The Village and the Chicken
Long ago, deep in the mountains nestled safely in a little valley was a village. The people of this village were content and happy. They farmed their small plots of land, they played in the river and they sang songs together. Spring had just sprung and although there was still snow on the tallest peaks of the mountains hanging above, the daffodils and crocuses had burst through the soil and were dancing along the paths from home to home.
The mother animals were bringing new young into the world now, little “baaa, baaa” and “mew, mew” sounds were coming from all around.
The favorite part of spring for all the people in this small and lovely village was when the fruit trees bloomed and they would dream of the day after summertime had arrived when the juicy fruit would be theirs to savor. Apples, peaches, plums and pears, all were loved by everyone. But this year the branches were as bare as they were in the deepest winter. This year the fruit trees were not blooming. The grasses grew more and more green each day and the bulbs were blooming just the way they usually do, but not one fruit tree had shown a sign of even one tiny blossom. All were very concerned. If the fruit trees did not bloom, would the vegetables they have been so painstakingly planting not come up? Would the grain stay buried beneath the earth? The people went to the mayor and finally she had heard so many concerns that she had no choice but to send for help. Riders went out that very night. Each rider rode as quickly as they were able to the nearest villages on the plains, seeking help from someone who would know what to do about this strange phenomenon. The riders came back having found no one. The fruit trees on the plains had indeed bloomed just as they always had.
The very next day a cloaked traveler came into town. He held a cage, draped with green velvet, in his gloved hands. All the people of the village were very curious to know what was hidden inside the cage. There were some soft, unfamiliar, noises coming from under the cloth. He had come from a faraway land and had a strange and beautiful way of speaking and singing that delighted the children along with the gold metal balls that he produced from beneath his cloak and then juggled, and the coins that he magically pulled from behind the children’s ears. He was invited to the community dinner that very evening and there he told the people of the village that he was there to help, or, more specifically, his mysterious friend that he carried with him would help. He didn’t know how or when it would happen, but she had made it clear to him in a powerful dream a few nights ago that they were to ride to this small village the next morning and in his dream he saw the blossoms springing forth on the fruit trees and a feeling of things being right in the world. When he heard that a rider had come into the town he had been travelling through the day before desperately seeking help because the fruit trees weren’t blooming in his small village, the traveler knew he had to follow his dream and the wish of his friend. All were now certain that the creature beneath the green velvet must be magical indeed and the next day when the man produced two oblong objects that looked like large brown seeds from beneath the cloth, they were certain. The man told them that they were the gift his friend gave him for taking such care of her for all her days.
Every evening he came to dinner, always carrying the cage with him and putting morsels of food under the velvet, but never revealing what was inside. The man was very helpful and he never left a home he had stayed in without doing some good deed for that family, whether it was fixing the rabbit hutch at one home or making it so the door wouldn’t creak at another. He even built a new compost bin for the town hall. Several days after his arrival the traveler fell ill and was feverish in bed, being well cared for by the healer. The man said nothing but, “Please take care of her.” pointing to the cage. The healer told the man that she would make sure of it and asked him how they were to do so, but he was too far ill to answer. The healer sent the children with the cage and asked them to please take special care of the man’s friend, for they all knew that whatever this creature was it was very special to the man’s heart, and the man had become special to their hearts. The children had noticed that the animal was fed corn and grains, so they took the cage outside where under a bare tree they took off the velvet. Inside was a very strange creature indeed! Here stood a bird, but it was larger and rounder than any they had ever seen, with beautiful feathers and a majestic red crown upon her head. The cage was carefully unlatched and opened but the bird stayed near the back for it was fearful of all the children who were so close. The children held the grain in their hands and spoke softly to the bird beckoning it come to them to be comforted and eat. She stayed just where she was. Finally the children formed a ring around the creature and sat still and very quiet. All had grain in their hands that were held out offering the bird, not only food, but love and friendship as well. Soon the adults of the village came to see the sight and were amazed to find the children sitting so quiet and still with the strange bird standing in the middle. All the villagers were almost holding their breath with reverence and hope. The bird moved toward one child and then another, finally choosing a boy and girl sitting next to one another, nibbling some grain out of each of their hands. The very moment she had gently pecked grain from their outstretched hands all the trees in the village burst forth with glorious flowers. In the breeze petals flew from the branches and floated downward, landing on the boy and girl’s heads resting in a circle like a crown. The boy and girl were named King and Queen of spring and all things growing. The man woke from his fever, thanked them for caring for his dear friend, and was pleased to find the village well and happy.
Each year forever after the village held a festival in May. They celebrated spring and the growth and abundance that was coming and would sustain them throughout the year. They celebrated each other and their community by dancing and singing around the Maypole and eating good food together. And each year the children, one group of girls and one group of boys would sit ever so still with not a peep from anyone in the whole village while they watched with joyful anticipation as the chicken, as the bird was now known, would come to one boy and one girl and eat grain held out in warm hands and given with a heart full of love. The first boy and first girl the chicken, so sweet and kind, chose to eat from would be crowned King and Queen of the May Faire and everyone knew the she had chosen them for their pure love and caring for the earth and all that lives.
Long ago, deep in the mountains nestled safely in a little valley was a village. The people of this village were content and happy. They farmed their small plots of land, they played in the river and they sang songs together. Spring had just sprung and although there was still snow on the tallest peaks of the mountains hanging above, the daffodils and crocuses had burst through the soil and were dancing along the paths from home to home.
The mother animals were bringing new young into the world now, little “baaa, baaa” and “mew, mew” sounds were coming from all around.
The favorite part of spring for all the people in this small and lovely village was when the fruit trees bloomed and they would dream of the day after summertime had arrived when the juicy fruit would be theirs to savor. Apples, peaches, plums and pears, all were loved by everyone. But this year the branches were as bare as they were in the deepest winter. This year the fruit trees were not blooming. The grasses grew more and more green each day and the bulbs were blooming just the way they usually do, but not one fruit tree had shown a sign of even one tiny blossom. All were very concerned. If the fruit trees did not bloom, would the vegetables they have been so painstakingly planting not come up? Would the grain stay buried beneath the earth? The people went to the mayor and finally she had heard so many concerns that she had no choice but to send for help. Riders went out that very night. Each rider rode as quickly as they were able to the nearest villages on the plains, seeking help from someone who would know what to do about this strange phenomenon. The riders came back having found no one. The fruit trees on the plains had indeed bloomed just as they always had.
The very next day a cloaked traveler came into town. He held a cage, draped with green velvet, in his gloved hands. All the people of the village were very curious to know what was hidden inside the cage. There were some soft, unfamiliar, noises coming from under the cloth. He had come from a faraway land and had a strange and beautiful way of speaking and singing that delighted the children along with the gold metal balls that he produced from beneath his cloak and then juggled, and the coins that he magically pulled from behind the children’s ears. He was invited to the community dinner that very evening and there he told the people of the village that he was there to help, or, more specifically, his mysterious friend that he carried with him would help. He didn’t know how or when it would happen, but she had made it clear to him in a powerful dream a few nights ago that they were to ride to this small village the next morning and in his dream he saw the blossoms springing forth on the fruit trees and a feeling of things being right in the world. When he heard that a rider had come into the town he had been travelling through the day before desperately seeking help because the fruit trees weren’t blooming in his small village, the traveler knew he had to follow his dream and the wish of his friend. All were now certain that the creature beneath the green velvet must be magical indeed and the next day when the man produced two oblong objects that looked like large brown seeds from beneath the cloth, they were certain. The man told them that they were the gift his friend gave him for taking such care of her for all her days.
Every evening he came to dinner, always carrying the cage with him and putting morsels of food under the velvet, but never revealing what was inside. The man was very helpful and he never left a home he had stayed in without doing some good deed for that family, whether it was fixing the rabbit hutch at one home or making it so the door wouldn’t creak at another. He even built a new compost bin for the town hall. Several days after his arrival the traveler fell ill and was feverish in bed, being well cared for by the healer. The man said nothing but, “Please take care of her.” pointing to the cage. The healer told the man that she would make sure of it and asked him how they were to do so, but he was too far ill to answer. The healer sent the children with the cage and asked them to please take special care of the man’s friend, for they all knew that whatever this creature was it was very special to the man’s heart, and the man had become special to their hearts. The children had noticed that the animal was fed corn and grains, so they took the cage outside where under a bare tree they took off the velvet. Inside was a very strange creature indeed! Here stood a bird, but it was larger and rounder than any they had ever seen, with beautiful feathers and a majestic red crown upon her head. The cage was carefully unlatched and opened but the bird stayed near the back for it was fearful of all the children who were so close. The children held the grain in their hands and spoke softly to the bird beckoning it come to them to be comforted and eat. She stayed just where she was. Finally the children formed a ring around the creature and sat still and very quiet. All had grain in their hands that were held out offering the bird, not only food, but love and friendship as well. Soon the adults of the village came to see the sight and were amazed to find the children sitting so quiet and still with the strange bird standing in the middle. All the villagers were almost holding their breath with reverence and hope. The bird moved toward one child and then another, finally choosing a boy and girl sitting next to one another, nibbling some grain out of each of their hands. The very moment she had gently pecked grain from their outstretched hands all the trees in the village burst forth with glorious flowers. In the breeze petals flew from the branches and floated downward, landing on the boy and girl’s heads resting in a circle like a crown. The boy and girl were named King and Queen of spring and all things growing. The man woke from his fever, thanked them for caring for his dear friend, and was pleased to find the village well and happy.
Each year forever after the village held a festival in May. They celebrated spring and the growth and abundance that was coming and would sustain them throughout the year. They celebrated each other and their community by dancing and singing around the Maypole and eating good food together. And each year the children, one group of girls and one group of boys would sit ever so still with not a peep from anyone in the whole village while they watched with joyful anticipation as the chicken, as the bird was now known, would come to one boy and one girl and eat grain held out in warm hands and given with a heart full of love. The first boy and first girl the chicken, so sweet and kind, chose to eat from would be crowned King and Queen of the May Faire and everyone knew the she had chosen them for their pure love and caring for the earth and all that lives.