The Wren and the Cricket
Tsalagi
The wren is the messenger of all of the birds, she
makes it her business to know everything. She rises
early each morning to go to all of the homes and
gather the news.
When a baby is born she finds out whether it is a
boy or a girl and makes her report to the council.If
the baby is a boy, the birds join in a sorrowful
song, because the birds know that when the boy grows
older he will hunt and kill them with his bow.
If the baby is a girl they are happy and sing a
joyful song, because they know that they will be
able to gather grain from where she sweeps her
house. When she is older.
When the cricket hears that a girl has been born,
it is also glad and says "I shall sing at the house
where she lives". But if it is a boy the cricket is
sorrowful and cries" He will shoot me!". For boys
make little bows to shoot grasshoppers and crickets.
When asking if a new baby is a boy or girl the
Cherokee asks " Is it a bow or a (meal) sifter?".