Legend of the Butterflies

Butterflies

Now, one day the Creator was sitting and watching the children play. He saw the joy and the youthfulness they displayed. He saw the beauty of their surroundings, and the fresh fragrance of the Trees and the Flowers. He heard the happy songs of the Birds, and saw the blue of the Sky. He saw the women as they ground cornmeal. He saw their beauty, and the sunlight as it shone from their hair. These were wonderful things.

But then Creator realized that all of these things would change. He knew that these children would all grow old and gray, and their skin would wrinkle. The beautiful women would someday grow fat and ugly, and their beautiful black hair will turn gray. The leaves would turn brown and die, and the beautiful flowers that smelled so fresh would fade. Creator's heart grew sad and troubled. It was Autumn, and Creator knew that the wild game would be scarce soon. The green leaves would be gone, and times would be hard.

As Creator watched the women grind cornmeal, He decided to do something which would capture some of these wonderful things which He saw. He decided that He must make

something that everyone could enjoy, that would lift their hearts and spirits. So, He took out His bag of Creation and began to gather some things together.

He took some blue from the Sky, and some whiteness from the cornmeal. He gathered some spots of Sunlight, and the blackness of a beautiful woman's hair. He took the yellow of the falling leaves, and the green of the Pine needles. He gathered the red, the purple, and the orange from the flowers. As He gathered these things, He put them into His bag. And, last, He put the songs of the song birds in the bag.

When He had finished gathering these things together, He called the children together. He told them to open the bag and there would be a surprise for them. So they opened the bag, and out flew hundreds of beautiful Butterflies! They flew all around the gleeful children, and lit on their heads. They fluttered around, and sipped the nectar from the many flowers. The hearts of the children and the adults soared. Never before had they seen such wonderful, happy things. They began to sing their songs as they flew.

But a jealous song bird lit on Creator's Shoulder and scolded Him. He said, "It is not right to give our songs to these pretty things! You told us when you made us that each bird would have his own song. These pretty things have all of the colors of the rainbow already. Must they take our songs, too?"

Creator said, "You are right. I made one song for each bird, and I must not give them away to any other."

So butterflies were made silent, and they are still silent to this day. But their beauty brightens the day of all People, and brings out songs from their hearts.

Tell someone about my site - use the form below: