How the Corn-Pests were Ensnared

Name: How the Corn-Pests were Ensnared
Author: Frank Hamilton Cushing

The narrative unfolds in a valley inhabited by Prairie-dogs, who coexist peacefully with various creatures, particularly the Burrowing-owls, whom they respect deeply. One day, the Burrowing-owls perform a sacred dance, captivating a Coyote who is intrigued by their unique movements and the foam bowls they carry on their heads. The Coyote, eager to join the dance, learns from the old Owl that initiation requires him to sacrifice his grandmother's head and break his legs to mimic the Owls' dance. In a misguided attempt to fit in, the Coyote gruesomely beheads his grandmother and dons her head, only to find that the initiation is painful and humiliating. Despite his efforts, he fails to dance properly, becoming the subject of ridicule among the Owls. Angered and humiliated, he vows revenge on the Owls, threatening to smoke them out of their burrows with various plants, only to discover that they find humor in his threats. The Coyote's grief over his grandmother's death leads him to attempt to revive her, but his efforts are futile. In his despair, he encounters a Horned-toad, who, seeking revenge for past insults, enters the Coyote's body. The Horned-toad explores the Coyote's insides, ultimately pricking his heart, which leads to the Coyote's demise. The story concludes with a moral about the Coyote's meddlesome nature and the consequences of his actions, illustrating how his traits have persisted through time. The Burrowing-owls, now speckled from laughing at the Coyote, serve as a reminder of the folly of his attempts to imitate others without understanding the cost.

By Frank Hamilton Cushing · First published 1883 · Genre: Fable, Folklore, Children's Literature · 3,631 words

First lines

You may know the country that lies south of the valley in which our town stands. You travel along the trail which winds round the hill our ancients called Ishana-takʻyapon -- which means the Hill of Grease, for the rocks sometimes shine in the light of the sun at evening, and it is said that strange things occurred there in the days of the ancients, which makes them thus to shine, while rocks of the kind in other places do not -- you travel on up this trail, crossing over the arroyos and foothills of the great mesa called Middle Mountain, until you come to the foot of the cliffs. Then you climb up back and forth, winding round and round, until you reach the top of the mountain, which is as flat as the floor of a house, merely being here and there traversed by small valleys covered with piñon and cedar, and threaded by trails made not only by the feet of our people but by deer and other animals. And so you go on and on, until, hardly knowing it, you have descended from the top of Middle Mountain, and found yourself in a wide plain covered with grass, and here and there clumps of trees. Beyond this valley is an elevated sandy plain, rather sunken in the middle, so that when it rains the water filters down into the soil of the depressed portion (which is wide enough to be a country in itself) and nourishes the grasses there; so that most of the year they grow green and sweet.

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How the Corn-Pests were Ensnared is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank Hamilton Cushing, dated 1883 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Frank Hamilton Cushing
Date: 1883 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fable, Folklore, Children's Literature, Adventure, Humor
Length: 3,631 words
Structure: 1 section, 67 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Fable — The narrative features anthropomorphized animals and conveys a moral lesson, characteristic of fables.
Folklore — The story draws on traditional themes and characters from Native American folklore, reflecting cultural beliefs and practices.
Children's Literature — The simple language and engaging animal characters make it suitable for a young audience.
Adventure — The plot involves the Coyote's quest and misadventures, typical of adventure narratives.