THE RABBIT AND THE POSSUM AFTER A WIFE

THE RABBIT AND THE POSSUM AFTER A WIFE

The Rabbit and the Possum each wanted a wife, but no one would marry either
of them. They talked over the matter and the Rabbit said, “We can’t get wives
here; let’s go to the next settlement. I’m the messenger for the council, and I’ll
tell the people that I bring an order that everybody must take a mate at once, and
then we’ll be sure to get our wives.”
The Possum thought this a fine plan, so they started off together to the next
town. As the Rabbit traveled faster he got there first and waited outside until the
people noticed him and took him into the townhouse. When the chief came to
ask his business the Rabbit said he brought an important order from the council
that everybody must get married without delay. So the chief called the people
together and told them the message from the council. Every animal took a mate
at once, and the Rabbit got a wife.
The Possum traveled so slowly that he got there after all the animals had mated,
leaving him still without a wife. The Rabbit pretended to feel sorry for him and
said, “Never mind, I’ll carry the message to the people in the next settlement,
and you hurry on as fast as you can, and this time you will get your wife.”
So he went on to the next town, and the Possum followed close after him. But
when the Rabbit got to the townhouse he sent out the word that, as there had
been peace so long that everybody was getting lazy the council had ordered that
there must be war at once and they must begin right in the townhouse. So they
all began fighting, but the Rabbit made four great leaps and got away just as the
Possum came in. Everybody jumped on the Possum, who had not thought of
bringing his weapons on a wedding trip, and so could not defend himself. They
had nearly beaten the life out of him when he fell over and pretended to be dead
until he saw a good chance to jump up and get away. The Possum never got a
wife, but he remembers the lesson, and ever since he shuts his eyes and pretends
to be dead when the hunter has him in a close corner.

 

Source:
Myths of the Cherokee, James Mooney