West
African Folk-Tales
by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair
How
We Got the Name "Spider Tales"
How
Wisdom Became the Property of the Human Race
Why
the Lizard Moves His Head Up and Down
Why
White Ants Always Harm Man's Property
Why We See Ants Carrying Bundles As Big As Themselves
Why Spiders Are Always Found in Corners of Ceilings
Anansi
and the Blind Fisherman
The
Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour By Itself
Morning
Sunrise
Why the Sea-turtle When Caught Beats Its Breast With Its Forelegs
How
Beasts and Serpents Came into the World
Why the Moon and the Stars Receive Their Light From the Sun
How
the Tortoise Got Its Shell
Why the Leopard Can Only Catch Prey On Its Left Side
King
Chameleon and the Animals
To Lose an Elephant For the Sake of a Wren Is a Very Foolish Thing To Do
Why Tigers Never Attack Men Unless They Are Provoked
Morning Sunrise
A MAN in one of the villages had a very beautiful daughter. She was so lovely that people called her "Morning Sunrise." Every young man who saw her wanted to marry her. Three, in particular, were very anxious to have her for their wife. Her father found it difficult to decide among them. He determined to find out by a trick which of the three was most worthy of her.
He bade her lie down on her bed as if she were dead. He then sent the report of her death to each of the three lovers, asking them to come and help him with her funeral.
The messenger came first to "Wise Man." When he heard the message, he exclaimed, "What can this man mean? The girl is not my wife. I certainly will not pay any money for her funeral."
The messenger came next to the second man. His name was "Wit." The latter at once said, "Oh dear, no! I shall not pay any money for her funeral expenses. Her father did not even let me know she was ill." So he refused to go.
"Thinker," the third young man—when he received the message—at once got ready to start. "Certainly I must go and mourn for Morning Sunrise," said he. "Had she lived, surely she would have been my wife." So he took money with him and set out for her home.
When he reached it her father called out, "Morning Sunrise, Morning Sunrise. Come here. This is your true husband."
That very day the betrothal took place, and soon after the wedding followed. "Thinker" and his beautiful wife lived very happily together.
The text came from:
Barker,
William H.
and Cecilia Sinclair. West African Folk-tales. Lagos, Africa: Bookshop, 1917.
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©Heidi
Anne Heiner, SurLaLune Fairy Tales
E-mail: surlalune@aol.com
Page last updated September 5, 2006
www.surlalunefairytales.com
