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.  Then after three weeks the white hen returned to the compound with seven beautiful white chicks.  Olu was overjoyed.  The mother hen was devoted to her chicks and took very good care of them.

One day late in the dry season 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 be captured for food for the village.  

When the fire died down, Olu and his friends walked through the smoldering embers.  The boy noticed a heap of charred feathers, the remains of a bird that had not escaped from the fire, and realized in horror that it was his beloved friend, the white hen.  As his tears flowed, he heard the sounds of chicks.  The mother hen had covered them with her body.  She died that they might live.