--- title: XLI. Opechee the Robin Redbreast — Wigwam stories told by North American Indians · full text with trees description: XLI. Opechee the Robin Redbreast, «Wigwam stories told by North American Indians» by Mary Catherine Judd: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: A great hunter among the Chippewas, or Ojibways, wanted his son to secure a powerful spirit to protect him i --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/66/) [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/) / [Wigwam stories told by North American…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/) / XLI. Opechee the Robin Redbreast # XLI. Opechee the Robin Redbreast XLI. Opechee the Robin Redbreast of «Wigwam stories told by North American Indians» by Mary Catherine Judd: the whole text, 47 sentences and 541 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. A great hunter among the Chippewas, or Ojibways, wanted his son to secure a powerful spirit to protect him in war and all danger.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") To gain the help of the strong manitou the boy must fast twelve days.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Many Indian boys can do this, but not all.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Many try and fail.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy did as his father commanded, for when the time came he went into the secret lodge in the deep forest and laid himself down alone on the mat his mother had woven for him.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") He did not fear, but his strength was weak.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") All night he lay there alone.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") In the morning his father came and asked him if the strong spirit had come to him in his dreams.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy shook his head.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") No dreams had come to him.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Each day for ten days the father came to the little lodge in the wilderness and asked his son if the strong manitou had come to him.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is not for me to have such dreams, my father.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") I am not brave.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") The strong manitou will not come to me.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Let me give up my fast.”[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “If you give up now, the manitou will never come.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Hunger makes my son weak, but his heart is strong.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") It is only a short time more to wait.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Then my son shall be the strongest of all.”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The Indian boy covered his face and lay still upon the mat.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") He would obey his father.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") The morning of the eleventh day the boy saw his father enter the wigwam.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") He slowly turned his face toward him and whispered: “Let me break my fast; I have no dreams.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “To-morrow I will bring you food.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") To-morrow you shall come to the lodge of your father.”[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy closed his eyes and said no more.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") He was very weak and faint.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") The next morning the father went with the earliest morning light to the little lodge in the forest.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Peeping through the door he saw his son sitting up.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Beside his mat were brushes and paint.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") He was painting himself red and brown.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") “The manitou will free me, but it is not the spirit my father wanted,” he heard the boy say.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The father rushed into the lodge, but as he touched his boy the lad changed into a bird and flew out of the open doorway.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Sitting on the top of the lodge he sang these words:[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") “Do not mourn for me, my father, for I am happy.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") I did not want to be a warrior.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") I wanted only to be free.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") I shall find food upon the fields and the hills.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") I will comfort you.”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he flew away.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Opechee lives near the homes of men.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") He loves to comfort them when they are sad.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") He is happy when they are happy.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") His songs are for the little children and for the fathers and mothers who want their little ones to be brave.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Opechee is not afraid in the storm, and many have heard him singing just after the great thunderbirds had called to each other and the water was coming fast from the sky to find a place to hide in the ground.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Opechee is brave, but not strong.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Schoolcraft.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [XL. the Magic Moccasins](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/65/) - next →: [XLII. the Indian Who Married the Moon](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/67/) - ↑ back to [Wigwam stories told by North American Indians](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg73136/)