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(This story comes from the Southwestern tribes. It is told in different
ways by different tribes around the country)
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Long ago a 10-year-old boy was at the top of a mountain.
He thought he was alone, but a voice called out to him.
"Please, help me. I am very cold. If you don't pick me up
and carry me down the mountain where it is warmer, I will
die."
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The boy saw that it was a rattlesnake talking to him. The
boy did not get scared, but said to the rattlesnake, "I
can't pick you up. You are dangerous and could kill me."
The rattlesnake asked, "Why would I want to hurt someone who
helps me?" The boy replied, "My grandfather is wise. He told
me never to touch a rattlesnake."
The boy and the rattlesnake argued for a long time. The
rattlesnake told the boy, "Just carry me a little way. I won't
hurt you." The boy felt pressure because the snake kept
asking him to pick him up. The boy gave in and picked up the
snake. Halfway down the mountain the rattlesnake said to the
boy, "This is kind of you, but I am still cold. Please put
me inside your coat to keep me warm."
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Because the rattlesnake had not hurt the boy yet, he put the
rattlesnake inside his coat to keep it warm. At the bottom of
the mountain the boy felt something bite him. He was surprised.
"Why did you do that?" the boy asked the rattlesnake. The
rattlesnake replied, "You knew before you picked me up that I
might hurt or even kill you. It is in my nature to harm. That's
what rattlesnakes do."
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The lesson of this story is:
Giving in to pressure can hurt you. Do what you know is right. |
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