Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-11-26

= AfHttis tA'h4-
The coyote. YOU must know is very
stunid about some things. and in al
most all Pueblo fairy stories IS the
victim of one joke or another The
bear, on the Other hand, IS one oil the
wiSest of animals.
Once upon q time the Kc-id-dch (the
bean and Too-whay-deh (the coyotel
CHARGED TO meet at certain spot and
sat down to talk. After while the
Bear sad:
Friend Coyote do ycu sec what
COED laHd this is hcic? What do
You say j. we farm ii together, sharing
our labor and tho crop p
The Coyote thought well of it, and
said So; and after talking they agreed
10 plant potatoes in partnership
Now" said the Bear, think OF
. GOOD way 10 divide the crop. |
will take all that grows below the
ground and you take all that grows
above it. Then each can take away
his share when he is ready, and there
will be no trouble TO measure"
The Coyote agreed, and when the
time came thoy ploughcd the place
with n sharp stick and planted their
potatceS. Al summer ahey worked
togeticr in the FIELD, hCeing down the
weeds with stone hoes, and letting IN
water howard then from the lrrigat-
inc ditch. When harvest time came
the Coyote went and cut of al tho
0otato tops at the ground and carried
hem home, and afterwards tho Dear
>cratc he'd cut the potatoes from tho
ground with MS big claws and took
rhen TO his h0dse. When the Coyote
saw this his eyes we're opened and no
said:
But this is rot fair. You have
those round things, which are good to
eat. but what ! took home we cannot
cat at all. neither my wife nor l."
But. friend Coyote,o answered
The Bear. gravclv. " did we not make
an agreement? Then we must stick
TO it like men"
The Coyote could rot answer and
went home, but he was not satisfied.
The next spring. as they met one
day, Bear said:
Come, friend Coyote, think we
ought to plant this good land again,
and this time let Us plant it in corn;
Rut last wear You were dissatisfied
with your share. so this year We will
change. You take what is below the
ground for your share and | viii take
only what grows above"
This seemed very fair to the Coyote,
and he acrecd Thoy ploughed and
planted and tended tho corn; and
whom 1t came harvest time the Bear
gathered all the stalks and cars and
carried them home. When the Coyote
came to dig his share ho found moth
inc but roots like threads, which were
Good for nothing. lie was very much
dissatisfied; hut the Bear reminded
him OF their agrc, mcBt. and he could
say nothing.
That winter tie Coyote was walking
one day lr The nvcr (thc Rio GIarde)
when he saw the bear sitting ON the
ice aud eating fish. The Coyote was
very fond oi fish and coming mp hc
said:
"Friend Bear, where did YOU get
such fat fish {"
ooh. | broke a hole in the ice"
said the Bear and tished for them.
There are many here And he went
on eating without offering any to the
Coyote ...., o.,
lShCu lit AbNNtfr lNiNttiib WIN nun
ger at the smell Of fish.
ooh. yes" said the Bear. 1t Is
very e7sy - and he broke a hole in the
ice with his paw. Now, friend Coy
ote. sit down and let your tail hang
in the water and very soon you will
feel n nibblc. But you must not pull
till tell YOU"
So the Coyote sat down with his tail
in the cold water Soon the ice began
to form around it, and she called:
Friend Bear. | feet a bite. Let
me pull HIM out"
3. No, nol not yctw cried the bear
"Wait til he gets a good hold and
then You VIII not lose him"
So the Coyote waited. In q few
minutes the hole was frozen solid and
MS tail was fast.
&" Now. friend C0yOtc" called the
Bear. 6" | think vou have him! Pull ~
Tho Coyo;e pulled with all his
might. but he could not lift his tail
from the ice. and there he was-a
prisoner. While he pulled ard howled
The Bear shouted with laughter. and
rolled on tho ice and ha-had till his
sides were s0c. Then he took his fish
and went home. stopping often TO
LAUGH the thought Of tho Coyote
There ON the ice the Coyote had to
stay unfl thaw liberated him, and
when he got home he was very wet
and cold and half starved. And
from that day TO this he has never
forgiven the Bear, and will not even
sneak to him when they meet, and tho
Bear saws politely, Good morning,
fr;ord Zoo tyh av-1nh =