HOW ABLEEGUMOOCH WAS PUNISHED FOR HIS LAZINESS

N the forest Ableegumooch, the Rabbit, lived with his old grandmother. It was his work to provide food for the household, but he found this no easy matter, especially in the winter, when the ground was covered with snow and me. One day, Ableegumooch was running through the forest in search of food, when suddenly he came upon a Wigwam, standing all alone. He went in, and found that it was the lodge of Keoonik, the Otter. This Wigwam was on the bank of a river, and from the door a smooth road of ice extended down to the water.

With Keoonik, the Otter, lived an old woman, his housekeeper. As soon as Ableegumooch entered, Keoonik asked him to dine with them. Then he turned to the old woman and said:

“Noogumee, prepare the meal.”

Keoonik then took up the hooks upon which he hung his fish when he caught them, and went to catch some for dinner. He sat down on the icy bank and slid straight down into the water.

Ableegumooch watched him. 153