The Legend of the Five Sisters

Many, many years ago, at the edge of a great river valley, there lived a family. The man and his wife led virtuous lives and revered the beauty and purity of Nature. They instilled these values in their five daughters. The woman would often remind her daughters to live their lives as a reflection of all that is right and beautiful in the world, saying

The greatest treasures can be found in what’s within and all around And to inspire is Nature’s role A kindly heart and virtuous soul

Sadly, destiny took these parents from this world leaving the five sisters under the care of their uncle. He was a bitter, greedy, and violent man.  He made the children work tirelessly for his betterment and would often take out his frustrations on them with harsh words and beatings. When things were at their worst and they were at their saddest, the five sisters would huddle together and sing for comfort. After many months of this, they resolved to escape. One night, when the moon and stars were obscured by clouds, they stole away leaving their sleeping uncle behind.  The Great Manitou witnessed this and felt compassion for the sisters.  He decided he would intercede, but not before they had proven themselves. And so, he prepared five tests for the five sisters. On the first day, the sisters encountered a terrible rain storm. The torrential rains soaked them through.  The rain mixed with the tears they shed at their plight and soaked the ground forming the beginnings of seven lakes. With encouragement from the eldest sister, they persisted, trudging through the mud. Eventually, after many hours, the rain stopped. Tired and soaked, they huddle together at the end of the day and sang until they fell asleep. On the second day, the sisters were startled by the sounds of rustling in the woods. They feared it was their uncle, who undoubtedly would be pursuing them by now. It turned out to be a lost traveler, tired and hungry. The second eldest sister insisted on helping the traveler find his way. She shared the small amount of food they had left with him. Exhausted and hungry, they huddle together at the end of the day sang until they fell asleep. On the third day, the sisters were buffeted with strong winds as they struggled to climb a steep, rocky path leading up a tall hill. Cold, tired and starving, they could not contain their anguish and misery. They wondered aloud why they were made to suffer through this and wrung their hands at the thought of their uncle catching up with them. The middle sister admonished them gently, reminding them of her mother’s words: The greatest treasures can be found in what’s within and all around. She beckoned them to turn around.  So focused had they been on their miserable climb, they had not noticed the majesty of the vista behind them. They stared with awe and reverence at the magnificent hills around them and the beauty of the mighty river that weaved its way through them. Sore, starving, and exhausted, they huddle together at the end of the day and sang until they fell asleep. On the fourth day, they traveled along a path lined with thorny bushes. A large vulture was trapped among the bushes, unable to escape. Fearing that their uncle would soon be upon them, the sisters paid little attention to the bird and moved quickly past. That is, all except the second youngest.  She took pity on the animal and insisted that the sisters help free it. Just as they freed the bird, they caught a glimpse of their uncle descending toward them. Before he saw them, they were able to hide in a nearby cave. Hiding in the shadows, they gasped as they saw their uncle slowly approach.  Before he reached the cave and noticed them, they heard a loud shriek and saw the vulture attack their uncle. Faced with gnashing claws and beating wings, he soon turned and fled. The vulture alighted briefly, stared into the cave, and then flew off. Utterly drained and famished, they huddle together in the cave at the end of the day and sang—now mostly in whispers—until they fell asleep. On the fifth day, the sisters descended the hills to a clearing by a small pond surrounded by hills where they collapsed.  Their hunger, exhaustion, sadness, and fear would not let them go one step farther. They were too tired to sing.  In this clearing there was little doubt their uncle would find them.  It was over. And while the sisters in their desperate state wanted to hate the man pursuing them, the youngest reminded them of their mother’s words:  And to inspire is Nature’s role a kindly heart and virtuous soul. Surrounded in this beautiful setting, near death, they forgave the uncle.  Huddled together, they prayed for him with their final breaths. At this moment, the Great Manitou appeared as an enormous black bear.  He stood up on his hind legs and raised his massive paws.  As he did, a great wind blew off the river, howled through the trees and over the hills. The sisters became as dust and took flight in the wind.  Each was carried to one of the surrounding hills. The dust settled on five hills, creating five stately mountains. There the five sisters remain to this very day, huddled together forever, overlooking the majesty of the great river valley. Perhaps someday you will visit them—the five sisters. Nowadays they are better known as Bear Mountain, West Mountain, the Timp, Dunderberg Mountain, and Bald Mountain. It is said the trails between them were formed all those years ago by the uncle as he continued to search for them in vain. Perhaps you might catch a glimpse of the Great Bear Manitou as he roams the mountains watching over the sisters. If you listen carefully, you might even hear the sisters’ song carried on the winds. If you do visit, think about reflecting the beauty of nature in your own life. Always remember,

The greatest treasures can be found in what’s within and all around And to inspire is Nature’s role A kindly heart and virtuous soul