The Ice King Story

A tribe of Indians lived near a river. One winter the weather was very cold, and many of them died.

But spring came at last. The snow melted from the tops of the mountains and ran in torrents down their steep sides and into the river.

The ice in the swollen river broke up into large cakes which floated down the stream.

The weather grew warmer. All the ice melted except one big cake which the flood had left on the bank of the river.

The sun had been shining on this piece of ice for many days, but it would not melt. There were signs of spring everywhere except in this one spot.

A brave warrior had been watching this piece of ice. He said to himself, “That is the Ice King, I am sure. I must conquer him.”

He raised his big war club and struck the Ice King, crying, “Come on, Ice King! Do your best. Freeze me if you can. I will show you that I am as strong as you are.”

He struck again and again, and the Ice King began to shrink. Pieces of ice floated down the river. At last he became so small that the Indian picked him up and tossed him into the river.

“There!” cried the Indian, “off with you! Never dare to come back here again.”

The Ice King