In which the Gift of Stories begins with a gentle lullaby tale

Snow Bunting’s Lullaby (Siberia)

Papa and Mama Snow Bunting had one dear little chick.  Such a beautiful child!  

But at bedtime, Baby Bunting did not want to go to sleep.  Mama Bunting tried tucking in the chick, just so.  She tried settling down on the nest, just so.  But that baby bird would not sleep.

Finally, Mama Bunting asked Papa Bunting to sing a lullaby.  

So, Papa Bunting sang:

Whose little feet are these?

Whose little wings are these?

Whose little beak is this?

Are…you…asleep?

The baby bunting went to sleep!  “Oh, Papa Bunting,” said Mama Bunting, “thank you for this song.”

In a nearby nest, Kutkha the raven’s baby would not sleep.  Kutkha tried tucking in the chick, and settling down on the nest.  But that baby raven would not sleep.  

“I know,” said Kutkha.  “I shall steal Papa Bunting’s lullaby for my child.”   He flew very quietly near to the Snow Bunting nest, and listened for Mama Snow Bunting to sing the song:

Whose little feet are these?

Whose little wings are these?

Whose little beak is this?

Are…you…asleep?

And before Mama Snow Bunting could sing again, Kutkha stole the song!  He flew away to his nest, and sang it to his own raven child:

Whose little feet are these?

Whose little wings are these?

Whose little beak is this?

Are…you…asleep?

That baby raven went to sleep! 

But the baby Snow Bunting woke up and wouldn’t stop crying!  Mama Snow Bunting couldn’t quiet the chick at all, and she called to Papa Snow Bunting:

Kutkha the raven stole the song!

Kutkha the raven stole the song!

Kutkha the raven stole the song!

Papa Snow Bunting went to get the song back.  He took his tiny bow, and three tiny arrows, and he flew to the tree near the raven’s nest.  

He made his arrows ready, and when he heard Kutkha sing the song, he shot his arrows:

“Whose little feet are these?” sang Kutkha, but then Papa Bunting’s arrow struck him.  “Oh, those are my feet!  Ow ow ow!”

“Whose little wings are these?”  the raven sang, and then the second arrow struck him.  “Ow ow, those are my wings!”  

“Whose little beak is this?”  and the third arrow struck Kutkha right in the beak!  “Ow ow ow, my beak, ow ow ow,” and saying this, Kutkha dropped the song.

Papa Snow Bunting flew down and caught the song before it reached the ground.  He carried the song back to his own nest, and sang it to his own chick:

Whose little feet are these?

Whose little wings are these?

Whose little beak is this?

Are…you…asleep

And that little snow bunting child was fast asleep.