English Original
A long time ago, a young man named Crow lived in a Seneca village. An orphan, he lived alone at the village edge in a small bark lodge, his hair tangled and his clothes old and tattered. The village children were cruel to him, mocking his appearance and his status. This was a time before stories existed to teach people respect and kindness.
Crow was an excellent hunter. He traded the birds and animals he killed for food and clothing. As winter approached, he had to venture deeper into the woods to hunt. One day, he went further than ever before and found a clearing with a large, flat stone and a round stone resting on top.
Crow sat on the flat stone, leaning against the round one. He laid his hunted birds beside him and took out some parched corn to eat.
"Shall I tell you a story?" asked a deep, rumbling voice nearby.
Startled, Crow jumped up, looking around but seeing no one. He dismissed it as his imagination and sat down again.
"Shall I tell you a story?" the voice repeated.
This time, Crow looked closely at the round stone he was leaning against and saw a face forming in it. He realized the stone was speaking.
"Who are you?" Crow asked.
"I am Grandfather Stone. I have been here since time began," the stone replied. "Shall I tell you a story?"
"What is a story?" asked Crow.
"Stories tell us of all things that happened before this time," answered Grandfather Stone. "Give me a gift of your birds, and I will tell you how the world came to be."
Crow agreed. He sat and listened as the stone told story after story: of Sky Woman falling to earth, the creation of Turtle Island, and stone giants. The stories continued until sunset.
"That's enough for today," said the stone. "Come back tomorrow for more. But tell no one what you have heard."
Crow returned to the village with few birds to trade. When questioned, he blamed the scarcity on the approaching winter.
For many days, Crow hunted briefly before rushing back to the clearing with birds as gifts for Grandfather Stone. He listened to stories all day, returning to the village with fewer and fewer birds. The village children mocked him even more, saying he was no longer a good hunter.
One day, after placing his gift, Crow asked for more stories.
"I have no more stories to tell," Grandfather Stone answered. "You have heard all that has happened before this time. Now you must pass on this knowledge. You will be the first storyteller. Tell others what you have heard and add stories of what happens from now on. People will remember them, some better than others. Some will tell different versions. It does not matter. The truths and lessons will be remembered."
"Thank you, Grandfather Stone," said Crow. "I will make sure the stories are not forgotten."
Crow returned to his village. Knowing he was not respected there, he gathered his few belongings and left without a word. No one missed him.
He traveled far and came to another village. The people welcomed him warmly, inviting him to sit by their fire and share their food.
In gratitude, Crow said, "You have been so kind. I would like to share something with you." He began to tell the stories from Grandfather Stone.
That night, the lodge felt warmer, and the first storyteller's voice rose above the howling wind. People went to sleep dreaming of the tales. The village chief sent messengers to neighboring villages, inviting all to hear the stories. They brought gifts of food and clothing for Crow. A beautiful young woman came to listen every time he spoke.
Many seasons passed. Crow stayed in the village and married the young woman. After sharing all the stories with that village and its neighbors, Crow and his wife traveled to more distant villages to tell the tales.
Eventually, they came to Crow's original village. The people did not recognize him in his fine clothes with his beautiful wife. The chief welcomed them to sit by the fire and share food. Crow told his stories, and the people listened with their ears and hearts.
"You must not forget these stories and legends," Crow told them. "Pass them on to your children and grandchildren, and they to theirs. We can never again forget the stories and their wisdom."
And so it has been from that day to this. The stories from Grandfather Stone have been handed down through generations, and storytellers are still honored by those who listen.
中文翻译
很久以前，一个名叫克劳的年轻人住在塞内卡族的一个村庄里。他是个孤儿，独自住在村庄边缘一间用树皮和树枝搭成的小屋里，头发蓬乱，衣衫褴褛。村里的孩子们对他很残忍，嘲笑他的外表和他的孤儿身份。那是一个还没有故事来教导人们尊重与善良的时代。
克劳是一名出色的猎人。他用猎杀的鸟兽换取食物和衣物。随着冬季临近，他不得不深入森林狩猎。一天，他走得比以往都远，发现了一片林间空地，那里有一块平坦的大石头，上面还放着一块圆石。
克劳坐在平石上，背靠着圆石。他把猎到的鸟放在身旁，拿出一些烤玉米吃。
“要我给你讲个故事吗？”一个低沉、隆隆的声音在附近响起。
克劳吓了一跳，跳起来四处张望，却看不到任何人。他以为是自己的幻觉，便又坐了下来。
“要我给你讲个故事吗？”那个声音再次响起。
这次，克劳仔细看了看他背靠着的圆石，发现石头上浮现出一张脸。他意识到是石头在说话。
“你是谁？”克劳问。
“我是石头爷爷。自时间伊始，我就在这里了，”石头回答。“要我给你讲个故事吗？”
“故事是什么？”克劳问。
“故事告诉我们此前发生的一切，”石头爷爷答道。“把你的鸟作为礼物送给我，我就告诉你世界是如何形成的。”
克劳同意了。他坐下来，听着石头讲了一个又一个故事：关于天女坠落人间、龟岛的创造，以及石头巨人。故事一直持续到日落。
“今天到此为止，”石头说。“明天再来，我给你讲更多。但不要告诉任何人你听到的事。”
克劳带着很少的鸟回到村里交换。被问及时，他归咎于冬季将至，猎物难寻。
接连多日，克劳只狩猎一会儿，就匆匆带着作为礼物的鸟回到空地。他整天听故事，带回村的鸟越来越少。村里的孩子们更加嘲笑他，说他连猎人都当不好了。
一天，克劳献上礼物后，请求听更多的故事。
“我没有更多的故事可讲了，”石头爷爷回答。“你已经听完了此前发生的一切。现在你必须传递这些知识。你将成为第一个讲故事的人。把你听到的告诉别人，并从此开始增添新的故事。人们会记住它们，有些人记得更牢。有些人传讲时会有不同的版本。这没关系。故事中的真理和教训会被铭记。”
“谢谢你，石头爷爷，”克劳说。“我保证这些故事不会被遗忘。”
克劳回到自己的村庄。他知道自己在这里不受尊重，便收拾起寥寥无几的行李，一言不发地离开了。没有人想念他。
他远行至另一个村庄。那里的人们热情地欢迎他，邀请他坐在火边分享食物。
为了表示感谢，克劳说：“你们如此友善，我想与你们分享一些东西。”他开始讲述从石头爷爷那里听来的故事。
那天晚上，小屋似乎更温暖了，第一位故事家的声音压过了屋外呼啸的风声。人们带着听来的故事进入梦乡。村长派信使去邻近的村庄，邀请所有人都来听故事。他们给克劳带来了食物和衣物作为礼物。一位美丽的年轻女子每次都会来坐在他身边聆听。
许多个季节过去了。克劳留在了这个村庄，并与那位年轻女子结了婚。在向这个村庄及其邻村分享完所有故事后，克劳和妻子前往更遥远的村庄去讲述这些故事。
最终，他们来到了克劳最初居住的村庄。人们没有认出衣着光鲜、有美丽妻子相伴的他。村长欢迎他们坐在火边分享食物。克劳讲述了他的故事，村民们用心聆听。
“你们绝不能忘记这些故事和传说，”克劳告诉他们。“要把它们传给你们的子孙后代，他们再传给他们的后代。我们绝不能再忘记这些故事和其中的智慧。”
从那天起直到现在，一直如此。石头爷爷的故事代代相传，讲故事的人至今仍受到听众的尊敬。