Why Bears Sleep All Winter
When the world was young, Ukko, the Thunder God, often climbed down from the clouds to inspect the earth. He walked the land dressed as an ordinary man. One afternoon, Ukko hiked in the northern mountains. He was enjoying a bright fall day before the long, dark winter.
Ukko came to a stream and stopped to admire the hills on the other side. He wished to cross the stream and climb those hills. But there was no bridge and the rushing water was too deep.
Near where he stood, a black horse hungrily grazed on the last of the wild grasses.
Ukko said, “Horse, carry me across the stream and I will give you a great reward.”
The horse raised his head. “I must keep eating this grass,” he said. “Snow will soon cover the food on the ground.” And with that, the horse lowered his head and continued grazing.
Ukko shook his head and walked farther along the stream. He hadn’t gone half a mile before a leaping reindeer appeared.
Ukko called, “Reindeer, carry me across the stream and I will give you a great reward.”
“Going south to escape the deep winter snow,” said the reindeer. “Can’t stop for a minute. Miles to go.” And he leaped away.
Ukko shook his head and walked farther along the stream. As he reached the edge of a forest, he met a brown bear. The bear was gobbling the last of the wild berries from a bush.
Ukko said, “Bear, carry me across the stream and I will give you a great reward.”
The bear looked at Ukko and swallowed a mouthful of berries. “More berries may grow on the other side,” said the bear. “I will happily give you a ride.”
“You will not be sorry,” said Ukko.
Ukko gripped the bear’s shaggy coat and climbed up onto his back. Splish, splash! They crossed the stream safely. There, in a meadow, the bear found more berry bushes. He ate while Ukko hiked in the hills nearby.
As the day grew to an end, the sun dimmed and a stiff wind blew around the hills. Ukko returned to the meadow and found the berry bushes empty. The sleepy bear, with a full stomach, leaned against the rocky entrance of a cave.
Ukko said, “Bear, climb into the cave and sleep. Your kindness has brought you a great reward. You will sleep until the sun grows strong and spring arrives. Bears will never again worry about finding food in the long, dark winter.”
“A great reward, indeed!” said the bear, curling up in the cave.
Ukko climbed the mountains and back up to the clouds, happy to have rewarded a good deed.
And this is why bears, but not horses or reindeer, sleep all winter.
为什么熊整个冬天都睡当世界年轻的时候,Ukko,雷神,经常爬下从云里,审视地球。他走了这片土地,打扮得像一个普通的男人。一天下午,Ukko 徒步在北部山区。他在享受明亮的秋天前漫长、 黑暗的冬天的一天。Ukko 来到一条小溪,停下来欣赏山的另一边。他希望渡溪和那些爬山。但没有桥和湍急的水太深了。他站的地方,附近一匹黑马如饥似渴地放牧在最后的野草。Ukko 说,"马,携带我越过小溪,我将给你最大的奖赏"。马抬起头来。"我必须继续吃这种草,"他说。"雪会很快盖在地上的食物。这匹马,则低下了头,继续放牧。Ukko 摇了摇头,沿着小溪走得更远。跳跃的驯鹿出现之前,他没走半英里。Ukko 称,"驯鹿,带着我穿越流和我会给你最大的奖赏"。"南要逃脱深冬天的雪,"说的驯鹿。"不停一分钟。英里去 》。然后他跳走了。Ukko 摇了摇头,沿着小溪走得更远。当他到达森林的边缘,他遇见了一只棕熊。这只熊正在大举最后的野生浆果从布什。Ukko 说,"熊,带着我穿越流,我会给你最大的奖赏。The bear looked at Ukko and swallowed a mouthful of berries. “More berries may grow on the other side,” said the bear. “I will happily give you a ride.”“You will not be sorry,” said Ukko.Ukko gripped the bear’s shaggy coat and climbed up onto his back. Splish, splash! They crossed the stream safely. There, in a meadow, the bear found more berry bushes. He ate while Ukko hiked in the hills nearby.As the day grew to an end, the sun dimmed and a stiff wind blew around the hills. Ukko returned to the meadow and found the berry bushes empty. The sleepy bear, with a full stomach, leaned against the rocky entrance of a cave.Ukko said, “Bear, climb into the cave and sleep. Your kindness has brought you a great reward. You will sleep until the sun grows strong and spring arrives. Bears will never again worry about finding food in the long, dark winter.”“A great reward, indeed!” said the bear, curling up in the cave.Ukko climbed the mountains and back up to the clouds, happy to have rewarded a good deed.And this is why bears, but not horses or reindeer, sleep all winter.
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