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How Old Man Winter Was Driven Back
by
The South Wind and the young chieftain with a face like the sun were near. They followed close upon the Old Man’s track. When he was again inside the ice lodge, the South Wind rapped gently at the door.
“Begone!” said the Old Man. “No one but North Wind is welcome to my lodge.”
Then the South Wind breathed soft and warm upon the door of the ice lodge, and it melted at their feet. The young chieftain passed in and sat down by the strange fire that had no heat. The South Wind stayed without, and sang, soft and low.
The Old Man was very angry. He raged about the lodge and ordered the young chieftain with sunshine in his face and warmth in his breath to depart.
“I am great and powerful,” said the Old Man. “When I touch the sky, the snow falls. When I speak, hunters hide in their lodges; animals crawl into their holes; and birds fly in fear.
“When my hand touches the earth, it grows cold and hard, and all life dies. Begone! or I will make an ice man or a snow man of you.”
But the young chieftain moved not. He only sat and smiled at the bluster of the Old Man.
Slowly he filled a pipe, and handed it to the Old Man, saying, “Here, smoke with me. It will give you strength to go to your lodge in the North Sky. It is time for you to depart. You are old, and tired, and worn. You and North Wind have had your day. The days that are to come belong to South Wind and to me.
“I, too, am powerful, and I am young! I do not fear you. When I touch the earth, it grows soft and warm. Every living thing stirs in its sleep,–birds and bees, flowers and trees, animals and men. When I speak, the sleeping sun awakes. See! already he begins to send down his arrows. Hasten! that they may not find you, on the trail to the North Sky.”
The Old Man trembled. His legs and arms grew weak. Icicles fell from his beard. Great tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Who are you?” he whispered, as he was melting at the young chieftain’s feet.
“I am Go hay–the Spring,” answered the young chieftain. “All the earth is glad, when I come to drive you back to your lodge in the North Sky, for I bring sunshine, and love, and joy.”
But the Old Man did not hear. He was far on the North Sky trail, and Spring and South Wind were masters of earth.