Legend of the Crab Apple Tree
By
Blue Turtle
(Voice of the Turtle)
Many years ago, when the world was young and newly made, the Creator announced that He would come down to visit this Earth to see how well His creations were doing.
The trees of Earth became very excited at this news, and each tried to outdo the other in order to please the Creator.
Now the trees back then were quite different than they are today. The tall Oak was the tallest of the trees, with a golden bark that dazzled the eyes. The Oak prided itself on its size and did its best to spread itself to the fullest so to catch the Creators eye. In doing so, it shoved the other trees aside rudely in a demanding way, much as many bullies do today.
The Willow tree, knowing that it could not match the Oak in size, took advantage of its many branches and leaves. The willow crowded up closely to the water and spread its magnificent branches high so that its leaves could make the most impressive sight with their beauty.
And so it went with all the trees in the vast forests, the Hickory, the Walnut, The Beech, the Aspen, and all others trying to out do each other to win the favor of the Creator.
Yet there in the deep forest stood a very sad sight, a sight that made all the other trees ashamed. It was a little crab apple tree. Because of its shortness, it had to struggle constantly to find enough sunlight to grow under the shade of the larger trees. And in those struggles it had twisted itself every which way and its stubby, twisted form was very homely indeed. So much so that all the other trees crowded over it trying to hide that ugly sight from the Creator.
Finally the big day arrived. The Creator came down to walk amongst them. The Creator was greatly pleased by the splendor that the trees of earth showed Him and thought to test their usefulness to this earth. So standing there amidst them He cried out. "I HUNGER! WHO WILL GIVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT?"
The great Oak, in all his smugness of being the largest tree present, of course was the first to reply.
"Oh partake of me great Creator. I am the greatest around and I have many fruits!"
Little did the boastful Oak realize that his own vanity had made his fruits bitter though, and as the Creator bit into the bitter acorn of the oak, His face became a thing not pleasant to see.
"BAH! WHAT IS THIS," The Creator spat out angrily, His voice roaring out with such great wrath that it singed and darkened the oaks beautiful golden coat. "HOW DARE YOU OFFER ME BITTER FRUIT"?
The Oak cringed, and to this day wears that darkened coat as a reminder of the Creator's wrath. No longer is the oak the largest tree, but only a reminder to the world of how pride may lead to bitterness.
The Great Creator spitting and sputtering over the bitterness in His mouth cried out again. "I THIRST! WHO WILL GIVE ME DRINK TO WIPE THIS FOULNESS FROM MY MOUTH?" And his eyes went out to the Willow.
But the Willow was so busy drinking of the waters and preening all it's many leaves that it did not hear.
So it was not the willow that replied, but the sweet, beautiful, shy voice of the Maple.
"Oh drink of me Great Creator, I have more than enough sap to support me. Please drink of me!"
So the Creator put his lips to the Maple, and her sap became sweet and remains sweet to this day, as a reminder to those who followed that to give graciously is sweetness itself to be rewarded.
The Willow, seeing her lost chance, let her branches droop and wept, and still weeps to this day as a reminder to us of the cost of vanity.
The Creator, sadly disappointed over the actions of the Oak and Willow, continued His journey through the forest. Soon He found Himself amongst a grove of nut trees.
"WHO WILL GIVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT?" He cried out with a mighty voice that shook the heavens.
"Take of me oh great Creator!" cried out the voice of the great hickory that stood before the Creator. "I have many fruits and their meats are tasty."
The Creator reached out and plucked a hand full of hickory nuts. Tossing one into His mouth He bit down hard almost breaking His teeth.
"WHAT'S THIS," He cried out with rage, "YOU DARE TO OFFER ME FRUITS WITHOUT WARNING ME OF ITS HARD SHELL. HOW DARE YOU DO SUCH A THING?"
So great was the force of the Creator's voice that it shattered and shredded the poor Hickory's bark and it still remains that way today, a grim reminder of being thoughtless.
The great Walnut tree next to the Hickory darkened with despair, knowing that its nuts had an even harder shell than the Hickory, it did not even venture to offer its fruits for fear of offending the Creator. It's wood and shell cases remain dark to this day. It is a sad example of the darkness that comes from fear and indecision.
It was now a very angry Creator who walked the woods.
"I AM HUNGRY," He shouted, “WHO OF YOU SHALL GIVE ME FOOD?”
Next came the trembling voice of the Beech tree, “Partake of me, oh Great Creator, as you can see my fruits are many, large and sweet. Just see how they sag my branches.”
Thus the Creator reached out his hand and plucked the fruit of the Beech tree, in doing so he pricked his finger on its sharp barbs. His roar of anger shook the very Earth herself, “HOW DARE YOU OFFER ME THORNY FRUIT WITHOUT WARNING?”
So great was the Creator’s voice that the Beech blanched white and its fruits shriveled and split, and remain so to this day. Even the poor Birch tree blanched white at the Creators roar of anger, it’s white bark thinning to become the paper Birch we see today.
Disappointed, the Creator stalked off through the trees. So great was His anger that the Aspens quaked in fear at his passing, and still quake to this day.
He was just about to enter the Pine grove to check them out, when a small quavering voice spoke out almost under His feet.
“Oh please don’t step on me Creator!”
Looking down, the Creator parted the branches to see the stunted, twisted little Crabapple tree. A frown creased His brow as He saw so much ugliness amidst all the beauty.
“WHAT MANNER OF TREE ARE YOU?” He asked.
“Oh Creator, I know that I am ugly and twisted from all my struggles,” cried the Crabapple tree, “and my fruits are small and bitter too. But you will give me your time, I will try to give you something good to eat.”
Then at the Creator’s nod, the Crabapple struggled and strained, twisting and groaning, finally causing one of its small fruits to grow and grow, to become a sweet large apple as we see today.
After eating the sweet fruit the Creator reached down petted the little Crabapple tree affectionately, saying, “AH MY LITTLE CRABAPPLE TREE, TODAY YOU HAVE SHOWN ME A GREATOR HEART THAN ANY OF THE OTHER TREES. THUS SHALL YOU BE THE MOTHER OF ALL FRUIT TREES. AND AS OTHERS BOW BEFORE THE WINDS, YOU SHALL NOT.”
Thus it is to this day, the heartwood of the Apple is greater than others, and it stands sturdy as the other trees bow to the winds wrath. It is a lesson in giving unselfishly, and showing a good heart.
Needless to say, the Pine trees turned green with envy, and remain ever green to this day.
Da Naho!
Blue Turtle
