Once upon a time ... in a faraway land,
there lived a lovely Indian princess.
She spent her daylight hours out with the animals, she loved them so, Often you could find her petting or brushing one of her many pets.
Life seemed ideal for her.
She did'nt want for anything.
Yet underneath her happy exterior was a hidden sadness.
Very few people were aware of this for she had a lot of practice in hidding her beautiful smile.
Days would find her smiling and laughing with those around her,but nights would find her alone and lonely.
You see, she was missing something in her life.
It took her awhile to determine what it was,but eventually she did.
She was missing the warmth of someone near the heart.
Early in life she had placed a wall of smooth field stones around it for protection...
She had forgotten all about her heart, until one day, a small pebble fell from the wall...
which landed at the feet of a wooden Indian statue.
Not noticing the pebble,
she walked up to the wooden Indian and looked at him curiously...
He looked lifeless, alone and unhappy ...
reaching out to him and touching him with her fine hands she drew sharpley back !
Looking down at her finger,
she saw a small red stain,
where a splinter had entered her finger.
Carefully she withdrew it and held it close for a better look.
The splinter looked innocent enough, yet it had caused her pain.
Not wanting to feel pain again she decided to leave, turning and walking away, she left the wooden Indian standing there...
The wooden Indian remained motionless until the lovely maiden was out of his sight. Suddenly, he realized that he had felt her hands upon his cheek, and that her touch had given him life! But she was gone ! !
Slowly ,moving first one leg and the other, he began to step in the direction he had watched her g o...
He had to find her, to learn more about this life giving maiden !
As his foot came down for the second step, he stepped upon the pebble left unknowingly by the princess maiden...
He reached down and he picked it up and immediately felt the warmth and sunshine that was captured in it...he also remembered it falling from her heart...
Holding it tightly in his hand,the wooden Indian bgean his journey to find the princess maiden...
He was in search of what made him feel alive, to find out more about this maiden princess who left a piece of her heart at his feet...
The maiden upon returning to her daily rituals, felt something different about her life...her heart,once hidden and safe...now was shifting within her.
She could feel movement, change, and she wasn't sure why.
Confused, she decided to walk down by the creek,and talk to the swift waters of life found there...
They had often helped her understand the complex ways of life...
Seated by the banks she called out to them...the rushing waters came to her feet and gently lapped at her...drawing her into their currents...
As they reached her breast...they immediately noticed the missing pebble and told her of the weakness in her protection...
Slowly they receded in fear of drowning the heart of the lovely maiden...
Confused now and not knowing what to do the maiden princess remained seated by the creek...trying to determine what to do about this new weakness in her heart...
As she sat there, along came the wooden Indian statue that earlier caused her pain...
Not sure of his intentions she remained immobile...
Seeing her sitting motionless, the wooden Indian felt his breath catch in his throat as he felt some how his splinter had caused this !
He had stolen her life out of her!
He approached her, bringing the life giving pebble to his lips and with a gentle kiss, he placed the stone back into the princess maidens heart.
Instead of her heart turning back into a fortress, keeping it safe...by placing the stone with tender care, he managed to invade her inner walls...
When it sealed itself back up, part of the wooden Indian had remained inside her heart...
The force from within the heart of two loves ...caused the stone wall to crumble and feeling of happiness flooded the maiden !
Her happines was contagious...and by just being near her...the wooden Indian remained alive...and shared her happiness the two lived along and fruitful life along the banks of the swift currents of life.