Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Submitted By John Kahionhes Fadden

Long ago the birds had no songs. Only humans could sing and every morning they would greet the rising sun with a song. The birds, as they were flying by, would often stop and listen to the beautiful songs. In their hearts they wished that they too could sing.

One day the Good Spirit visited the earth and walked over the earth inspecting the various things of Creation. It was noticed that there was a great silence. Something seemed to be missing. As the Good Spirit pondered, the sun sank behind the western hills. From the direction of the river, where was an Indian village, there sounded the deep, rich tones of an Indian drum followed by the sacred chanting of the sunset song. The song was pleasing to the ears of the Good Spirit.

The Good Spirit looked around. He noticed that the birds were also listening to the singing. "That is what is missing," said the Good Spirit, "Birds should have songs."

The next day the Good Spirit called all of the birds to a great council. From near and far they came. The sky was filled with flying birds. The trees and bushes bent to the earth under the weight of so many. On the great Council Rock sat the Good Spirit. The birds were asked if they would like to have songs, songs such as the Indian people sang. With one accord, the birds all chirped, "Yes, yes!"

"Very well," said the Good Spirit, "Tomorrow when the sun rises in the east, you are all to fly up in the sky. You are to fly as high as you can. When you can fly no higher you will find your song. That bird who flies the highest will have the most beautiful song of all the birds."

Next morning long before sunrise, the birds were ready. There were birds everywhere. The earth was covered with them. There was great excitement. However, one little bird was very unhappy. He was the little brown thrush. Perched beside him was the great eagle. As the little bird gazed at the eagle he thought, "What chance have I to compete with this great bird." I am so little and eagle is so large. I will never be able to fly as high as he." An idea entered his mind, "Eagle is so excited that he will not notice me." With this thought in mind, the little brown bird flew like a flash to the eagle's head and quickly hid under his feathers. The great eagle was so excited that he did not notice the little thrush. "With my great wings, I will surely win," thought he.

The sun finally looked over the eastern hill. With a great roar of wings the many birds took off. The air was so full of flying birds that for a time the sky was dark. Their bodies covered the face of sun.

For a long time the birds flew upward. Finally the smaller, weaker, birds began to tire. The hummingbird was the first to give up. His little wings beat the air so hard that to this day one can, if one listens, hear his humming wings. His little squeaky call says, "Wait, wait for me," a very plain song.

When the sun rose next morning only the eagle, chief of all birds, was left. He was still going strong. Then, he too began to tire, and he began to soar earthward. The little thrush had been asleep all of this time, and when the eagle started back to earth little thrush awoke, and began to fly upward.

The little thrush flew up and up. He soon came to a hole in the sky. He found himself in a beautiful country, the Upper World. As he entered this land he heard a beautiful song. He stayed in the upper world and learned the song. He then flew back toward earth, and he was anxious to show off his beautiful song.

As thrush neared the earth he glanced down at the Council Rock. There sat all of the birds, and on the Council Rock, glaring up at him was Akweks, the eagle. All the birds were silent as they waited for thrush to light on the council ground.

Suddenly the feeling of glory left the little thrush and he felt ashamed. He knew that he had cheated to get his beautiful song. He flew in silence into the deep woods and in shame, with dragging heart, hid under the branches of the largest tree. He was so ashamed. There you will find him today. Never does the Hermit Thrush come out in the open. He is still ashamed because he cheated. Sometimes, however, he cannot restrain himself and he must sing his beautiful song. When he does this the other birds cease their singing. Well they know that the song of the Hermit Thrush, the song from the upper world, will make their songs sound very weak.