LITTLE GRAY WOODPECKER

_Wyandot_

Once a beautiful Indian maiden used to go often to dances. When she

was dressing for the dance, Gray Woodpecker would come to help her.

He helped her put the many colors on her face.

Now Little Gray Woodpecker was gray all over. He had only a few

small white spots. Now one day the maiden left some red paint on the

bit of wood she used for a brush. Woodpecker saw this, and he said,

“I will make myself beautiful with this.” So Gray Woodpecker took

the brush and rubbed it just over his ears, on each side of his

head. He did this many times. That is why he has two tiny red

stripes on the sides of his head.

Myths and Legends of British North America · 第 97 / 107 题