One Hundred Wisdom Stories by Margaret Silf

Author:Margaret Silf
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lion Hudson UK
Published: 2003-04-05T05:00:00+00:00

Retelling of a story by Leo Tolstoy

54

The Firemaker

Once upon a time, there lived a man who was able to make fire. The people of his village were amazed at this wondrous gift. The first time he ever made fire, they didn’t rightly know what to think of it, or what to do with it. In fact, if the truth were told, they were perhaps a little bit afraid of it.

But then the firemaker taught them how they could use this gift to keep warm through the cold of winter, and to make a warm, dancing light when the darkness wrapped its blanket around them every night. They could use it, he showed them, to cook their food, and even to fire their pottery, from which to eat their food. If ever they were alone and lost in the wilderness, they could use this gift to send up a cry for help, and their signal would be seen far away, and rescue would come.

Fire could be dangerous, however, and it could cause destruction. So the firemaker also taught them how to handle the fire reverently and with care, so that it should not cause hurt to themselves or to any part of creation.

In no time at all, the news of the firemaker’s gift spread from one village to the next, until everyone in the region had heard about this mysterious and powerful gift. The firemaker was in great demand. He travelled through the villages, teaching his skills to everyone who wanted to learn. And the people learned eagerly, and they began to revere the firemaker. Surely this man was special, and the gods were very close to him.

In time, the popularity of the firemaker came to the attention of the village elders and rulers, and to the lord of that region. They didn’t entirely like what they were hearing. Here was a man who appeared to be giving the people what they deeply desired, and what would give them fuller and happier lives. The people were turning away from their rulers and leaders to follow this upstart firemaker. The leaders and rulers were losing control!

The firemaker’s activities had to be curbed, they all agreed. And when that didn’t seem to be possible, they had to resort to sterner measures. The firemaker must go, they resolved. And so, one night, they trapped the firemaker in a dark corner and they killed him. They told the people that from then on, it would be illegal to make fires.

The people were dismayed, but most of them were too afraid to challenge the rulers. Instead, they grieved for the firemaker, whom they had all loved. They forgot most of what he had taught them, because they never practised their skills again, but they never forgot him.

The rulers and leaders conferred as to how to placate the people and take their minds off this dangerous man. They hit upon the idea of encouraging the people to build shrines to the memory of the firemaker. And so, in every village, a monument was erected.

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