The Forgotten Ear of Corn
An Arikara woman was once gathering corn from the field to store away for winter use. She passed from stalk to stalk, tearing off the ears and dropping them into her folded robe.
When all was gathered she started to go, when she heard a faint voice, like a child's, weeping and calling:
"Oh, do not leave me! Do not go away without me."
The woman was astonished. "What child can that be?" she asked herself. "What babe can be lost in the cornfield?"
She set down her robe in which she had tied up her corn, and went back to search; but she found nothing.
As she started away she heard the voice again:
"Oh, do not leave me. Do not go away without me."
She searched for a long time. At last in one corner of the field, hidden under the leaves of the stalks, she found one little ear of corn. This it was that had been crying, and this is why all Indian women have since garnered their corn crop very carefully, so that the succulent food product should not even to the last small nubbin be neglected or wasted, and thus displease the Great Mystery.Why was it important that the woman in the story find the corn?
It was important that the woman in the story find the corn because it was a lesson from the Great Mystery about the importance of not wasting food. The story serves as a reminder to be mindful of the resources available and to use them wisely.
It was important for the woman in the story to find the corn because she heard a voice weeping and calling for help. The voice belonged to the forgotten ear of corn, which felt abandoned and did not want to be left behind. By finding and acknowledging the ear of corn, the woman showed compassion and ensured that no part of the corn crop was neglected or wasted. This act of care was seen as important to avoid displeasing the Great Mystery, emphasizing the cultural significance placed on valuing and utilizing resources responsibly.
In the story, it was important for the woman to find the corn because she had heard a faint voice, like a child's, weeping and calling out to her not to leave it behind. This created a sense of curiosity and concern in her. She initially thought that a child might be lost in the cornfield, so she set down her robe containing the harvested corn and went back to search for the source of the voice. Even though she couldn't find anything at first, the voice persisted, urging her not to leave it behind.
Eventually, after an extended search, the woman discovered one little ear of corn hidden under the leaves of the stalks. This ear of corn was the one that had been crying out and pleading to be taken along. The significance of finding this single ear of corn was that it represented the importance of not neglecting or wasting any part of the corn crop. It symbolized the idea that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant part should not be overlooked or discarded, as it could displease the Great Mystery (a supernatural or divine entity in Native American beliefs).
This story serves as a lesson or moral to the Arikara people and carries a cultural significance. It emphasizes the value of not wasting resources and appreciating the abundance provided by nature. By carefully harvesting and preserving the corn, the Arikara women were reminded to be mindful of the blessings they received and to ensure nothing was taken for granted.