How the Animals Lost Their Tails And
by Carl Sandburg · from Rootabaga Stories
Adapted Version
Once, there was a Cloud Maker. He lived in a tall tower. The tower was very high. He made the weather. He made sun. He made clouds. He made rain. But one day, he was not alert. He made a mistake. The weather turned bad. First, the land was dry. No water fell. The ground cracked. The plants dried up. Then, much rain came. It rained for days. Water made tails soft. Tails got very wet. Then, a big cold came. It was very, very cold. Tails froze stiff. They were like ice. A big wind blew. It blew very hard. It blew tails off. All the creatures lost their tails. This made them very sad. They cried.
The Blue Fox was sad. He sat down. His tail helped him run fast. It helped him eat berries. It helped him balance on rocks. Now he had no tail. He fell down often. He could not balance well. He felt clumsy. The Yellow Flongboo was sad. He could not see. His tail made light. It lit his home at night. It lit his way in the dark. Now he had no tail. His home was dark. His path was dark. He bumped into things. Other creatures were sad too. Their tails were gone.
The creature friends met. They met under a big tree. They all looked sad. They had a big problem. They had no tails. They needed their tails back. They sat and talked. They talked for a long time. Each creature spoke. They shared their worries. They wanted to do a thing. They wanted to get tails back. This was very needed. It was a big task.
A Wise Flongboo Leader was there. He was very smart. He thought hard. He had a good idea. He helped them decide. "We must get our tails," he said. "We must go to the Cloud Maker." He lives in the tall tower. He can help us. All the creatures agreed. They nodded their heads. "Yes!" they said. "To the Cloud Maker!" They cheered loudly. They took a train.
They went to the city. The city was big. Many tall buildings stood. Many people walked by. They saw a man. He looked kind. "Where is the train?" they asked him. The man smiled. He pointed his hand. He showed them the way. They walked to the station. They found a big train. It was a special train. It had many cars. It was shiny and new. They got on the train. They found their seats. They wanted to go fast. They wanted to see the Cloud Maker. They hoped for help.
The train went very fast. It zoomed along tracks. It jumped over a hill. The creatures gasped. They looked out the window. They saw green fields. They saw blue rivers. They saw small towns. It was a fun ride. The train made a sound. "Whoosh!" it went. They ate small snacks. They told funny jokes. The train stopped. They were there. They saw the tall tower. It touched the sky. The Cloud Maker was inside.
They walked to the tower. They went inside. They climbed many stairs. They reached the top room. The Cloud Maker was there. He sat at a big desk. The Wise Flongboo Leader spoke. He spoke clearly. "Cloud Maker," he said. "We need our tails. Our tails are gone. Please send a big wind. Please send a big freeze." He looked at the Cloud Maker. Cloud Maker heard them. He looked at their sad faces. He said, "Yes." He knew his mistake. He would help them. He made a big wind. He made a big freeze.
The tails flew back. They flew through the air. Each tail found its owner. They stuck on tight. They were strong again. All the creatures had tails. They wiggled their tails. They wagged their tails. The creatures were happy. They cheered loudly. They thanked the Cloud Maker. They had their tails. They went home on the train. The ride was joyful. The Blue Fox could balance. He ran and jumped. The Yellow Flongboo made light. His home was bright. All friends were happy. The Cloud Maker was alert now. He made good weather.
Original Story
How the Animals Lost Their Tails and
Got Them Back Traveling From
Philadelphia to Medicine Hat
Far up in North America, near the Saskatchewan river, in the Winnipeg wheat country, not so far from the town of Moose Jaw named for the jaw of a moose shot by a hunter there, up where the blizzards and the chinooks begin, where nobody works unless they have to and they nearly all have to, there stands the place known as Medicine Hat.
And there on a high stool in a high tower on a high hill sits the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers.
When the animals lost their tails it was because the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers at Medicine Hat was careless.
The tails of the animals were stiff and dry because for a long while there was dusty dry weather. Then at last came rain. And the water from the sky poured on the tails of the animals and softened them.
Then the chilly chills came whistling with icy mittens and they froze all the tails stiff. A big wind blew up and blew and blew till all the tails of the animals blew off.
It was easy for the fat stub hogs with their fat stub tails. But it was not so easy for the blue fox who uses his tail to help him when he runs, when he eats, when he walks or talks, when he makes pictures or writes letters in the snow or when he puts a snack of bacon meat with stripes of fat and lean to hide till he wants it under a big rock by a river.
There on a high stool in a high tower, on a high hill sits the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers
It was easy enough for the rabbit who has long ears and no tail at all except a white thumb of cotton. But it was hard for the yellow flongboo who at night lights up his house in a hollow tree with his fire yellow torch of a tail. It is hard for the yellow flongboo to lose his tail because it lights up his way when he sneaks at night on the prairie, sneaking up on the flangwayers, the hippers and hangjasts, so good to eat.
The animals picked a committee of representatives to represent them in a parleyhoo to see what steps could be taken by talking to do something. There were sixty-six representatives on the committee and they decided to call it the Committee of Sixty Six. It was a distinguished committee and when they all sat together holding their mouths under their noses (just like a distinguished committee) and blinking their eyes up over their noses and cleaning their ears and scratching themselves under the chin looking thoughtful (just like a distinguished committee) then anybody would say just to look at them, “This must be quite a distinguished committee.”
Of course, they would all have looked more distinguished if they had had their tails on. If the big wavy streak of a blue tail blows off behind a blue fox, he doesn’t look near so distinguished. Or, if the long yellow torch of a tail blows off behind a yellow flongboo, he doesn’t look so distinguished as he did before the wind blew.
So the Committee of Sixty Six had a meeting and a parleyhoo to decide what steps could be taken by talking to do something. For chairman they picked an old flongboo who was an umpire and used to umpire many mix-ups. Among the flongboos he was called “the umpire of umpires,” “the king of umpires,” “the prince of umpires,” “the peer of umpires.” When there was a fight and a snag and a wrangle between two families living next door neighbors to each other and this old flongboo was called in to umpire and to say which family was right and which family was wrong, which family started it and which family ought to stop it, he used to say, “The best umpire is the one who knows just how far to go and how far not to go.” He was from Massachusetts, born near Chappaquiddick, this old flongboo, and he lived there in a horse chestnut tree six feet thick half way between South Hadley and Northampton. And at night, before he lost his tail, he lighted up the big hollow cave inside the horse chestnut tree with his yellow torch of a tail.
After he was nominated with speeches and elected with votes to be the chairman, he stood up on the platform and took a gavel and banged with the gavel and made the Committee of Sixty Six come to order.
“It is no picnic to lose your tail and we are here for business,” he said, banging his gavel again.
A blue fox from Waco, Texas, with his ears full of dry bluebonnet leaves from a hole where he lived near the Brazos river, stood up and said, “Mr. Chairman, do I have the floor?”
“You have whatever you get away with—I get your number,” said the chairman.
“I make a motion,” said the blue fox from Waco, “and I move you, Sir, that this committee get on a train at Philadelphia and ride on the train till it stops and then take another train and take more trains and keep on riding till we get to Medicine Hat, near the Saskatchewan river, in the Winnipeg wheat country where the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers sits on a high stool in a high tower on a high hill spotting the weather. There we will ask him if he will respectfully let us beseech him to bring back weather that will bring back our tails. It was the weather took away our tails; it is the weather can bring back our tails.”
“All in favor of the motion,” said the chairman, “will clean their right ears with their right paws.”
And all the blue foxes and all the yellow flongboos began cleaning their right ears with their right paws.
“All who are against the motion will clean their left ears with their left paws,” said the chairman.
And all the blue foxes and all the yellow flongboos began cleaning their left ears with their left paws.
“The motion is carried both ways—it is a razmataz,” said the chairman. “Once again, all in favor of the motion will stand up on the toes of their hind legs and stick their noses straight up in the air.” And all the blue foxes and all the yellow flongboos stood up on the toes of their hind legs and stuck their noses straight up in the air.
“And now,” said the chairman, “all who are against the motion will stand on the top and the apex of their heads, stick their hind legs straight up in the air, and make a noise like a woof woof.”
And then not one of the blue foxes and not one of the yellow flongboos stood on the top and the apex of his head nor stuck his hind legs up in the air nor made a noise like a woof woof.
“The motion is carried and this is no picnic,” said the chairman.
So the committee went to Philadelphia to get on a train to ride on.
“Would you be so kind as to tell us the way to the union depot,” the chairman asked a policeman. It was the first time a flongboo ever spoke to a policeman on the streets of Philadelphia.
“It pays to be polite,” said the policeman.
“May I ask you again if you would kindly direct us to the union depot? We wish to ride on a train,” said the flongboo.
“Polite persons and angry persons are different kinds,” said the policeman.
The flongboo’s eyes changed their lights and a slow torch of fire sprang out behind where his tail used to be. And speaking to the policeman, he said, “Sir, I must inform you, publicly and respectfully, that we are The Committee of Sixty Six. We are honorable and distinguished representatives from places your honest and ignorant geography never told you about. This committee is going to ride on the cars to Medicine Hat near the Saskatchewan river in the Winnipeg wheat country where the blizzards and chinooks begin. We have a special message and a secret errand for the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers.”
“I am a polite friend of all respectable people—that is why I wear this star to arrest people who are not respectable,” said the policeman, touching with his pointing finger the silver and nickel star fastened with a safety pin on his blue uniform coat.
“This is the first time ever in the history of the United States that a committee of sixty-six blue foxes and flongboos has ever visited a city in the United States,” insinuated the flongboo.
“I beg to be mistaken,” finished the policeman. “The union depot is under that clock.” And he pointed to a clock near by.
“I thank you for myself, I thank you for the Committee of Sixty Six, I thank you for the sake of all the animals in the United States who have lost their tails,” finished the chairman.
Over to the Philadelphia union depot they went, all sixty-six, half blue foxes, half flongboos. As they pattered pitty-pat, pitty-pat, each with feet and toenails, ears and hair, everything but tails, into the Philadelphia union depot, they had nothing to say. And yet though they had nothing to say the passengers in the union depot waiting for trains thought they had something to say and were saying it. So the passengers in the union depot waiting for trains listened. But with all their listening the passengers never heard the blue foxes and yellow flongboos say anything.
“They are saying it to each other in some strange language from where they belong,” said one passenger waiting for a train.
“They have secrets to keep among each other, and never tell us,” said another passenger.
“We will find out all about it reading the newspapers upside down to-morrow morning,” said a third passenger.
Then the blue foxes and the yellow flongboos pattered pitty-pat, pitty-pat, each with feet and toenails, ears and hair, everything except tails, pattered scritch scratch over the stone floors out into the train shed. They climbed into a special smoking car hooked on ahead of the engine.
“This car hooked on ahead of the engine was put on special for us so we will always be ahead and we will get there before the train does,” said the chairman to the committee.
The train ran out of the train shed. It kept on the tracks and never left the rails. It came to the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona where the tracks bend like a big horseshoe. Instead of going around the long winding bend of the horseshoe tracks up and around the mountains, the train acted different. The train jumped off the tracks down into the valley and cut across in a straight line on a cut-off, jumped on the tracks again and went on toward Ohio.
The conductor said, “If you are going to jump the train off the tracks, tell us about it beforehand.”
“When we lost our tails nobody told us about it beforehand,” said the old flongboo umpire.
Two baby blue foxes, the youngest on the committee, sat on the front platform. Mile after mile of chimneys went by. Four hundred smokestacks stood in a row and tubs on tubs of sooty black soot marched out.
“This is the place where the black cats come to be washed,” said the first baby blue fox.
“I believe your affidavit,” said the second blue fox.
Crossing Ohio and Indiana at night the flongboos took off the roof of the car. The conductor told them, “I must have an explanation.” “It was between us and the stars,” they told him.
The train ran into Chicago. That afternoon there were pictures upside down in the newspapers showing the blue foxes and the yellow flongboos climbing telephone poles standing on their heads eating pink ice cream with iron axes.
Each blue fox and yellow flongboo got a newspaper for himself and each one looked long and careful upside down to see how he looked in the picture in the newspaper climbing a telephone pole standing on his head eating pink ice cream with an iron ax.
Crossing Minnesota the sky began to fill with the snow ghosts of Minnesota snow weather. Again the foxes and flongboos lifted the roof off the car, telling the conductor they would rather wreck the train than miss the big show of the snow ghosts of the first Minnesota snow weather of the winter.
Some went to sleep but the two baby blue foxes stayed up all night watching the snow ghosts and telling snow ghost stories to each other.
Early in the night the first baby blue fox said to the second, “Who are the snow ghosts the ghosts of?” The second baby blue fox answered, “Everybody who makes a snowball, a snow man, a snow fox or a snow fish or a snow pattycake, everybody has a snow ghost.”
And that was only the beginning of their talk. It would take a big book to tell all that the two baby foxes told each other that night about the Minnesota snow ghosts, because they sat up all night telling old stories their fathers and mothers and grandfathers and grandmothers told them, and making up new stories never heard before about where the snow ghosts go on Christmas morning and how the snow ghosts watch the New Year in.
Somewhere between Winnipeg and Moose Jaw, somewhere it was they stopped the train and all ran out in the snow where the white moon was shining down a valley of birch trees. It was the Snowbird Valley where all the snowbirds of Canada come early in the winter and make their snow shoes.
At last they came to Medicine Hat, near the Saskatchewan River, where the blizzards and the chinooks begin, where nobody works unless they have to and they nearly all have to. There they ran in the snow till they came to the place where the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers sits on a high stool in a high tower on a high hill watching the weather.
“Let loose another big wind to blow back our tails to us, let loose a big freeze to freeze our tails onto us again, and so let us get back our lost tails,” they said to the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers.
Which was just what he did, giving them exactly what they wanted, so they all went back home satisfied, the blue foxes each with a big wavy brush of a tail to help him when he runs, when he eats, when he walks or talks, when he makes pictures or writes letters in the snow or when he puts a snack of bacon meat with stripes of fat and lean to hide till he wants it under a big rock by the river—and the yellow flongboos each with a long yellow torch of a tail to light up his home in a hollow tree or to light up his way when he sneaks at night on the prairie, sneaking up on the flangwayer, the hipper or the hangjast.
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Story DNA
Plot Summary
Due to the carelessness of the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers at Medicine Hat, all the animals lose their tails in a bizarre weather event. Many animals, like the blue fox and yellow flongboo, find themselves severely disadvantaged without their essential tails. They form the 'Committee of Sixty Six' and embark on a surreal train journey from Philadelphia to Medicine Hat, encountering peculiar events and people along the way. Upon reaching the Head Spotter, they respectfully request the return of their tails, which he grants, allowing the animals to return home satisfied and whole.
Themes
Emotional Arc
loss to restoration
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Carl Sandburg's 'Rootabaga Stories' are known for their unique American folklore style, blending realism with surrealism and inventing new words and concepts, reflecting a post-WWI American sensibility distinct from traditional European fairy tales.
Plot Beats (13)
- The Head Spotter of the Weather Makers at Medicine Hat is careless, leading to a period of dry weather, then rain, then a freeze, causing all the animals' tails to blow off.
- Many animals, like the blue fox and yellow flongboo, are severely inconvenienced by the loss of their tails, which are essential for their lives.
- The animals form a 'Committee of Sixty Six' to decide what to do about their lost tails.
- The committee, chaired by an old flongboo umpire, holds a meeting with unusual voting methods, ultimately deciding to travel to Medicine Hat to confront the Head Spotter.
- In Philadelphia, the chairman flongboo politely but firmly interacts with a confused policeman to find the train station.
- The committee boards a special smoking car attached ahead of the engine, believing it will get them there faster.
- The train journey is filled with surreal events: the train takes a shortcut by jumping off the tracks at Horseshoe Curve, the flongboos remove the car roof in Ohio and Indiana to see the stars, and they are depicted in upside-down newspaper photos.
- Crossing Minnesota, they again remove the roof to watch the 'snow ghosts', with two baby blue foxes staying up all night telling snow ghost stories.
- Somewhere between Winnipeg and Moose Jaw, they stop the train in Snowbird Valley.
- They finally arrive at Medicine Hat and find the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers.
- The committee asks the Head Spotter to release a big wind to blow their tails back and a big freeze to freeze them on again.
- The Head Spotter complies, and all the animals' tails are restored.
- The blue foxes and yellow flongboos return home, each with their functional tails, satisfied.
Characters
Head Spotter of the Weather Makers ⚔ antagonist
A human figure of indeterminate height and build, characterized by their sedentary position on a high stool. Their features are not described, suggesting a focus on their role rather than individual appearance.
Attire: Not described, likely simple or functional attire befitting a weather observer in a remote, cold region.
Wants: To observe and control the weather, though initially without full consideration for its impact on others.
Flaw: Carelessness, leading to widespread problems for the animals.
Starts as careless, causing the animals to lose their tails. Ends by rectifying the situation, showing a willingness to respond to direct requests.
Careless (initially), powerful, responsive, somewhat detached from the consequences of their actions.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult human figure, gender ambiguous, sitting on a tall wooden stool. They are positioned within a high, narrow stone tower with small, arched windows, looking out. Their clothing is simple and practical, perhaps a thick wool tunic and trousers in muted earth tones, suitable for a cold, northern climate. They hold no specific items, their hands resting calmly. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Old Flongboo Umpire (Chairman) ★ protagonist
An elderly yellow flongboo, distinguished by his long, yellow, torch-like tail (before it was lost). His body is likely slender and agile, typical of a creature that sneaks on the prairie. His fur is yellow.
Attire: No clothing mentioned, as he is an animal. His natural fur is his covering.
Wants: To restore the animals' tails and rectify the injustice caused by the weather.
Flaw: Initially, the loss of his tail diminishes his distinguished appearance and his ability to light his home.
Begins as a distinguished leader who has lost his iconic tail. Leads the quest to regain the tails, reaffirming his leadership and ultimately succeeding.
Wise, authoritative, fair, decisive, pragmatic, a natural leader.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly yellow flongboo standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has bright yellow fur, a slender body, and large, intelligent eyes. His long, thick tail is a vibrant, glowing yellow, resembling a torch. He holds a small, dark wooden gavel in one paw. His expression is wise and authoritative. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Blue Fox from Waco, Texas ◆ supporting
A blue fox with sleek, blue fur. Before losing his tail, he had a big, wavy streak of a blue tail. His ears are described as being full of dry bluebonnet leaves from his home near the Brazos river.
Attire: No clothing mentioned, as he is an animal. His natural fur is his covering.
Wants: To regain his lost tail, which is crucial for his various activities.
Flaw: The loss of his tail significantly hinders his natural abilities and appearance.
Initiates the plan to travel to Medicine Hat and successfully regains his tail, restoring his full capabilities.
Proactive, articulate, determined, respectful of authority (addresses the chairman formally).
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult blue fox standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has sleek, vibrant blue fur and a long, wavy, brush-like blue tail. His ears are slightly pointed, and his eyes are bright and intelligent. His expression is determined and alert. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
First Baby Blue Fox ○ minor
A young blue fox, smaller in stature than the adults. His fur is blue, and he is described as having feet and toenails, ears and hair (fur).
Attire: No clothing mentioned, as he is an animal. His natural fur is his covering.
Wants: To understand the world around him, particularly the mysteries of the snow ghosts.
Flaw: Youthful naivete, though it also allows for wonder.
Experiences the journey and learns about the world, particularly the folklore of snow ghosts, enriching his understanding.
Curious, imaginative, talkative, observant.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young blue fox standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has soft, bright blue fur and a small, pointed snout. His eyes are wide and round, filled with curiosity. His posture is alert and slightly tilted, as if listening intently. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Second Baby Blue Fox ○ minor
A young blue fox, similar in appearance to the First Baby Blue Fox. Blue fur, small stature.
Attire: No clothing mentioned, as he is an animal. His natural fur is his covering.
Wants: To share and create stories, especially about the snow ghosts.
Flaw: Youthful naivete, though it also allows for wonder.
Experiences the journey and contributes to the storytelling, deepening his connection to folklore.
Responsive, imaginative, knowledgeable (about snow ghosts), conversational.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young blue fox standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has soft, bright blue fur and a small, pointed snout. His eyes are intelligent and slightly narrowed in thought. His posture is relaxed but attentive, as if pondering a story. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Conductor ○ minor
A human train conductor, likely of average build and height, dressed in a uniform.
Attire: A formal train conductor's uniform from the early 20th century, likely dark blue or black with brass buttons, a matching cap, and possibly a waistcoat. The fabric would be sturdy wool.
Wants: To maintain order and safety on his train, and to understand the unusual actions of his passengers.
Flaw: His adherence to rules makes him easily flustered by the animals' unconventional behavior.
Begins as a typical conductor, becomes increasingly bewildered by the animals' actions, but ultimately accommodates them.
Rule-following, easily exasperated, persistent in seeking explanations, but ultimately tolerant.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult male train conductor standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a clean-shaven face, short dark hair, and a slightly exasperated expression. He wears a dark navy blue wool uniform jacket with brass buttons, matching trousers, a white collared shirt, and a dark tie. A dark blue conductor's cap with a shiny black brim sits on his head. He holds a small, silver ticket puncher in his right hand. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Medicine Hat Weather Tower
A high tower on a high hill, where the Head Spotter of the Weather Makers sits on a high stool. The surrounding area is near the Saskatchewan river, in the Winnipeg wheat country, where blizzards and chinooks begin.
Mood: Remote, authoritative, slightly whimsical due to the 'Weather Makers' concept.
The animals' tails are lost due to the Head Spotter's carelessness; later, the animals travel here to request their tails back.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tall, slender, weather-beaten wooden tower, reminiscent of an old fire lookout or grain elevator, stands atop a prominent, windswept hill. The hill is covered in sparse, frost-hardened prairie grasses and patches of snow, overlooking a vast, flat expanse of golden-brown wheat fields stretching to the horizon under a dramatic, cloud-streaked sky. A narrow, winding path leads up to the tower, which has a small, glass-enclosed observation deck at its peak. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Horse Chestnut Tree Home
A hollow cave inside a six-foot-thick horse chestnut tree, located halfway between South Hadley and Northampton, Massachusetts.
Mood: Cozy, warm, and slightly magical, serving as a home and meeting place.
The old flongboo umpire, chairman of the Committee of Sixty Six, lived here and used his tail to light it.
Image Prompt & Upload
The interior of a massive, ancient horse chestnut tree, hollowed out to form a spacious, circular chamber. The rough, gnarled bark forms the textured walls, with hints of deep red and brown. Soft, warm yellow light emanates from a central point, casting dancing shadows on the uneven wooden surfaces and illuminating a simple, natural floor of packed earth and fallen leaves. A small, round opening high up suggests the entrance. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Snowbird Valley
A valley of birch trees, covered in snow, where the white moon shines down. All the snowbirds of Canada come here early in the winter to make their snow shoes.
Mood: Magical, serene, quiet, and very cold, with a sense of hidden activity.
The animals stop the train here and run out into the snow, a brief, beautiful interlude on their journey.
Image Prompt & Upload
A serene, snow-covered valley bathed in the ethereal glow of a full white moon. Slender, white-barked birch trees with dark, delicate branches stand in dense clusters, their forms stark against the pristine snowdrifts that blanket the undulating terrain. The air is still and crisp, with a subtle blue tint from the moonlight reflecting off the snow. Tiny, almost invisible tracks hint at the presence of small creatures. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
