Ok, this is our final Ethiopian cultural story that we will share at this time and we have purposefully saved it for the end because it is the most interesting to us, you‘ll see why.
In one particular area, there was a poor farmer who had a very, very faithful and intelligent dog. This dog was known throughout the whole area because he was of such a great service to his master. Well, one year, there was a terrible drought and the majority of the farmer’s crops failed. This meant that he had to use the grain in the storehouses for feeding his family. This, then, meant that he had no seed with which to sow his fields the next year. So, he went to the local grain trader to buy some seed, but soon realized that the drought had caused seed prices to go way out of his means. Therefore, the farmer asked if it would be possible that he could receive the seed on loan, to which the trader replied “sure, but what will you give me as a guarantee.” The farmer knew he had nothing of real value to give but looking down at his feet, he said, “What about my dog, he can stay here and serve you until I repay the money. I promise that I will not even be seen with him until the debt is paid.”
Because this trader had heard of this faithful dog and knew of the farmer’s great love for him, he immediately agreed to the deal. In the coming weeks, the farmer sowed his fields and the rains came and the new grain sprouted in record time. As harvest drew close, the farmer thanked God for his provision and eagerly anticipated going to redeem his dog. When the crop was finally harvested and sold in the market, the farmer took the seed money and started walking to the home of the trader. Along the road, he surprisingly saw his dog bounding down the road toward him. “What are you doing here?!? We can’t be seen together until I pay this loan. Go! Go back!” he cried. But the overjoyed dog just jumped in the air and rolled on the ground under his master’s feet. Knowing the dreadful consequence of them being seen together the farmer picked up a stick and in order to shoo him away, he struck the dog on the neck. The blow must have been in just the wrong place as the dog immediately fell to the ground, dead.
It was then that the farmer saw it. Tied by a thread around the dog’s neck was a small piece of paper. He bent down and read it “Dear Mr. Farmer. I don’t know how to thank you. My child was out in the grass playing when a poisonous snake came against him. However, just before the snake attacked my son, your dog killed the snake. For the life of my boy, I have cancelled your debt and am now returning your faithful dog. I can’t thank you enough, The Trader.” The farmer wept bitterly over his dog’s body. THE END!
This story is disturbing. “Daddy, daddy tell me a bedtime story!” “Ok, how about the story of the faithful dog!” “oh yea, we love that one!” I think not.
Two questions that I need your help on: what is the moral? And is there any redeeming element in this story or is it just a “happily NEVER after” story?
I don't know anything about the moral of this story, but when you talk about the faithful, loyal, loving dog I assume that this story is about Mya. It sounds like it describes her to a T!
ReplyDeleteThis story literally makes me ill...all i could picture was my dog :( Anyway, the moral I see is this: don't act until you have all the facts! Although, if the dog was full of venom, he would have died anway...so maybe you're right, maybe there is no moral or redeeming element!
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that sometimes these stories don't have a specific moral or lesson like so many western stories do, but the point *is* just "happily never after" - bad things happen in life, we make choices that seem right at the time but turn out wrong, etc., and we have to live with the consequences. These stories seem crude and almost offensive to our western minds because they don't pander to our need for everything to be ok in the end.
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