every one, so he wandered afar, seeking for the true
trail. One day he helped an old lame man along the path and, for
gratitude, the old man said: 'You seek the One of Nass who keeps the
Light?'
"Raven replied, 'Yea, for many days have I sought Him.'
"Then the lame old man smiled a strange smile, and said, 'I know of but
one way to bring this great Light into the world you made, and that way
is to send forth that Light through the daughter of the One with the
Light.'
"'But, Brother, how do I know there is such a daughter? And if there be,
how shall I receive the Light through her?'
"'O Raven, thou art a great creator! Thy father is All-in-all of the
North, and the daughter of Light will joyously send forth this Light you
need to show the beauties of your world,' said the old wayfarer.
"'Then tell me this, O Brother, for I seem not to know how to reach the
Virgin of the Light, despite all the wisdom I have been taught,'
anxiously begged Raven.
"'Then hark to my words, O Son of Raven: I will turn you into a small
drop of water, and fly with you over the House of Light. As I pass the
pool whence comes the water for drink, I will drop you into a glass the
Virgin holds ready to quaff. Then you will know what to do.'
"Raven showed his surprise, for he had believed the old man to be lame
and helpless, and now he found he was a Wise Man who could find his way
wheresoever he would go.
"Then the old man, with the wonderful drop of water held carefully in
his palm, flew over the House of Light, and passed low down over the
pool where the Virgin stood ready to drink.
"As she raised the cup to her lips, the drop of pure water which had
been Raven, fell into the liquid, and she drank all that the vessel
held.
"Now this drop of clear water grew and became a man-child, and the
Virgin knew she was to bring forth the Light unto the World, that all
might enjoy the beauties of creation. So she was happy and praised Raven
and the Father of Raven, day and night, for having given himself to
become a little drop of water that the Light might be born.
"When the time came for the Light to be revealed, the Virgin prepared a
royal bed of furs of great value for the Man of Light to be born on.
But the babe struggled and refused to be born in a state of riches, and
he whispered to the Virgin: 'The world of joy and riches needs me not,
but the world of sorrow and darkness needs me. I will shed this Light on
such as are heavy
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