The Greedy Maiden (Lenape)
Once long ago there was a Lenape maiden upon whom
Kishelamakank, the Creator, wished to give a blessing of faith and understanding.
The Creator led the maiden to the edge of a large
corn field which was so large that as far as one could see, the valley was covered with blossoming
corn, and all the cornstalks were gently swaying to the singing of the wind.
Indeed it was a lovely and wonderful sight for her to see. And while she was standing there, a spirit voice spoke to her saying:
"Young maiden, you are now becoming a woman and in the field before you are many good ears of corn.
Listen well to my advice.
"Those who pick good ears of corn are those who
pluck them with faith, and with an honest heart.
"In doing this they shall enjoy the blessings of the medicine and spirit of the corn, and that blessing shall be only as great as the size and beauty of the ear of corn that was chosen.
"Young maiden, you shall pass through the field but once, and pluck for yourself one ear of corn,
and you must take it as you are walking forward.
Be alert. Be cautious. Be very careful.
Pick an ear of corn that is full and fair, and
according to its size and beauty so shall its value to you as good medicine be for the rest of your life."
The young maiden offered her thanks to the spirit
voice, and then set forth on her quest. As she walked along, she saw many ears of
corn, large, beautiful, ripe and good.
Careful judgement should have shown her that any one of them would possess a virtue that was good enough, but greed and selfish desire came forth in her eagerness to grasp the best. So she left
unblemished ears of corn behind, hoping and craving for one still better.
The daylight passed by very rapidly, soon the
deepening shadows began to dim the dying day, and now she reached that part of the corn field where the corn stalks were shorter, and
the ears of corn much smaller, and here
the choice was much less and poorer.
Regretfully, she now remembered the many good and
sound ears of corn that she had left behind. But her wounded pride would not let her pick from
the poor corn that was now everywhere around her.
Here she saw not one ear of corn that bore perfect grain.
So the maiden went on seeking, hoping and searching.
Alas, to her great sorrow and disappointment, she found the cornstalks grew ever more feeble, blighted and useless.
At long last, after suffering much despair, all of the surrounding field began to disappear into the fast approaching darkness, and now she found
herself at the edge of the corn field without having plucked even one ear of corn.
There was no need for the voice of the spirit to rebuke her; everything became very clear to her now, but it was too late!
However, the young maiden did not flee like a
whimpering coyote into the
night.
Instead, she gathered up her courage and returned to her village.
Upon arriving there she made a great campfire near her wigwam, and she gathered her best and dearest friends around the fire, and while the
flames crackled and leaped forth towards the starlit sky, while a wolf howled in the forest, while the crescent moon hid behind a passing cloud, she told her friends all about her grievous adventure, and she warned them not to follow in her footsteps.
Then, very sadly, very regretfully, she bade her friends goodnight.
Next morning her elm bark wigwam was empty, her canoe was gone, and from that day onwards, no one has ever found where she went on that fateful night.
All she left behind was this story.
