Trading Marbles

A man at the checkout line in a neighborhood grocery store watched as the store owner talked to a little boy.  The boy was admiring some fresh ripe tomatoes.  The store owner asked if the wanted to buy some.  The boy told him that he didn't have the money.  "What you got to trade for it?" the man asked.  Just this blue marble.  The man said "You know I prefer red. Take the tomatoes and when you come back bring me a red marble."  The boy smiled as he left with the tomatoes.  The store owner's wife told the man watching how her husband help out two other boys who just don't have much.  She said they always come back with a marble but it is never the right color."  Years later the store owner dies and many people came to show their respects, including the man in the store that day.  He noticed three well dressed young men hug the man's widow and then lean over into the casket.  When it was the man's turn to speak to the widow, he reminded her of the day they met and the boy with the marble.  She smiled and told the man that those were the three boys. "They came to settle their debt." she told him.  He looked into the casket and between the man's folded thumbs and fingers were three of the shiniest red marbles he had ever seen. Moral: Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

The Bridge

A father and son loved each other very much.  The father provided for his son's every need.  The son loved to go to work with his father, who operated a drawbridge across the river.  One Friday,  the father picked up his son after school and took him to work as a surprise.  As they walked passed the train station the son was very curious about all the people waiting on the train.  The father set up a fishing pole for his son by the river as he went to clock in.  The father told him he would come and get him so he could raise the bridge when the train came.  The train whistle blew in the distance. The son turned to the window to tell his dad the train was coming.  The father was not in the window.  The son could hear the train running full steam ahead.  He called to his father again, but his father didn't hear him.  The train was very close and the bridge was still up.  The son decided to push the emergency lever in the wheel and pulley box near the tracks.  As the son was trying to reach the lever the father heard the train whistle. He went to the window to call the son.  He glimpsed his son falling into the box.  The ground began to shake as the train approached.  The father knew he had to pick between saving this only son, and all the people on the train. With tears in his eyes, he pushed the button lowering the drawbridge crushing his son, but saving the passengers.  He stood in tears watching as the train passed by.  The passengers continued on their journey never knowing of the father's sacrifice.

The Legend of Mali Sadio

 During the time when time was young, in the village of Bafoulabe two rivers flowed together, one blue one white.  The river was a dangerous one, and the women were afraid to go to the river to wash and draw water because of crocodiles and other violent animals.  One day as a pregnant woman came to the river to draw water, a hippopotamus appeared in the water near her. The hippo was unique.  It was two toned, its body was gray, but its feet were white.  It had a white streak on its face and its eyes were as golden as the sun.  She was frighten by the Hippo, but the Hippo spoke to her calming her.  He offered her and the village protection.  The village was grateful for Mali, the bamanakan word for hippo.  The woman gave birth to a girl and called her Sadio which means pure.  As the girl grew she became very close to Mali.  Sadio would spend hours at the river swimming with and jumping off of Mali.  Over many years their friendship became love.  One young hunter had fallen in love with the girl, but everyone knew her heart belonged to Mali. His anger grew deeper as he saw them together. So he plotted to kill Mali.  Now without Mali to protect the villagers, the river once again became very dangerous.  Sadio never married.  To this day a statue stands in Bafoulabe in honor of Mali Sadio. Moral: The selfish actions of a single person bring pain and hardship on many others.

The Birds and the Arrow

A hunter traveled many miles to a gathering where hundreds of birds held an annual meeting.  The hunter requested that the birds give him one bird so he could make arrows.  After much deliberation the birds agreed to give the hunter a wild turkey.  The hunter killed the turkey and used its feathers to make the fletching for his arrows.  As soon as his quiver was full, the hunter began shooting and killing all of the fine birds in the field.  The great Eagle flying above the the hunter's arrows remarked to another escaping bird.  "Our first mistake was the most tragic for us all.  We should have never given up the rights of our brother Turkey. Because of our foolishness, we all perish." Moral: sacrificing the rights of others, may endanger your own.

Tale of Two Huts

There was a young man who never seemed to catch a break.  Trouble followed the boy all of this life.  Finally he set out to gain wisdom so his future would be bright.  He asked the old sage who lived near his village what road should he take to gain wisdom and become wealthy.  The old man told the youth, " Follow this road for a three day journey.  It will lead you to the village of "Hakilobalia "(Want of Wisdom).  In the village square there will be two huts very close together. In one of the huts is the wisdom and the wealth of the ancient kings of Segu.  In the other door, death waits for those who enter. In front of the huts are two men.   You may ask only one question to only one man. Beware, one man always speaks truth, the other always speaks lies.  If you ask the right question your journey will end with a great reward."  The youth thanked the sage and left.  A week later the youth returned with a large caravan.  He stopped to pay tribute to the sage for helping him find wisdom and wealth.  He smiled and told the sage, "I asked the right question!" Question: What question did he ask?