Storytelling : Echo's Canyon

Nathan’s family had just purchased a house. The property also included approximately 200 acres of surrounding land and supported a stream that ran through a canyon. Nathan’s mother and father had given him strict instructions not to play in the canyon; however, being a true boy, he soon found himself disobeying their orders and venturing down into it anyway. When he reached the bottom he was amazed by the many nooks and crevices that he found. He could imagine all the adventures he could have hiding and exploring each one of them. It didn’t take him long to try exactly that. He began climbing the rocky cliffs and worming his way through any spaces that he could find. He played for hours being everything from animals to pirates. As he was searching for treasure he came upon a cave. Thinking like all ye pirates think, about the prospects of treasure, he quickly ducked inside. Cupping his hands over his mouth he yelled, “Hello anyone here?” A voice answered back, “ here.” Nathan somewhat startled quickly asked, “Hey ye Scallywag, Where be me treasure?” The voice answered again, “Me treasure.” Nathan then became frightened and ran straight home. “Mom...Dad...Where are you,” shouted Nathan.“Over here son,” replied his parents. Still out of breath and gasping for air, Nathan tells them about the cave and the voice. “You mean to tell me that you went down into the canyon after I specifically told you not to?” asked Nathan’s father. “Yes, Dad, I was in the canyon but that is not important right now. There is someone in that cave. I swear to you that someone is down there.” Nathan’s mom just laughed, “Son, what are you talking about? I’m sure there is no one in that cave.” Nathan then told his mom how he was playing pirates and had called into the cave inquiring about his treasure. “I never expected a response,” said Nathan, “ I was just pretending. I said something like ‘where is my treasure’ and a voice responded ‘my treasure’,” said Nathan, “ I thought if I stayed any longer they would come out and fight me.” Nathan’s mom just smiled and gave her son a hug. “You are too funny. The voice you heard was just echo,” said Nathan’s Mom. “Echo? Who is Echo?” replied Nathan. His mom set him down and explained, “Echo is not a.....(before she could get out the rest she paused and rethought her answer)...Echo was a lady who use to live here many years ago.” Nathan was very interested to hear who this lady was and asked his mom to tell him the story. “OK, I will tell you the story of Echo...,” she began.

Image Information: Swallow Cave
Web Source: Hotel Club

Hundreds of years ago, before the canyon existed, lived a girl named Echo. It was her responsibility to bring water from the stream to the house. At first, she would just rush down and draw some water and then rush right back but as time passed that became harder and harder to do because the terrain was constantly changing due to the running water. Soon she began taking rests before heading back and each time the rests became longer and longer. She would bring a picnic lunch or fish or just sit and watch the animals play. She often would get sidetracked from her initial task and would spend her afternoon exploring the area. There came a point that she grew too old to climb the rocky path back to the house and she decided to just stay in a cave that she discovered in her youth. She absolutely loved the canyon and the stream and felt so much joy being that close to nature. She lived well into old age but eventually died inside the cave. Her body was absorbed into the rocks and all that was left of her was her spirit. That voice you heard today in the cave was her voice. She is still there today singing, laughing, and talking to her beloved canyon.


The next day, Nathan and his mom went to the cave and placed a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers at the entrance of the cave. They peeked inside and yelled, “Is Echo Here?” A voice answered, “Echo here” and Nathan and his mom just smiled.

Image Information: Wildflower bouquet
Web Source: Brocade Nashville

Author's Note: This story was inspired by the myth of Echo and Narcissus. I only retold the portion of how the echo came about. In the original story Juno makes it where Echo can only repeat what people say. She was punished for distracting Juno while Zeus had his fun. I changed pretty much everything. The only thing that really stayed the same was her name. The setting and the way the echo came about are different.