OLU AND The Mother Hen

There was a young Nigerian boy named Olu who had a pet white chicken.  They became great friends and inseparable companions.

One day the hen disappeared and Olu cried and cried.  But after three weeks the white hen returned to the compound with seven beautiful white chicks and the boy was overjoyed.  The mother hen took very good care of her chicks.

It was late in the dry season when the older boys set a ring of fire to the bush area outside the village.  Everyone stood outside the ring as the fire burned toward the center. The purpose was to drive little animals such as rabbits and small antelopes out of the circle to provide food for the villagers.

After the fire died down, Olu and his friends walked through the smoldering embers and the noticed a heap of charred feathers, the remains of a bird that had not tried to escape from the fire.  Olu realized in horror that this was his beloved friend, the white hen all black and burned to death. Once again, inconsolable, he cried and cried for the loss of his companion.

Then he heard the sounds of chicks. The mother hen had covered them with her body and they were still alive and well. She died so that they might live.