--- title: The Grizzly Bear’s Medicine — The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian S… · full text with trees · page 3 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/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/) / [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 3 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/page/2/) **3** The first bird that came was a buzzard, then an eagle, then hawks and owls, all kinds of birds that kill their prey.[231](../../231/ "tree and pragmatics") He fed them all.[232](../../232/ "tree and pragmatics") While he was doing this, the poor boy was above lying on top of the bank.[233](../../233/ "tree and pragmatics") Late in the afternoon, just as the sun was going down, he saw, far up the river, what looked like a flock of geese coming.[234](../../234/ "tree and pragmatics") They came nearer and nearer, and at last passed out of sight under the bank.[235](../../235/ "tree and pragmatics") Afterwards, when he looked down on the river, he could see in the water red light as if it were all on fire, and as he lay on the bank he could hear down below him the sound of drumming and singing just as plain as could be, and all the time the chief’s son was hanging there in front of the bank, and the poor boy would call down to him to cry and ask the animals to take pity on him.[236](../../236/ "tree and pragmatics") When Medicine Bear had done this, he started back and went home, leaving the chief’s son hanging there.[237](../../237/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief’s son stayed there all the night and all the next day, and for three days and nights, and on the night of the fourth day he fell asleep.[238](../../238/ "tree and pragmatics") When he awoke he was in a lodge.[239](../../239/ "tree and pragmatics") It was under the Missouri River.[240](../../240/ "tree and pragmatics") When he looked about him he saw that those in the lodge were all animals.[241](../../241/ "tree and pragmatics") There was the beaver, there was the otter, two buffalo, the antelope, hawks, owls, ermines, bears, frogs, woodpeckers, catfish—all kinds of animals.[242](../../242/ "tree and pragmatics") On each side of the lodge was a little pool, and in each pool sat a goose, and every time they sang, the geese would shake their wings on the water, and it sounded just like drumming.[243](../../243/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief of the animals spoke to him, saying: “My son, at this time we can do nothing for you.[244](../../244/ "tree and pragmatics") We must first send our messenger up to the Bear’s lodge to ask him what we may do for you.”[245](../../245/ "tree and pragmatics") While he was saying this the Bear’s servant entered the lodge and said: “My father, it is all right.[246](../../246/ "tree and pragmatics") Our father the Bear told me to say to you that his son has sent this young man to you, and you must exert all your power for him.”[247](../../247/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the animals began to make ready to use their power to help the chief’s son.[248](../../248/ "tree and pragmatics") First the Beaver talked to the young man, to tell him of his powers and his ways, so that he might perform wonderful acts.[249](../../249/ "tree and pragmatics") How he should take the branch of a tree and strike a man with its point and it would go through him, and then how to draw it out and to make the man well again.[250](../../250/ "tree and pragmatics") He gave him the power to do this.[251](../../251/ "tree and pragmatics") He taught him how to take a stick two feet long and swallow it, and then take it out again from his throat, and gave him this power.[252](../../252/ "tree and pragmatics") The Otter gave him the power, if his enemies ever attacked him, to break their arrows with his teeth and shoot back the shaft without a spike, and if he hit an enemy with the shaft, it would kill him.[253](../../253/ "tree and pragmatics") “The poison from your mouth will kill him,” he said.[254](../../254/ "tree and pragmatics") The Ground-dog said: “My son, here is my little one.[255](../../255/ "tree and pragmatics") I give him to you.[256](../../256/ "tree and pragmatics") Take him, and if you have an enemy among the doctors in your tribe, take this little one down to the water early in the morning and dip his nose in the water, and when you take it out it will have a piece of liver in its mouth.[257](../../257/ "tree and pragmatics") The man who has tried to kill you will be found dead.”[258](../../258/ "tree and pragmatics") The Owl said: “My son, I give you power to see in the night.[259](../../259/ "tree and pragmatics") When you go on the war-path and want to take horses, the night will be like daytime for you.”[260](../../260/ "tree and pragmatics") The Hawk said: “My son, I give you power to run swiftly, and I give you my war-club, which is my wing.[261](../../261/ "tree and pragmatics") You shall strike your enemy with it only once, and the blow shall kill him.[262](../../262/ "tree and pragmatics") Take also this little black rope; you shall use it when you go on the war-path to catch horses.[263](../../263/ "tree and pragmatics") Take also this scalp which you see hanging down from my claw.[264](../../264/ "tree and pragmatics") You shall be a great man for scalping.”[265](../../265/ "tree and pragmatics") Each of the other animals gave him all his kinds of power.[266](../../266/ "tree and pragmatics") For two days and two nights they taught him the different kinds of power, and for two days and two nights they taught him the different kinds of roots and herbs for healing the sick.[267](../../267/ "tree and pragmatics") They said to him: “You shall be the great doctor of your people.[268](../../268/ "tree and pragmatics") Every now and then you must bring us tobacco, so that we can smoke.”[269](../../269/ "tree and pragmatics") They further told him that at this time they could teach him only a little, but that afterwards, one at a time, they would meet him out on the prairie, and would teach him more.[270](../../270/ "tree and pragmatics") At last they said: “Now it is time for you to go.[271](../../271/ "tree and pragmatics") Your friend has come, and is waiting for you out on the prairie.”[272](../../272/ "tree and pragmatics") The Buffalo now stood up and said: “My son, I want to be with you always.[273](../../273/ "tree and pragmatics") I give you my robe.[274](../../274/ "tree and pragmatics") Wear it wherever you go, that the people may know that you come from this place.”[275](../../275/ "tree and pragmatics") All the animals said, “We want to be with you too.”[276](../../276/ "tree and pragmatics") Each one of the birds took off a feather and put it on the robe, and each animal put one of its claws on it, and some put medicine on it.[277](../../277/ "tree and pragmatics") In one of the holes the Beaver tied a little sweet-grass, and others did the same.[278](../../278/ "tree and pragmatics") By the time they were through, the robe was all covered with feathers and claws and smelled sweet.[279](../../279/ "tree and pragmatics") The animals had put their medicine on it so that it smelled sweet.[280](../../280/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the animals said, “Go, my son, to your people, and bring us something to smoke, so that we may be satisfied.”[281](../../281/ "tree and pragmatics") Presently the chief’s son found himself upon the bluff, facing his brother.[282](../../282/ "tree and pragmatics") His brother grasped him in his arms and said: “Oh, my brother, you smell nice.[283](../../283/ "tree and pragmatics") What a fine robe you have on\![284](../../284/ "tree and pragmatics") Look at all these feathers.”[285](../../285/ "tree and pragmatics") They hugged each other.[286](../../286/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they went home together.[287](../../287/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief’s son had a bundle that the animals had given him.[288](../../288/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon after this the Pawnees had a big doctors’ dance.[289](../../289/ "tree and pragmatics") These boys went into the doctors’ lodge and said: “Doctors, you are the head doctors, but we have come to-night to visit you.[290](../../290/ "tree and pragmatics") We want to do a few things ourselves.”[291](../../291/ "tree and pragmatics") The doctors all said “Lau-a.”[292](../../292/ "tree and pragmatics") The young men took seats close to the door, which is the most important place in this dance.[293](../../293/ "tree and pragmatics") All the doctors were surprised, and said “Uh!”[294](../../294/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bear boy got up first and began shooting at the chief’s son, just as he had done with the Bear, and all the doctors thought he was powerful, shooting at this young man and curing him.[295](../../295/ "tree and pragmatics") When he got through, it was the other boy’s turn.[296](../../296/ "tree and pragmatics") He would take a long sharp stick and thrust it through his brother, and then heal him again, and then take a knife and stab him, and then cure him.[297](../../297/ "tree and pragmatics") He did some powerful things, more so than his brother had done.[298](../../298/ "tree and pragmatics") After the doctors had seen all these things they all said, “Let us have these two for our head doctors.”[299](../../299/ "tree and pragmatics") But the poor boy said: “Not so.[300](../../300/ "tree and pragmatics") This one who is sitting by me has more power than I have.[301](../../301/ "tree and pragmatics") He ought to be the head doctor, for I am a warrior, and can never stay in the camp to doctor people.[302](../../302/ "tree and pragmatics") My brother has gone into the animals’ lodge, and they have given him more power than I possess.”[303](../../303/ "tree and pragmatics") So the chief’s son was chosen to be the head doctor.[304](../../304/ "tree and pragmatics") When the doctors’ dance was over, the two brothers at once started to go to the animals’ lodge, carrying with them tobacco and a pipe.[305](../../305/ "tree and pragmatics") When they got there, the chief’s son told his brother to wait on the bank, that he was going down to take the tobacco and the pipe to his fathers.[306](../../306/ "tree and pragmatics") He jumped off the steep bank into the river, down into the door of the lodge, and went in.[307](../../307/ "tree and pragmatics") When they saw him all the animals slapped their mouths and called out.[308](../../308/ "tree and pragmatics") They were glad to see him.[309](../../309/ "tree and pragmatics") After smoking with them, he went back to his friend.[310](../../310/ "tree and pragmatics") After that the chief’s son would go off by himself and would meet the animals on the hills.[311](../../311/ "tree and pragmatics") They would tell him about different roots, and how to doctor this disease and that.[312](../../312/ "tree and pragmatics") He would come back with some roots and herbs and put them away.[313](../../313/ "tree and pragmatics") Finally the head chief sent for the Bear man and said to him: “My son, I offered you my lodge, my daughter, and the whole tribe.[314](../../314/ "tree and pragmatics") Now take all this.[315](../../315/ "tree and pragmatics") Let me go out of this lodge and look for another one, and you stay here with my daughter.”[316](../../316/ "tree and pragmatics") The young man said: “What of my brother?[317](../../317/ "tree and pragmatics") Send for the other chief.[318](../../318/ "tree and pragmatics") Let him give his daughter, his lodge, his people, to him, and this day we will accept your gifts to us.[319](../../319/ "tree and pragmatics") My brother will after this be the head doctor of this tribe.”[320](../../320/ "tree and pragmatics") The other chief, when asked to do this, agreed, and it was so done.[321](../../321/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bear man went often on the war-path, but his brother stayed at home, and fought against the enemy only when they attacked the village.[322](../../322/ "tree and pragmatics") He took charge of the doctors’ lodge.[323](../../323/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bear man after this had some children, and when they had grown up he told his son the secrets of his power.[324](../../324/ "tree and pragmatics") He was now beginning to grow old, and his son went on the war-path, while he stayed at home.[325](../../325/ "tree and pragmatics") One night he had a dream about his father the Bear.[326](../../326/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bear said to him: “My son, I made you great and powerful among your people.[327](../../327/ "tree and pragmatics") The hairs of my body are falling, and soon I shall die.[328](../../328/ "tree and pragmatics") Then you too will die.[329](../../329/ "tree and pragmatics") Tell your son all the secret powers that I gave you.[330](../../330/ "tree and pragmatics") He shall keep the same power that you have had.”[331](../../331/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon after this the old Bear must have died, for the man died.[332](../../332/ "tree and pragmatics") Before he died he said to his brother: “Do not mourn for me, for I shall always be near you.[333](../../333/ "tree and pragmatics") Take care of your people.[334](../../334/ "tree and pragmatics") Cure them when they are sick, and always be their chief.”[335](../../335/ "tree and pragmatics") When the enemy came and attacked the people and wounded any, the chief’s son was always there and always cured them.[336](../../336/ "tree and pragmatics") He was a great doctor.[337](../../337/ "tree and pragmatics") At last he also died, but his son had the same kind of power.[338](../../338/ "tree and pragmatics") But these two sons never had so great powers as their fathers.[339](../../339/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/page/2/) **3** - ← previous: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/10/page/2/) - next →: [The First Medicine Lodge](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/11/) - ↑ back to [The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian Stories](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/)