The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-12-28
Observation-Disclosures


THE LEGEND OF FATHER
SUN
:WHEN the Navajos came up out
W of the world of twilight into the
world Of sunshine and light they were
very happy, and with one accord they
fell on their knees and made sacrifice
to the Father Sun who frightened the
heavens and made the world warm.
and comfortable for the tribesmen.
When they had become settled In
their new world and had bnilded their
shomes and made their fires, then they
planted their crops In order that they
might live In comfort. Round about
them they planted golden maize, and
grain and many foods. Their fiocks
they took into the green fields to eat
of the grass. and their horses = and
their cattle they turned looseto roam
In the beautiful valley where they had
come.
But as the days went on the crops
failed. and the grass turned brown /,
and the streams dried up and the
Navajos were much perturbed. for
they knew not what to do. For the
sun, sweeping through the sky, had
come close. to earth, and the heat.
which at first had seemed pleasant,
became unbearable-and even the
tribesmen themselves were made sick
by the brightness of its rays. Many
there were among the tribesmen who
wished themselves back In the world
of twilight, but the road had been
closed and only a great mountain re-
mained to mark where the roadway
had been.
As the summer came on many of
the tribesmen became sick unto death,
for the heat was terrific-but there
was no place to go and no place to
turn, for all the world was vast
desert, burned by the rays of the
Father Sun.
As matters became worse and
worse the tribesmen became desperate
and finally, one day, called great
council of the chief and the head
men and the witch. doctors. For ten
days and ten nights these men sat in
solemn conclave to determine; what
best might be done to relieve their
oppressed people.
Finally, at the end Of the ten days
and the ten nights they called the
tribe together, and the whole tribe,
even the women and the lchildren,
went to the top of high hill and
there they built altars and offered up
sacrifices, and prayed to the Father
Sun that he might move back Into
the heaven SO bis rays would not be
so hot.
When they had prayed for q long
time then the Father Sun sent down
to them lesser god from the sky.
and the lesser. god came up to the
ehiefs and the medicine men andSfol
them that the sun had heard their
prayer.
"Ahd so long as you remain faith
full to the Father Sum- who provides
you with heat and with light, SO long
will he protect you," the messenger
said. "And when another day comes
then will the sun move back in the
heavens and the grass VIII grow green,
and water will flow through the
streams, and flowers win bloom, and
the land will be a land of happiness
and prosperity for the Navajos."
When he had finished speaking the
messenger disappeared in great
cloud and the people marveled much
and fell on their faces and gave
thanks. e.
When another day came it was as
the messenger had said, for the sun
had moved back into the sky, and the
air was cool and the trees, grew leaves
and the corn sprOuted and flowers
bloomed and the world was a world of
happiness.
So 1t has been to tins day. And
the sun who Is the father who pro-
tectf the Navajos. has. ever warmed
the earth with his rays and caused
the corn to grow and the flowers to
bloom.
Nor have the Navajos forgotten the
Promise they. made many years ago,
on the great hilltop. when the world
was young. Each morning when they
arise they face toward the east and
give thanks to the Father Sun who
gives them warmth and light, and each
night they face toward the west and
give thanks for the day that has gone.
Here In our village, II you win look,
you will see that every house faces
the east and each morning we are
awakened by the early rays Of the
sun which come in through the doors
and the windows-for that 10 as 1t
should be- and even, ms II was prom
ised by the great CHIEFS ages and ages
ago when the NavaJos came out Of the
world of twilight. into the world Of
sunshine and light
Note-To this day the Navajo tribes
af Arizona and New Mexico continue
TO build their houses fncing the east
Even IN the large villages the homes
"a. ht,itf IN nf.q. s;fJa sDf tho ST roe,