Reading Notes: Native American, Reading B
1. Great Plains: Why the Possum Plays Dead (Cherokee) by Katharine Berry Judson.
Rabbit and Possum both wanted wives, but no one would marry either of them. Rabbit devised a plan to go over into the next village, saying he was a messenger and that everyone must be married at once. The two set off for the next town, but Rabbit traveled much faster than Possum and so he got there first. When he told people the message, everyone found a mate at once, and so Rabbit got a wife but Possum did not.
When Possum finally arrived, Rabbit pretended to feel sorry for him. He told Possum that he would go over to the next village and pass along the same news. The two set off for the next village over. However, when Rabbit arrived he told the village a different story. He said that since there had been peace for so long, there must now be war. All animals started to fight at once, and the quick Rabbit was able to escape in four leaps. Poor Possum was so slow and had brought no weapons. The animals of the village started to beat upon him so hard that he closed his eyes and rolled over on the floor, pretending to be dead. Thence forth, any time Possum perceives a threat, whether that be from other animals or even hunters, he plays dead.
Bibliography:
Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson (1913).
Rabbit and Possum both wanted wives, but no one would marry either of them. Rabbit devised a plan to go over into the next village, saying he was a messenger and that everyone must be married at once. The two set off for the next town, but Rabbit traveled much faster than Possum and so he got there first. When he told people the message, everyone found a mate at once, and so Rabbit got a wife but Possum did not.
When Possum finally arrived, Rabbit pretended to feel sorry for him. He told Possum that he would go over to the next village and pass along the same news. The two set off for the next village over. However, when Rabbit arrived he told the village a different story. He said that since there had been peace for so long, there must now be war. All animals started to fight at once, and the quick Rabbit was able to escape in four leaps. Poor Possum was so slow and had brought no weapons. The animals of the village started to beat upon him so hard that he closed his eyes and rolled over on the floor, pretending to be dead. Thence forth, any time Possum perceives a threat, whether that be from other animals or even hunters, he plays dead.
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| Opossum. Source: Wikimedia. |
Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson (1913).
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