--- title: The Beaver Stick — The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian S… · full text with trees · page 2 description: The Beaver Stick, «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: In ancient times, long before the people had found horses and used them instead of dogs to bear burdens and drag l --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/17/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 Beaver Stick # The Beaver Stick · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/17/) **2** New Robe was awakened from his first night’s rest in the strange place by the old man calling him to arise and eat.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") He had scarcely begun to taste a fresh dish of the strangely made pemmican, when the water in the pool began to heave and rise, and then again sank to its level as one of the sons arose from its depths and stepped over to his couch, not a drop of water clinging to him or his garments.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") “Our pond is frozen over,” he said.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") “Not even an air-hole remains open.”[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") “Hai!” the old man exclaimed.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") “Is it so?[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Well, winter has come, and,” turning to New Robe, “now you cannot leave us until spring comes and melts the ice.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") But do not be uneasy; we will treat you well, and try to make your life here pleasant.”[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") So New Robe spent the winter in the beaver’s lodge.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") The days came and went, one after another, and easy contentment marked their flight.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Most of the waking hours were passed by the beavers in praying to their medicines and in singing their sacred songs, and the young man, listening, learned much of their secret wisdom.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") The months passed, and one morning the water in the whirling pool was seen to be a little muddy.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day, one of the sons reported that in places the ice had melted.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man and the two sons went out to look about and inspect the dam, leaving New Robe and the old woman inside.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") “Kyi,” she said, “summer is now come, and you will soon leave us.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Before you go the old man will make you a present; he will give you your choice of all his medicines.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Choose that stick whirling about there in the pool, for it is the strongest of them all.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") He will try to make you believe it is worthless, but insist on having it, and finally he will give it to you.”[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Presently the others returned.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” said the old man to New Robe, “spring has really come, and I know that you wish to return to your people.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") I am going to give you something to take back with you.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Look about you, my son.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") See all these beautiful medicines hanging on the walls.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Choose the one you fancy, and it is yours.”[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") “Give me that,” said New Robe, pointing to the floating stick.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") “O-e-ai!” the old man exclaimed, in a surprised and pained tone.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") “O-e-ai\![109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") What?[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") That old stick?[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Surely, my son, you must be crazy.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") Look about you; open your eyes and choose one of these beautiful medicines.”[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") “Give me the stick,” New Robe repeated.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") “Come, come.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Surely you do not know what you ask for.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") Now let me explain to you,” and the old man began to point out the different medicines and to tell what they were, explaining the wonderful and mysterious power of each.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") “There, you see,” he concluded, “how unreasonable was your choice.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") Now I have explained them all, tell me which will you have?”[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") New Robe considered; he wondered if the old woman had not been mistaken in advising him to choose the old beaver cutting, but he caught her eye, and, assured by her meaning glance, replied as before, “Give me the stick.”[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Once more the old man tried with all his power to persuade him to make a different choice, and the sweat rolled from his brow as he entreated the young man to select something else, and once more New Robe said, “I want the stick.”[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") “O-e-ai!” cried the old man in despair.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") “Four times you have asked for the old cutting, and when that sacred number is reached I cannot refuse.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") Take the cutting, my son.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") It is the most valuable and powerful of all my medicines.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") It is really a beaver which, at will, you can change to the simple cutting as it appears to be.”[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") New Robe was pleased, and when he learned how powerful the medicine was that he had chosen he knew that he had not left the home of his people in vain.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") He was now obliged to put off his departure, for he had to learn the hundred songs and the many prayers that went with his gift.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") But at last he knew them all by heart, and the old man gave him some parting advice.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") “You must not look back,” he said, “when you leave us, not even once, or the medicine will leave you and return to me.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") Also, you must always carry it concealed beneath your shirt, hanging by the string I have tied to it.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Never let any one see it, or your power will be broken.”[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they all bade him good-bye, and he dived into the pool, and presently rose to the surface of the pond.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") When he reached the shore he knelt down in the grass and cried, cried long and bitterly, for he felt very sad to leave the kind beavers.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") It was all he could do to keep from looking back for one last glimpse of them.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") But after a time he rose and walked on, out of the valley, up over the dry, wide plain.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") After a little he came to a river, swollen and swift with the melted snows.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") He placed a little cutting in the water, and it changed at once into a large, pure white beaver.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") “Little brother,” said New Robe, “the stream is high and dangerous.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Cut me some logs so that I may make a raft on which to cross it safely.”[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") At once the beaver began to fell some trees, and, as fast as he cut them into lengths, New Robe bound them together.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") In a little while there were enough to bear his weight, and he crossed to the other side in safety.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, lifting the beaver up, it changed into the stick again, and, putting it safely in his bosom, he journeyed on.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") One morning he came in sight of the camp, and sat down on a neighboring hill, prepared to do just as the old man had instructed him.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") Pretty soon two or three young men approached, looking with wonder at the strange and beautiful robe he wore.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") When they had come near enough to hear his voice—for he kept his face covered—he told them to stand where they were, and asked them to go and tell the father of Raven Woman that he was New Robe, returned from strange adventures, and with a powerful medicine.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ask him,” he said, “to have four sweat lodges built for me, in a row from east to west, and when the stones are heated to let me know.”[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") The young men returned to the camp, and in a little while came back to say that all was ready.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") New Robe told them to walk ahead and warn the people to keep away from him, and, as they all stood in a big crowd on each side of his path, he came to the first sweat lodge and entered it.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") Sprinkling the water on the hot stones, he began the sacred songs that the old man beaver had taught him, and, as he sang, some of the fur with which his body had been gradually covered during the winter fell to the ground.[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon he left this sweat lodge and went into the next one, and the people crowded around the one he had left, looking with wonder at the little heap of shed fur.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went into the four sweat lodges, one after the other.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") When he came out of the fourth sweat lodge, New Robe had shed the last of his beaver fur, and was so changed that no one recognized him.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") He was a beautiful, clear-eyed, long-haired young man.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") He went straight to Raven Woman, who was standing near, and took her hand.[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") They were both so happy they could not speak.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl’s father pointed to his lodge.[157](../../157/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is yours,” he said, “and everything it contains.[158](../../158/ "tree and pragmatics") Go and live happily, my children.”[159](../../159/ "tree and pragmatics") New Robe became a great chief.[160](../../160/ "tree and pragmatics") By the aid of his medicine he was able not only to cure sickness, but he became a great warrior.[161](../../161/ "tree and pragmatics") No river or lake could stop his way, and he was able to kill many of the enemy who were encamped by the shores of any water, for, whenever he asked it of his medicine, it took him safely down under the surface of the water, wherever he wished to go.[162](../../162/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/17/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/17/) - next →: [Little Friend Coyote](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/18/) - ↑ back to [The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian Stories](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/)