed everything as much as he could. He caused thorns and briars to grow in the woods. He sprinkled his own blood over the land. Each drop of it became a sharp stone to cut the feet of the people who would live there. He put his great hands into the rivers and stirred their waters so that they flowed ever after that in but one direction. He made the beans small like those which we have now. 

And he changed the animals. As they passed before him he made them fierce and wild. He frightened them with terrible noises. Some of them ran into the deep Woods, where they still live. Others hid in the holes and caves, and to this day they come out only in the darkness of night to find food. Everywhere Ska' reh did what he could to spoil the works of his good brother.

Se' sta did what he could to make better the evil works of his brother. He drove some of the cold away. He made the high mountains lower. He made the snakes and monsters smaller. He did all he could to make the Great Island a pleasant home for the people he knew would come to live in it. But he was sad. For he could not undo all the harm done by Ska' reh.