Page:Indian nature myths (IA indiannaturemyth00cowl 0).pdf/93

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his feet the moccasins that the younger sister had just given to the strange old man.

"'I seek a maiden to be the light of my lodge,' he said, 'and by magic I have found that one. I was the old man who came hither for shelter and comfort, and so I learned how to escape a sharp tongue and bitter words.

"'But the Medicine Man's charm has not yet finished its work,' he added. 'I do not want another to suffer the fate I have so narrowly escaped.'

"He took the younger sister by the hand and led her from the lodge. The older sister followed, and as she stepped outside, her feet became rooted to the ground, and she was turned into an aspen tree.

"The younger sister became the light of the young warrior's lodge; but the aspen tree, like the older sister, while beautiful to look upon, has since that day had a whispering and unruly tongue."