Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/157

 Lillooet AVEN was once a chief of great power and very wise. At that time people did not die. One day a man came to Raven and said, "I am not happy as things go now. Let people die so that we may weep, and then we will be happy.

Raven said, "Very well. If people wish to die, it shall be so."

The man went away and soon after his child died. He was sorry. He wept; but instead of being happy when he wept, he was very miserable. He went to Raven and asked him to stop people from dying.

Raven said, "It is too late for that now. I made it as you asked it. I cannot change things now. Henceforth people shall continue to die."

That is the reason people die. Afterward Raven was changed into a mere bird, because he let death happen. Through him it came into the world.