Long ago, on one of the sunlit islands of the Seychelles, there was a small village surrounded by palm trees and the endless ocean. Life was simple but not always easy. The people relied on the sea for fish and the forest for fruit, but there were times when hunger pressed hard on the community. During one such time of need, a miracle appeared in the form of a single tree.
In the center of the village yard grew a breadfruit tree unlike any other. Its trunk was tall and smooth, its branches wide, and its leaves so green they seemed to shine. The most wondrous thing of all was its fruit. No matter how many breadfruits the villagers plucked, the tree never emptied. Each morning new fruit appeared, round and golden, enough to feed every mouth in the village. Word spread quickly that the people had been blessed by the spirits with a tree that would keep them from ever knowing hunger again.
READ THIS: The Woman Who Turned into Stone
At first, the villagers treated the tree with respect. They took only what they needed for the day, and in return, the tree gave them more. Families roasted breadfruit in the evening fires, children laughed with full bellies, and the village thrived in peace. The tree had become the heart of their community, a reminder that gratitude brings abundance.
But as the days passed, human nature began to whisper into their hearts. Some villagers thought, “Why take just one when I can take ten? I can dry them, store them, and never fear hunger again.” Others began to boast, saying, “I will gather more than my neighbors, for I deserve a greater share.” Slowly, greed crept into the village like a shadow.
The people began to strip the tree bare each morning, climbing its branches, filling baskets, and even fighting among themselves over who would take the largest fruit. They forgot the simple rule that had first guided them: take only what you need.
One morning, the villagers rushed out with baskets in hand, eager to seize as much as they could. But when they reached the yard, their hearts fell silent. The magic breadfruit tree was gone. Its trunk, its branches, and its fruit had vanished, leaving only bare earth where it once stood. The gift had been withdrawn.
From that day forward, hunger returned to the village. The people had to work harder than before, fishing in rough seas, climbing tall trees, and searching the forest for food. Though they survived, they never forgot the lesson of the tree that had given them everything until their greed took it all away.
Moral Lesson: The Magic Breadfruit Tree teaches that blessings thrive when met with gratitude and respect. Greed and selfishness can drive away even the most generous gifts. The Seychellois people passed down this tale to remind future generations that abundance is sustained not by taking more, but by honoring what is given.
Knowledge Check
What made the breadfruit tree in The Magic Breadfruit Tree so special?
Answer: It produced endless fruit, never running out no matter how much was taken.How did the villagers first treat the tree’s gift?
Answer: They respected it, taking only what they needed each day.What change began to happen among the villagers over time?
Answer: They grew greedy, taking more fruit than they needed and competing with one another.What happened to the magic breadfruit tree when the villagers became greedy?
Answer: It vanished, leaving only bare earth behind.What effect did the tree’s disappearance have on the village?
Answer: Hunger returned, and the people had to struggle again to find food.What is the main moral of The Magic Breadfruit Tree?
Answer: Greed destroys blessings, but gratitude helps them endure.
Source: Seychellois folktale, documented in Seselwa Stories and Legends collected by Marie-Thérèse Choppy (1995).
