About the Author
Phoebe Cary was an American poet born in 1824 in a place called Ohio. She lived until 1871. She wrote simple and touching poems about life, kindness, and good values. Her sister Alice was also a poet, and they often shared their work. Phoebe loved to tell stories through her poems that teach us to be better people. "A Legend of the Northland" is one of her famous poems. It was first printed in a book called Ballads for Little Folk in 1873. She used easy words and rhymes to make her stories fun for kids and grown-ups alike.
What’s the Story About?
This poem is like an old tale from a cold, snowy land far away, near the North Pole. People there call it the Northland. The days are super short, and nights are so long in winter that no one can sleep the whole time. Kids wear furry clothes that make them look like baby bears, and grown-ups use fast deer called reindeer to pull their sleds through the snow.
In this land, elders tell kids a funny old story – not sure if it's real, but it has a big lesson. Long ago, Saint Peter (a holy man from Bible stories) was walking door to door, tired and very hungry. He hadn't eaten for days. He knocked on an old woman's house and asked for a bite of food.
The old woman was baking small cakes on her stove. She felt sorry for the saint at first, but she was very selfish. She made tiny cakes – first as small as a pea, then as a wafer-thin biscuit – but each time, she thought, "This is just right for me!" She wouldn't share even a little bit. She nibbled the edges and threw the cakes on a shelf, saying they were too good to give away.
Saint Peter got very angry at her greed. He said, "You won't give me even a small cake, so from now on, you'll have to work hard for every bite!" He turned her into a woodpecker bird! Her body shrank, her chin turned into a long beak, and she flew into the forest. Now, she has to peck and bore holes in tree bark all day to find bugs for food. Her blue apron became feathers, and she looks sad and skinny.
Even today, in the Northland woods, people see this woodpecker tapping away. The story reminds everyone: sharing is caring, and being selfish brings trouble. It's a simple tale, but it sticks in your mind like a good friend's advice!
Who’s Who in the Story
- Saint Peter: The main holy man in the story. He is kind but firm. He travels on foot, feeling weak and hungry, and asks for help. When the old woman refuses, he punishes her to teach a lesson about kindness.
- The Old Woman: The selfish lady who lives in a cozy house. She bakes cakes but won't share even a tiny one. Her greed makes her say no to a tired traveler. She gets turned into a bird as her punishment.
- The People of Northland: Not main characters, but they tell this story to their kids. They live in the cold land, using sleds and furry clothes. They spot the woodpecker and remember the tale.
- The Woodpecker: This is what the old woman becomes! A small bird with a sharp beak, always hungry and working hard to eat. It stands for the sad end of being too greedy.
Themes and Moral
This poem talks about big ideas in life, told in a simple way:
- Greed and Selfishness: The old woman has lots of food but thinks only of herself. She even makes smaller cakes to keep more! This shows how greed makes us blind to others' needs.
- Kindness and Sharing: Saint Peter is hungry, but no one helps until he tests the woman. The story says we should share what we have, especially with those in trouble. A small act of giving can make a big difference.
- Punishment for Bad Choices: When we act selfish, bad things can happen. The woman's change into a bird is like a wake-up call – it shows our actions come back to us.
The Moral: Be generous and think of others, or your selfishness will make life hard. Like the poem says, "All who make their mark in the world do so by helping others." Don't be like the woodpecker – peckish and peck-pecking forever! Share a smile or a snack today, and you'll feel happy inside.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and lines from the poem. I've explained them with everyday examples, so they're easy to remember:
- Northland: A far-north place, super cold like the top of the world. Think of snowy hills where Santa might live – days are tiny, nights huge.
- Sledges: Wooden carts pulled by animals over snow, like a rickshaw but on ice. In the poem: "harness the swift reindeer to the sledges" – tying deer to pull them fast.
- Bear's cubs: Baby bears, fluffy and cute. The kids' furry coats make them look just like that – warm and cuddly in the cold.
- Curious story: A strange, interesting tale that makes you wonder. The poet says, "They tell them a curious story – I don’t believe ’tis true" – it's fun but maybe not real.
- Woe-begone: Sad and looking sorry, like a lost puppy with big eyes. The woodpecker has a "woe-begone face" – always hungry and tired.
- Nibbled: To take tiny bites, like a mouse eating cheese bit by bit. The woman "nibbled the edges" of her cakes – sneaky small eats.
- Bore a hole: To drill or poke a deep opening, like using a sharp stick in mud. The bird has to "bore a hole" in tree skin to find food – hard work!
- Phrase: "The work of Saint Peter": Means the saint's special job or magic. Here, it's his curse that changes the woman – a quick, fair payback.
- Phrase: "Hour of need": A tough time when you really want help, like when you're sick or alone. The saint was in his "hour of need," but she turned away.
There you go! This poem is more than words – it's a reminder to be kind in our busy lives. Read it aloud with friends, and you'll love the rhyme. If you have questions, think: What would you share with a hungry guest? Keep shining, Class 9 stars! 🌟