Translated from
Lithuanian by Gloria O’Brien
Seniai, seniai, kuomet žmonės buvo dievobaimingi ir geresni,
išeijo ponas Dievas pažiūrėti…………
Long, long ago, when people were still devout and good, the Lord Dievas went
out to see how folks were getting along on Earth: their lives, their
work, their worries and joys.
The Lord descended to earth
from Heaven, and began to wander around the villages, fields and forests,
stopping everywhere to watch the working people.
As He walked around He
noticed that people were very much bothered by mosquitoes, flies and other
nasty creatures. He sat down on the grass, and, head in hand, began
thinking about what He should do, to ease people‘s existence.
A stork saw the seated
Dievulis and approached Him, bowing humbly.
“Honor to thee, radiant Lord! You look very worried. May I help you
in any way?“
“I am just trying to
decide how I may help these people. They are greatly disturbed by mosquitoes,
flies and other harmful creatures.”
“Well, then, let us
birds do what we can to help the people.”
“Very well” --
the Lord agreed -- “Go ahead and help them!”
The stork flew over to the
meadow, called all the birds together and told them of the Lord’s
worries. Naturally, all the birds agreed to help. Some of them immediately
began to catch flies; others, mosquitoes; and the rest, other unfavorable
insects. The stork busied himself destroying serpents.
After a short while,
the numbers of harmful insects and other creatures had greatly diminished. The
Lord Dievas, seeing this, said to the stork:
“You and your helpers
have done a very good job. Now it’s time for you all to rest. Soon it
will be Winter, with frost and snowstorms. Call all the storks together, and
fly to the tropics, where you can all rest well in the warmth of the
sun’s rays. And when you have rested, return once more to your homeland,
to raise your young, and continue to help the people.”
“But what about all the
other birds?” - asked the stork.
“Let those who wish,
fly along with you. There is plenty of room for all in the tropics.”
“How will we find the
right road?”
“Don’t worry about
that”, replied the Lord. “I will lay a bright path across all of
heaven, to be known as the “Birds’ Path” (“Pauksciu
Takas” - the Milky Way.) . Fly along this Path, and you will never lose
your way.”
The stork gave thanks to Lord
Dievas for His consideration, and soon, as Autumn drew near, he headed for the
tropics. He invited all the other birds to join him.
“What shall I do there?
I am happy right here.” -- said the crow.
“Čir, čir, I
don’t want to fly to the tropics either. It’s much nicer for me to
spend the Winter in a farmer’s barn.” -- said the sparrow.
Many other birds agreed with
them, though a larger number decided to fly along with the stork. They had no
fear of losing their way, following the bright road laid down by the Lord.
As Spring arrived, the stork
and the rest of his friends headed home. Soaring over the sea, he heard someone
calling:
“Help me - I cannot
continue flying -- I will fall into the sea!”
He saw a tiny wagtail nearby,
just barely able to move his little wings. Moving quickly, he sat the little
fellow on his back and carried him back to his homeland.
And so the stork with other
birds flies to the tropics to pass the Winter season, and returns in the
Spring, carrying the wagtail on his back. That is why they both come back
at the same time.
Source:
Stories told by Pranas Sasnauskas
in “Lietuvių Sakmės” - “Lithuanian Tales”
Published by “Vaiga” in
© English
Translation - Gloria O’Brien 2009
This article was printed in Bridges March 2009