How the Partridge got his Whistle
In the old days the Terrapin had a fine whistle, but the Partridge had none.
The Terrapin was constantly going about whistling and showing his
whistle to the other animals until the Partridge became jealous, so
one day when they met the Partridge asked leave to try it. The
Terrapin was afraid to risk it at first, suspecting some trick, but
the Partridge said, “I’ll give it back right away, and if you are afraid
you can stay with me while I practice.” So the Terrapin let him
have the whistle and the Partridge walked around blowing on
it in fine fashion. “How does it sound with me?” asked the Partridge.
“O, you do very well,” said the Terrapin, walking alongside.
“Now, how do you like it,” said the Partridge, running ahead
and whistling a little faster. “That’s fine,” answered the Terrapin,
hurrying to keep up, “but don’t run so fast.” “And now, how do you like this?”
called the Partridge, and with that he spread his wings, gave
one long whistle, and flew to the top of a tree, leaving the
poor Terrapin to look after him from the ground, the Terrapin
never recovered his whistle, and from that, and the loss of his
scalp, which the Turkey stole from him, he grew ashamed to be
seen, and ever since he shuts himself up in his box when anyone comes near him.
Excerpt from “History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees” by James Mooney
The Terrapin was constantly going about whistling and showing his
whistle to the other animals until the Partridge became jealous, so
one day when they met the Partridge asked leave to try it. The
Terrapin was afraid to risk it at first, suspecting some trick, but
the Partridge said, “I’ll give it back right away, and if you are afraid
you can stay with me while I practice.” So the Terrapin let him
have the whistle and the Partridge walked around blowing on
it in fine fashion. “How does it sound with me?” asked the Partridge.
“O, you do very well,” said the Terrapin, walking alongside.
“Now, how do you like it,” said the Partridge, running ahead
and whistling a little faster. “That’s fine,” answered the Terrapin,
hurrying to keep up, “but don’t run so fast.” “And now, how do you like this?”
called the Partridge, and with that he spread his wings, gave
one long whistle, and flew to the top of a tree, leaving the
poor Terrapin to look after him from the ground, the Terrapin
never recovered his whistle, and from that, and the loss of his
scalp, which the Turkey stole from him, he grew ashamed to be
seen, and ever since he shuts himself up in his box when anyone comes near him.
Excerpt from “History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees” by James Mooney
