--- title: The Grizzly Bear’s Medicine — The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian S… · full text with trees · page 2 description: The Grizzly Bear’s Medicine, «The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian Stories» by George Bird Grinnell: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: A long time ago there lived in a camp of Pawnees a certain poor boy. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/page/2/) [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/) / [The Punishment of the Stingy, and Othe…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/) / The Grizzly Bear’s Medicine # The Grizzly Bear’s Medicine · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/page/3/) The next morning the Bear took the boy out on the prairie and showed him the different roots and leaves of medicines, and told him how to use them; how he should eat some medicine and then he could cure the wounded by just breathing on the wound.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") That night the Bear said to him: “Hereafter you shall have the same feelings as the bear.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") When you get angry, you will have a grunt like a bear; and if you get too fierce, tushes like a bear’s will stick out of your mouth, so that the people will know that you are very angry.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") You shall have my power, and you can go into any of the lodges of the animals, of which I am the chief.”[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") And he told him how to get into these lodges.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") That day they stayed in the Bear’s lodge, and the Bear took the claw off from his little finger and gave it and a little bundle of medicine to the boy.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") He said, “Take this claw and this bundle of medicine and put them on a string and wear them on your neck always, the claw hanging in front.”[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") He taught him how to make plums grow on trees, and how to make ground-cherries come out of his mouth.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") That night he sent the boy back to the camp.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “Tell your father and mother not to mourn for you, for you will return in two days more.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") I have driven plenty of buffalo to this place, and the people will kill them and dry the meat.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") Now go to the camp and get a pipe and some tobacco, and bring them here.”[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy went back to the camp.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") When he went into the lodge his father and mother were glad to see him.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") He told them not to be anxious about him, and not to say anything about his having been away.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went out and found his brother, the chief’s son, asleep.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") He said to him: “Wake up, brother.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") I want you to get some tobacco and a pipe from your father.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Tell no one that it is for me.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") Bring it here.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") I want to smoke with you.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") I am going away again, but you must stay in camp.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") I shall return in a few days.”[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief’s son got the things and gave them to the boy.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") He wanted to go with him, but the poor boy would not let him.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") That same night the boy went back to the Bear’s den, carrying with him the pipe and tobacco.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") After he went into the lodge he filled his pipe and lighted it, and he and the Bear smoked together.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bear said to him: “After you have gone home, whenever you smoke, always point your pipe towards my den and ask me to smoke with you.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") After lighting your pipe, point it first to Atíus Tiráwat, and then blow a few whiffs to me.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") Then I shall know that you still remember me.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") All my power comes from Atíus.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") He made me.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") There will be an end to my days as there is to those of every mortal.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") So long as I live I shall protect you; when I die of old age, you shall die too.”[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") After this he said, “Now bring my youngest boy here.”[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy brought the little cub, and the Bear said, “Now kill him.”[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy hesitated to do this.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") He did not want to kill the little bear, but it said to him: “Go on, my brother, kill me.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") After this I am going to be a spirit, and always to be with you.”[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the boy killed him, and skinned him, and tanned his hide.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") After it was tanned he put some red medicine paint on the hide.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") When this was done the Bear told him to put his paint, his feather, and his war-club in this hide, and to wrap them up and make a bundle of them.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he said: “Now, my son, go to your people, and when you get home hang your bundle up at the back of the lodge, and let the people know nothing of all this.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") Keep it secret.[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") Wherever you go, or wherever you are, I shall be with you.”[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy went home to the camp, and told his mother to hang up his bundle, as the Bear had said.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") Next morning he was in camp and all the people saw him.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") They were surprised, for they had thought that he had been killed.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") By this time the Pawnees had all the buffalo they wanted, and the next day they started back to their village.[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") After they had reached their home, the boy told the chief’s son that he wanted him to go off with him on the war-path.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") His brother said: “It is good.[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") I will go.”[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") The poor boy took his bundle, and they started.[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") After travelling many days they came to a camp of the enemy.[160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") They went into the village in the daytime, and took many horses and started away with them, riding hard.[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon the enemy pursued them, and at length they could see them coming, and it seemed as if they must soon overtake them.[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the poor boy got off his horse and stopped, telling his brother to go on, driving the horses.[163](../../163/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy had painted himself red over his whole body.[164](../../164/ "tree and pragmatics") He held his war-club in his hand, and had his feather tied on his head and the little bear-skin on his back.[165](../../165/ "tree and pragmatics") The enemy soon came up and tried to kill him, but they could not.[166](../../166/ "tree and pragmatics") He would run after one and kill him, and all the others would shoot at him with their arrows, but they could not hurt him, and at last they left him and went back, and he went on and overtook the chief’s son.[167](../../167/ "tree and pragmatics") Then his brother saw that he had great power.[168](../../168/ "tree and pragmatics") After this they travelled on slowly, and at last reached the village.[169](../../169/ "tree and pragmatics") His brother told the people that this man was powerful, that they had taken the horses in broad daylight, and the young man had stayed behind on foot and fought the enemy off, while he drove on the horses.[170](../../170/ "tree and pragmatics") A few days after they reached home, a war-party of the enemy attacked the village.[171](../../171/ "tree and pragmatics") All the Pawnees went out to fight them, but the poor boy stayed behind in the lodge.[172](../../172/ "tree and pragmatics") He took down his bundle, filled the pipe, and pointed it first to Atíus, and then towards the Bear’s lodge, and smoked.[173](../../173/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he took the paint and mixed it with grease, and rubbed it all over his body except his face: that he painted black.[174](../../174/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he put the feather on his head and the little bear-robe on his back, and took his war-club in his hand and started out.[175](../../175/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bear had told him that in going into battle he must never start towards the east, but must attack going towards the west.[176](../../176/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went around, and came on the battle-field from one side.[177](../../177/ "tree and pragmatics") As he came up he saw that his people were having a hard time, and were being driven back.[178](../../178/ "tree and pragmatics") There was one of the enemy who seemed to be the bravest of all.[179](../../179/ "tree and pragmatics") The poor boy rushed at this man and killed him with his club, and then ran back to his own line.[180](../../180/ "tree and pragmatics") When his people looked at him, and saw that it was really the poor boy who had just done so brave a deed, they knew that what the chief’s son had said was true.[181](../../181/ "tree and pragmatics") When he started again to rush towards the enemy’s line, all the Pawnees followed him.[182](../../182/ "tree and pragmatics") He ran among the enemy, and with his club killed one here and one there, and the enemy became afraid and ran, and the Pawnees followed and killed many of them.[183](../../183/ "tree and pragmatics") That night they returned to the village, rejoicing over the victory.[184](../../184/ "tree and pragmatics") Everybody was praising the young man.[185](../../185/ "tree and pragmatics") Old men were calling his name, young women were singing about him, and old women dancing before him.[186](../../186/ "tree and pragmatics") People no longer made fun of his father or mother, or of him.[187](../../187/ "tree and pragmatics") Now they looked upon him as a great and powerful person.[188](../../188/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bear had told him that when he wanted his name changed he must call himself Ku ruks la war´ uks ti, Medicine Bear.[189](../../189/ "tree and pragmatics") That night the Bear came to the boy in his sleep and spoke to him.[190](../../190/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “My son, to-morrow the chief of the tribe is going to ask you to take his daughter for your wife, but you must not do this yet.[191](../../191/ "tree and pragmatics") I wish you to wait until you have done certain things.[192](../../192/ "tree and pragmatics") If you take a wife before that time, your power will go from you.”[193](../../193/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day the chief came to Medicine Bear and asked him to marry his daughter, and told him the people wanted him to be their head chief.[194](../../194/ "tree and pragmatics") He refused.[195](../../195/ "tree and pragmatics") Some time after this all the different tribes that had been attacked by them joined forces and came down together to fight the Pawnees.[196](../../196/ "tree and pragmatics") All the people went out to meet them, but he stayed in his lodge and painted himself, and put his feather in his head and the bear-claw on his neck and his bear-skin on his back, and smoked as he always did, and took his club and went out.[197](../../197/ "tree and pragmatics") When he came to the battle, the Pawnees were having a hard time, because the enemy were so many.[198](../../198/ "tree and pragmatics") Medicine Bear charged, and killed a man, and then came back, and the second time he charged, the people charged all together, following him, and they killed many and drove the enemy off, and those who had the fastest horses were the only ones who got away.[199](../../199/ "tree and pragmatics") The Pawnees went home to the village.[200](../../200/ "tree and pragmatics") Everybody rejoiced, and there were many scalp-dances.[201](../../201/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the poor boy was more highly thought of than ever.[202](../../202/ "tree and pragmatics") Even the chiefs bowed their heads when they saw him.[203](../../203/ "tree and pragmatics") They could not equal him.[204](../../204/ "tree and pragmatics") This time he called himself Ku ruks ti carish, Angry Bear.[205](../../205/ "tree and pragmatics") After the excitement had quieted down, one day the head chief said: “Medicine Bear, in all this tribe there is no chief who is equal to you.[206](../../206/ "tree and pragmatics") Sit down by my daughter.[207](../../207/ "tree and pragmatics") Take her for your wife, and take my place as chief.[208](../../208/ "tree and pragmatics") I and my wife will go out of this lodge, and it shall be yours.[209](../../209/ "tree and pragmatics") You shall be the chief of the tribe.[210](../../210/ "tree and pragmatics") Whatever you say we will abide by.”[211](../../211/ "tree and pragmatics") The poor boy said: “My father, I will think about this.[212](../../212/ "tree and pragmatics") By morning I will let you know.”[213](../../213/ "tree and pragmatics") In the night, before he slept, he filled the pipe and smoked as the Bear had told him to do, and then he went to bed.[214](../../214/ "tree and pragmatics") In dreams the Bear said to him: “My son, you have done what I wished you to do.[215](../../215/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the power will remain with you as long as you shall live.[216](../../216/ "tree and pragmatics") Now you can marry, if you will.”[217](../../217/ "tree and pragmatics") But the boy was not yet ready to do this.[218](../../218/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl was very pretty, and he liked her, but he felt that before he married there were still some things that he must do.[219](../../219/ "tree and pragmatics") He called his brother and said to him, “Go, kill the fattest of the buffalo; bring it to me, and I will take a long journey with you.”[220](../../220/ "tree and pragmatics") His brother went hunting and killed a buffalo, and brought the meat home, and they dried it and made a bundle of it.[221](../../221/ "tree and pragmatics") Medicine Bear told his brother to carry this bundle and a rawhide rope and a little hatchet, and they started on a journey towards the Missouri River.[222](../../222/ "tree and pragmatics") One day towards evening they reached the river, and they found themselves on top of a steep-cut bluff.[223](../../223/ "tree and pragmatics") The river ran at its foot.[224](../../224/ "tree and pragmatics") The poor boy cut a cottonwood pole and drove it into the ground, and tied the rope to it, and then tied the other end of the rope about his brother’s body.[225](../../225/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he sharpened a stick and gave it to his brother and said: “Now take the bundle of meat, and I will let you down over the bank.[226](../../226/ "tree and pragmatics") You must put the meat on a ledge of the cliff, and when the birds come you must feed them.[227](../../227/ "tree and pragmatics") Give a piece to the first one that comes, and then take your sharp stick and get another piece, and so feed all the birds.[228](../../228/ "tree and pragmatics") They are the ones that have power, and they can take pity on you.”[229](../../229/ "tree and pragmatics") So he let the chief’s son down.[230](../../230/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/) **2** [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/page/3/) - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/) - next →: [page 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/page/3/) - ↑ back to [The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian Stories](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/)