Na Lënu Òk Nèl Mwekaneyëma

The Man and His Dog . . . Told by Nora Thompson Dean in 1967

English:

A long time ago there was a man who lived in a big forest.

Lenape:

Lòmwe hùnt lënuwa xinkwi shinkèkink wiku.

English:

The man lived alone, except for his dog.

Lenape:

Xuhanu na lënu, shëk wëlahële mwekane.

English:

On many evenings they would talk together the dog and the man.

Lenape:

Xaheli ènta lòkwik pëmëtunheyok na mwekane òk na lënu.

English:

One day the dog said,

Lenape:

Luwe kwëtën kishkwik na mwekane,

English:

"All right my friend, let us go hunting!

Lenape:

"Nëpèhta nchu, alaitàm!

English:

It seems like I can smell many squirrels toward the north."

Lenape:

Alàshi a ta nëmëlao xaheli xanikok ikali luwàneyunk."

English:

So they left to go squirrel hunting that man and his friend.

Lenape:

Na tòlëmskaneyo nutxanikweyok na lënu òk nèl witisa.

English:

While they were just walking along a little path

Lenape:

Na ènta tëmakanëtëtink ènta papëmskahtit

English:

the dog suddenly heard something making a rattling noise by the path.

Lenape:

wixkaochi pwëntao na mwekane kèku ta pè shëshëwixink tëmakanëtëtink kixki.

English:

The dog said, "Stop! Stop! I heard something.

Lenape:

Na mwekane luwe, "Nahkihëla! Nahkihëla! Mpëntao kèku!

English:

It might be a rattlesnake rattling!"

Lenape:

Na èt mah na shixikwe pè shëshuhwit!"

English:

Then the dog grabbed him,

Lenape:

Na ika alihëlalan na mwekane,

English:

and began to shake the snake.

Lenape:

tòlëmi tëntahkanihin na xkuk

English:

and finally he killed the snake.

Lenape:

xantki wënihëlao nèl xkuka.

English:

Then when they had finished hunting, they went home.

Lenape:

Na ènta kìshi alaihtit, machiyok

English:

The man began to cook.

Lenape:

Na lënu alëmi wixënu.

English:

He fed the dog on the ground.

Lenape:

Hakink tòxamao na mwekane.

English:

But finally the dog wouldn't eat;

Lenape:

Xantki na mwekane mata mitsii;

English:

he just had a scowl on his face.

Lenape:

manunkinkwexin shëk.

English:

The man told the dog,

Lenape:

Na lënu tëlao na mwekane,

English:

"What's wrong with you? Aren't you hungry?"

Lenape:

"Kèku hach ktëlsi? Ku hàch katupwii?"

English:

The dog said,

Lenape:

Na mwekane luwe,

English:

"Oh yes, I am hungry, but I want to know what the reason is that you feed me on the ground?

Lenape:

"O, nkatupwi ta, shëk nkata watun wënchi hakink ènta xamiàn?

English:

Why is it that I cannot eat at the table also?"

Lenape:

Kèku hàch wënchi mata nkàski mitsii èhèntalipwink tali?"

English:

The man said, "Oh well, you can eat with me

Lenape:

Na lënu luwe, Osòmi! Kàski wipumi

English:

You can come and sit right here!"

Lenape:

Nëpèhta! Yushe lëmatahpi!"

English:

The dog smiled,

Lenape:

Na mwekane këlëksëwinkwèxin,

English:

He began to eat. He was eating with his friend.

Lenape:

Tòlëmi mitsin. Wipumao nèl witisa.

Shè Yu Wëski Kèku

Alahòtuwàk

Mikwëna Tëlekhikàn Pwètanehëmaok Lënapeyunkahke

Moni Ta Nëni

Wàni Lënape Elixsit

Na Elais Kahta Alai