Sammy the Blind Squirrel

It was story night in Acorn Forest. All of the little squirrels scurried up the big hill where Sammy, the blind squirrel, lived. The old squirrel had long lost his eyesight, but when he did he gained a different sight ' the gift of foresight and storytelling.

Sammy was famous for his stories. They were wonderful stories of strange adventures. They contained wisdom only an elder could possess. They also taught lessons, and the young squirrels listened carefully.

Sammy put his cane in front of him, both hands on top, sat up straight, and faced his audience. He began to speak slowly. The following story flowed from his lips.

There once was a little boy named Jack. He loved nature and how simple it was. He especially loved traveling through the world searching for rainbows. He always wanted to meet a leprechaun and see if the stories of the pot of gold were true.

So he searched and searched all over the world for rainbows. However, every time he would get close to the end of one, the rainbow would disappear.

Jack met a lot of interesting people along his travels. He was a friendly boy, and everyone liked him. Old ladies would pinch his cheeks. Old men would tip their hats and say, "Hello, good lad.

Jack met fishermen, teachers, butchers, farmers, young maidens, old maidens, and many others as he found rainbow after rainbow. He also saw wonderful parts of nature ' plants, trees, animals. But most of all, he loved the rainbows.

Jack saw all kinds of sights on his journey. He went to new places and saw new things. Everywhere he went he found things he never new existed. He saw buildings made of stone and others made of wood. He walked along rivers that ended up in harbors with bustling cities. He walked over mountains only to find villages with people living in huts. Everywhere he went, he chased rainbows, but never found the end of one. He only found that the world is much bigger than he thought.

One day, while Jack was wandering through a valley, he saw a sight he had never seen before. Two rainbows flew out of the sky down onto the other side of the hill he was on. He got excited, thinking he would finally find the end of the rainbow and possibly a leprechaun with a pot of gold. He raced forward over the hill. He noticed the two rainbows met on the ground at the bottom of the next valley. At the end of the rainbows, where they touched together on the ground, was a little green figure.

Jack walked slowly down the hill. He did not want to scare the little leprechaun as he approached. He waited his entire life to find such a being, and he was not about to let this opportunity slide through his fingers. The closer he got the more he noticed the leprechaun was dancing and singing around the pot on the ground.

"Hello, Jack said.

"Hello, the leprechaun responded then asked, "How did you find me? Usually the rainbows disappear before anyone gets close to seeing where they land.

"I finally got lucky, I guess, Jack answered. "I have been searching for the end of the rainbow for many years now. Since I found it, I want to ask you some questions.

"Go ahead, stated the leprechaun.

"I was wondering if I would be able to have some gold from the pot you were dancing around? I was also wondering if you would let me go with you when the rainbow disappears? Jack asked in a hurry.

"No and no! the leprechaun answered rashly. "Only leprechauns can do such a thing, and the gold is not for humans to possess.

Jack became frustrated and angry. He had searched his entire life for such an event, and he was not about to let a little, green man stand in his way. He looked around quickly, and then he saw it. There was a big piece of wood lying on the ground some yards away. Jack walked towards it slowly. The leprechaun thought the child was leaving, so he began his rainbow dance around the pot of gold once again.

Jack picked up the wooden club and slowly made his way back towards the leprechaun. The little fellow stopped dancing and singing as Jack approached. Jack decided to trick the leprechaun into looking the other way by pointing and saying, "What's that over there?

It worked! When the little green man turned his head, Jack whacked him on the noggin' with the wooden club! The leprechaun was knocked out.

Jack was excited. He was finally going to get the gold from the end of the rainbow. He stepped over the leprechaun, reached his hand into the pot, and filled every pocket he had with gold coins. He stuffed enough gold to last him well into his old age. Jack would never have to work as he grew up. Since he would not have to work, he could devote his entire life to looking for rainbows.

Jack ran home to hide his loot. He was happy. He had found the end of the rainbow, tricked the leprechaun protecting it, and gathered enough gold for eternity. What Jack didn't know, was that things were about to change.

From that day forward, each rainy day Jack would go in search for rainbows. The problem was, there weren't any rainbows to be found. He searched and searched from country to country, but everywhere he went people said the same thing- "The rainbows are gone! The rainbows are gone!

Jack was puzzled. People who he met now on his travels were no longer nice to him. Old women no longer pinched his cheeks. Men no longer tipped their hats. People looked up at the sky in disbelief, and then looked in Jack's direction with anger on their face. It was as if they knew he took the gold from the leprechaun. Jack was sad. The world was mad. The world would never the same.

"The end, declared Sammy. With those closing words, a low rumble came from the little squirrels. They were talking amongst themselves about the consequences of people's actions. Then Sammy began to speak one last time.

"Jack didn't know what to do. He had lost the one thing he loved doing ' searching for rainbows. He had caused everything to change because he wanted gold. He got greedy. Instead of enjoying the world for what it is and the beauty it contains, Jack took something that wasn't his. Not only did he steal, but he did so by being deceitful and violent.

Remember, little ones, enjoy the things you love. Don't be mean. Don't be greedy. Don't be deceitful. And definitely don't be violent. As you can see, Jack ended up losing the very thing he loved because he wanted something that was not his. Not enough gold coins in the world could make Jack happy or buy back the rainbows.