1. The Boy and the Water Stone
By Little KAW
Many eons ago there was a small Indian boy named E’oche which means Boy
Who has Promise. He would go out to the river every day and watch the water
polish the many colorful stones. He heard a voice call out from the River one
day; “Why do you sit here each day to watch me work?” Not knowing at first
where the voice came from, E’oche said; “I am looking for a very special stone.
One that does not look like any other and will make a nice heat stone for my
Tipi”. The coals from the wood fire will warm up the stone and keep me warm all
night long after the fire burns out. The river said; “Do you know who I am? I am
the water that shines the stones”. E’oche was very happy to learn this because
he thought maybe the water could help him find his stone. E’oche asked; “Would
you know the kind of stone I seek?” The water did not speak at first, but let
E’oche listen to sounds of the water shining the stones for a while. Then the
water said; “Would this be the kind of stone that you seek?” Suddenly a stone
appeared at the crest of the water. E’oche smiled and said; “Yes, that stone
would be just what I have been seeking for all this time. May I keep the stone to
heat my Tipi?” The water took only an instant to reply and said; “Yes, but you
must remember to wash this stone after every night to keep it clean, otherwise
the stone will no longer work its magic and help keep you warm in your Tipi at
night." E’oche promised the water that he would wash the stone from the wood
ash every morning to be sure that it would keep him warm at night in his Tipi.
After some time passed, E’oche forgot one morning to wash the stone in the
water. That night, while E’oche slept, the Tipi got very cold. When he woke up
the next morning, he saw that the stone had cracked in two. E’oche knew he had
made a terrible mistake because he forgot to wash the stone in the water just as
he had promised to do. He took the stone to the river and said to the water; “I
forgot to wash the stone and now it has broken in two. It no longer keeps me
warm at night in my Tipi while I sleep. I have made a terrible mistake.” The
water, sounding very concerned said to E’oche; “I do not want you to be so
worried. The stone was tired and you kept your promise for such a long time,
you are a human and they sometimes forget to do things. It’s not your fault.” The
water said; “Put the two pieces down by the edge of the river and roll both pieces
into the water.” As E’oche rolled the two pieces of the stone into the water, the
water splashed up and E’oche fell into the river. The water said; “I grabbed you
to make you remember to wash the stone everyday. See how renewed you feel,
like you are all refreshed and have lots of energy?” E’oche said; “Yes, now I see
why you always told me to wash the stone in the morning." The water gave the
boy a new stone. Eighty years later, E’oche is teaching his tale to his
grandchildren about what a promise is. If one promises to do something and you
do as you promise, then you will have much happiness in your life . . .
Story written by Kristen Ann Winslet “Little KAW” who was inspired by the Great Indian Chiefs of the American
Nation