Page:Indian nature myths (IA indiannaturemyth00cowl 0).pdf/26

 Then the youth said, "The Great Spirit has sent me to Peboan. I am Seegwun, the Spring. But tell me of yourself, Peboan."

Then Peboan cried, "I am the great winter spirit. When I come to the Earth, all the Earth's children tremble. I breathe upon them, and they cry out. The trees drop their leaves. The birds fly away. The forest children creep into their holes."

"Ah," cried the youth, "when I come to the Earth, the Earth's children laugh and clap their hands. I breathe upon them and they dance with joy. The trees put forth their leaves. The birds come back. The forest children awake."

Peboan continued, "When I come to the Earth, I shake my locks and snow falls from the clouds. The streams grow hard and still. The wind sings dirges through the naked trees."

"When I come to the Earth," laughed Seegwun, "I shake my ringlets and warm showers fall from the clouds. The grass awakes. The flowers bloom. Soft breezes blow. The streams are glad, and sing as they dance along.

"Peboan," said the youth, "the Great Spirit has sent me to the Earth, and you must go."

Seegwun smiled, and the tepee grew warm.