Image by James Ward [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Ophan Boy
There was once a poor Eskimo boy who lived in a village on Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska. The boy was an orphan and because of this he had no one to look after him of fend for him and some of the villagers treated him very badly. They made him run errands for them and made him work for them.
He was allowed to stay in the kashim, the villagers community building, in bad weather and sleep there. There came a night when it was snowing thick and fast and the adults ordered him to go out in the cold to see if the weather was getting worse or if it looked as if it might clear up. It was a terribly cold night and he had no boots and no warm clothes. He did not want to go but they pushed him out through the door and he ran to the edge of the village and looked at the night sky. The snow had stopped but it was still perishing cold and he ran back with the news, banging on the door and shouting, “Good news! The snow had stopped now, but it is still very, very cold. Please let me in!”
Enjoying these tales so much! This is a good one. There is retribution extracted for the villagers’ lack of charity and there is the connection to the boy’s father. It follows the threads of traditional folklore: it teaches a lesson/makes a point. Thanks again for all your great posts!
And thanks for your kind comments!
Weird and interesting.
Thanks!
Oh wow, that crawling skeleton gives me the shivers!
Yes he is bit spooky!
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Thanks!