Enjoy one of our new bedtime stories for kids. This time it is about Native American called Robin. A perfect, cozy read for all ages.
Long ago, there lived an old man with his only son, named Ethan. It was a tribal tradition that as a boy grows up, he proves his strength of character by fasting. He seeks his guardian spirit during long days spent alone without food.
The father was exceptionally ambitious and wanted his son to become the bravest warrior of the tribe. He decided that young Ethan should fast much longer than anyone before him. Multiple baths and numerous washes were to purify and prepare him. Then, he instructed Ethan to lie down on a clean mat in a small hut specially prepared for him and to endure the fast like a true man. He promised that after twelve days, Ethan would receive food and his father’s blessing.
Indian fairy taleThe boy obeyed and lay down with his face covered, calmly waiting for the spirit that would decide his fate. Every morning, the father came to the door, encouraging him to persevere. He spoke of the great honor and fame that would come when he completed the entire trial period.
The boy never responded to these promises and lay without the slightest sign of dissatisfaction or grumbling until the ninth day, when he said to his father:
„Father! In my dream, I heard a voice saying this is not my path. Can I now break the fast and retry when a more favorable time comes?”
The father replied:
„My son, you do not know what you are asking. If you get up now, you will lose the chance for glory. Wait patiently a little longer. Endure just three more days. Don’t you want your old father to see you as a star among the tribe’s best warriors and leaders?”
The son listened, covered himself more to cut off the light that tempted him to complain, and continued. On the tenth day, he repeated his request. The father, as before, told him to endure and promised to prepare the first meal himself and bring it at dawn.
The next day he saw his son lying so still that only the delicate movement of his chest showed he was still alive.
„I will not shame you, father,” whispered Ethan.
On the last day, at dawn, the father, elated at achieving his goal, prepared a feast for his son and hurried to the hut. Approaching the door, he was surprised to hear his son speaking to himself. He peered through a small opening and was astonished to see him applying a bright red color to his chest and arms. He was saying:
„I was obedient to my father, even though he gave me a task beyond my young strength. He didn’t listen to my pleas and will regret it greatly. The Great Spirit came to me and showed mercy. He gave me a new form and pointed me to my own path, which I will now embark on.”
The father opened the door and called out:
„My son! My son! I pray you do not leave!”
A young man passing by him jumped onto the roof of the house. He transformed into a beautiful bird with a red breast – a robin. He looked at his father with pity in his eyes and said:
„Do not regret the change you see. It is better for me. I cannot fulfill your great ambitions although I listened to you and endured the trial to the end. I won’t become the most magnificent warrior of the tribe. However, I am not going far. My home will be the mountains, forests, and fields. They will feed me. I will return and cheer you with my songs, and inspire others with joy and the lightness of heart I now finally feel.”
Then Ethan stretched up on his toes, as if delighted with the gift of wings, and sang one of his sweetest songs, then flew off towards the nearby forest.
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