When the world was young, the Great Spirit spoke to all the trees on earth when they were newly made, "I want you to stay awake and watch over the earth for seven nights," he
said.

All of the trees intended to obey, so the first night, everyone remained awake. The second night was more difficult, and just before dawn the sourwoods nodded off.

On the third night, the trees whispered to each other in the wind in an effort to stay awake, but even so, the dogwoods dozed off.

On the fourth night the maples slept and on the fifth night the beeches did the same. By the sixth night, even the oaks were fast asleep.

After seven nights the only trees that remained awake were the pine, the spruce, the fir, the cedar, the holly and the laurel.

The Great Spirit was very pleased. "You have great strength and great loyalty. And so, you shall be, for all time, the
guardians of the forest," he said.

Ever since then, while the other trees lose their leaves and sleep through the long, cold winter, the evergreens stay awake, keeping watch over the earth.


(This is a legend I learned severa years ago, but I never learned from which nation. If anyone knows, sound off.)

I understand that the story is Native American-- Cherokee, if I remember correctly.

Sue

Actually, that makes sense, based on the trees listed.

*smacks self on forehead* I've known this legend (and yes, I knew it was American) for years, and I know the trees involved. I should have checked the map.

Ironraven,

Ahhh, sage words to ponder....

Thanks, TR

(Worshiper of small trees, shrubbery, and brackens.)

Smack mine too. I finally dug out my book on cherokee stories from the Kavanaugh memorial anthropology library. It was hidden behind a Bureau of American Ethnology report on South American Linguistics with a huge white unknown in the middle and Indiana Jones notations. It's in Cherokee and I can't find the dictionary or the bible <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />I did find 3 socks I threw the mates away to <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Darn, and I thought they were Indians!

At least that's what Columbus named them when he landed in the new world because he thought he had found India!

And they are no more Native Americans than we are. Long before they arrived there were the Mississippians who had come and gone long before the Indian's arrival. (Example: The Cahokia Mounds near St. Louis).
And who was here before the Mississippians? You've got me.

Didn't really mean to get on my stump, Susan. I just get so tired of all this politically correct talk, viz, "person of interest" instead of "suspect" which is what they are.

Holiday tree instead of Christmas tree. Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. And on and on and on............

Merry Christmas to all. Now, doesn't that have a nice ring to it? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have some other thoughts but I will hold them in abeyance as I am tired of getting dragged to the woodshed kicking and screaming. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Boone from Kentucky.

We're supposed to call them that at the NA casino where I work. Usually, it just get shortened to "native". Sometimes just NA's.

Give it a few years and the name will change, just like for the people of the darker color.

... and the old Mississippi just keeps rolling along.

Sue

Yes, but they found it first.