--- title: Iktomi's Blanket — Old Indian Legends · full text with trees description: Iktomi's Blanket, «Old Indian Legends» by Zitkala-Sa: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: ALONE within his teepee sat Iktomi. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Old Indian Legends](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/) / Iktomi's Blanket # Iktomi's Blanket Iktomi's Blanket of «Old Indian Legends» by Zitkala-Sa: the whole text, 78 sentences and 922 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself; 2 of them are in the tales treebank and were checked by a teacher model. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/1/) — ALONE within his teepee sat Iktomi. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/2/) — The sun was but a handsbreadth from the western edge of land. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/3/) — “Those, bad, bad gray wolves! - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/4/) — They ate up all my nice fat ducks!” muttered he, rocking his body to and fro. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/5/) — He was cuddling the evil memory he bore those hungry wolves. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/6/) — At last he ceased to sway his body backward and forward, but sat still and stiff as a stone image. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/7/) — “Oh! - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/8/) — I'll go to Inyan, the great-grandfather, and pray for food!” he exclaimed. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/9/) — At once he hurried forth from his teepee and, with his blanket over one shoulder, drew nigh to a huge rock on a hillside. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/10/) — With half-crouching, half-running strides, he fell upon Inyan with outspread hands. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/11/) — “Grandfather! pity me. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/12/) — I am hungry. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/13/) — I am starving. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/14/) — Give me food. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/15/) — Great-grandfather, give me meat to eat!” he cried. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/16/) — All the while he stroked and caressed the face of the great stone god. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/17/) — The all-powerful Great Spirit, who makes the trees and grass, can hear the voice of those who pray in many varied ways. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/18/) — The hearing of Inyan, the large hard stone, was the one most sought after. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/19/) — He was the great-grandfather, for he had sat upon the hillside many, many seasons. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/20/) — He had seen the prairie put on a snow-white blanket and then change it for a bright green robe more than a thousand times. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/21/) — Still unaffected by the myriad moons he rested on the everlasting hill, listening to the prayers of Indian warriors. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/22/) — Before the finding of the magic arrow he had sat there. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/23/) — Now, as Iktomi prayed and wept before the great-grandfather, the sky in the west was red like a glowing face. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/24/) — The sunset poured a soft mellow light upon the huge gray stone and the solitary figure beside it. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/25/) — It was the smile of the Great Spirit upon the grandfather and the wayward child. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/26/) — The prayer was heard. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/27/) — Iktomi knew it. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/28/) — “Now, grandfather, accept my offering; 'tis all I have,” said Iktomi as he spread his half-worn blanket upon Inyan's cold shoulders. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/29/) — Then Iktomi, happy with the smile of the sunset sky, followed a footpath leading toward a thicketed ravine. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/30/) — He had not gone many paces into the shrubbery when before him lay a freshly wounded deer! - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/31/) — “This is the answer from the red western sky!” cried Iktomi with hands uplifted. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/32/) — Slipping a long thin blade from out his belt, he cut large chunks of choice meat. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/33/) — Sharpening some willow sticks, he planted them around a wood-pile he had ready to kindle. — checked by a teacher - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/34/) — On these stakes he meant to roast the venison. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/35/) — While he was rubbing briskly two long sticks to start a fire, the sun in the west fell out of the sky below the edge of land. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/36/) — Twilight was over all. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/37/) — Iktomi felt the cold night air upon his bare neck and shoulders. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/38/) — “Ough!” he shivered as he wiped his knife on the grass. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/39/) — Tucking it in a beaded case hanging from his belt, Iktomi stood erect, looking about. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/40/) — He shivered again. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/41/) — “Ough! - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/42/) — Ah! - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/43/) — I am cold. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/44/) — I wish I had my blanket!” whispered he, hovering over the pile of dry sticks and the sharp stakes round about it. - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/45/) — Suddenly he paused and dropped his hands at his sides. - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/46/) — “The old great-grandfather does not feel the cold as I do. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/47/) — He does not need my old blanket as I do. - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/48/) — I wish I had not given it to him. - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/49/) — Oh! - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/50/) — I think I'll run up there and take it back!” said he, pointing his long chin toward the large gray stone. - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/51/) — Iktomi, in the warm sunshine, had no need of his blanket, and it had been very easy to part with a thing which he could not miss. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/52/) — But the chilly night wind quite froze his ardent thank-offering. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/53/) — Thus running up the hillside, his teeth chattering all the way, he drew near to Inyan, the sacred symbol. - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/54/) — Seizing one corner of the half-worn blanket, Iktomi pulled it off with a jerk. - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/55/) — “Give my blanket back, old grandfather! - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/56/) — You do not need it. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/57/) — I do!” - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/58/) — This was very wrong, yet Iktomi did it, for his wit was not wisdom. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/59/) — Drawing the blanket tight over his shoulders, he descended the hill with hurrying feet. - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/60/) — He was soon upon the edge of the ravine. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/61/) — A young moon, like a bright bent bow, climbed up from the southwest horizon a little way into the sky. - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/62/) — In this pale light Iktomi stood motionless as a ghost amid the thicket. - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/63/) — His woodpile was not yet kindled. - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/64/) — His pointed stakes were still bare as he had left them. - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/65/) — But where was the deer--the venison he had felt warm in his hands a moment ago? - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/66/) — It was gone. - [67](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/67/) — Only the dry rib bones lay on the ground like giant fingers from an open grave. - [68](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/68/) — Iktomi was troubled. - [69](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/69/) — At length, stooping over the white dried bones, he took hold of one and shook it. - [70](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/70/) — The bones, loose in their sockets, rattled together at his touch. - [71](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/71/) — Iktomi let go his hold. - [72](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/72/) — He sprang back amazed. - [73](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/73/) — And though he wore a blanket his teeth chattered more than ever. — checked by a teacher - [74](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/74/) — Then his blunted sense will surprise you, little reader; for instead of being grieved that he had taken back his blanket, he cried aloud, “Hin-hin-hin! - [75](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/75/) — If only I had eaten the venison before going for my blanket!” - [76](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/76/) — Those tears no longer moved the hand of the Generous Giver. - [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/77/) — They were selfish tears. - [78](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/3/78/) — The Great Spirit does not heed them ever. - ← previous: [Iktomi and the Ducks](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/2/) - next →: [Iktomi and the Muskrat](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/4/) - ↑ back to [Old Indian Legends](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/)