Long ago, in a quiet African village surrounded by golden fields of maize, there lived a farmer who was both clever and hardworking. His land was wide, his crops always tall and healthy, and his barns were filled with grain at harvest. Yet, in his heart, the farmer carried a weakness. Though he had plenty, he always wanted more.
When the season of planting came, the farmer sowed his seeds with great care, whispering prayers to the earth. Rains fell in their time, the sun rose faithfully, and soon his fields were heavy with crops. But while the maize grew tall, so too did his fear of losing it. Birds from the forest circled the fields every morning, darting down to peck at the ripe cobs. The farmer grew angry.
One evening, as the sun set in a blaze of orange, the farmer built a figure from sticks, straw, and an old cloth. He tied it firmly in the middle of the field, shaping it into the likeness of a man. Its arms stretched wide, its body stiff, and its hollow head crowned with a wide hat. From a distance, it looked alive, watching the land with a silent warning. This was the scarecrow.
At first, the birds were frightened. When they flew toward the field, they saw the dark figure standing tall and still. Believing it to be a real man, they stayed away. The farmer laughed in triumph. “Now my crops are safe,” he said. Each day, he passed by the scarecrow and patted its wooden arm, proud of his invention.
But days turned into weeks, and the birds soon realized the truth. The scarecrow never moved, never spoke, and never chased them away. Slowly, they returned, pecking once more at the maize. The farmer noticed the damage and grew restless. He tried shouting, throwing stones, even clapping his hands, but the birds were not afraid anymore.
In his greed, the farmer thought of a new plan. “If the scarecrow cannot truly guard my crops,” he said to himself, “then I will give it power.” He went to the village elder, a man of wisdom, and asked for help. The elder shook his head and warned him, “Be content with what the earth has given you. Greed blinds the heart, and a man who seeks more than his share invites trouble.” But the farmer did not listen.
Ignoring the elder’s words, he visited a medicine man from a faraway town. He begged him for charms that could give life to the scarecrow. The medicine man, after much hesitation, handed him a small gourd filled with a dark potion. “Pour this over your figure at midnight,” he said. “It will awaken and obey your command. But beware, for such power always carries a price.”
That night, under the pale light of the moon, the farmer walked to the middle of his field. He held the gourd tightly, poured its contents over the scarecrow, and whispered his wish. At first, nothing happened. Then the scarecrow shivered. Its straw arms twitched. Slowly, its head turned, and the farmer found himself staring into the hollow darkness of its eyes.
“You are alive,” the farmer whispered, trembling with both fear and delight.
The scarecrow’s voice was low and rough, like dry leaves rustling in the wind. “What do you command of me, master?”
“Guard my crops,” the farmer ordered. “Chase away the birds, and let no one touch my maize.”
From that night on, the scarecrow obeyed. Whenever birds swooped down, it sprang to life, waving its long arms until they scattered. The farmer rejoiced. His fields were safe, and his barns grew fuller than ever. But soon, he wanted more.
One evening, he stood before the scarecrow and said, “Do not only guard the field. Go into the forest, hunt the animals, and bring me their meat.” The scarecrow obeyed. It returned with hares, antelopes, and birds from the woods. The farmer feasted richly, while his neighbors grew suspicious.
Greedy still, the farmer commanded, “Go to the river and bring me fish.” The scarecrow obeyed again. Each day, it carried more food, piling the farmer’s house with plenty. Yet his neighbors whispered, for they saw that one man had everything while others struggled.
Finally, one stormy night, the farmer’s hunger for wealth overcame his sense. He looked at the scarecrow and said, “Bring me riches. Gold, ivory, and treasures hidden in the earth—bring them all to me!”
The scarecrow turned its hollow eyes upon him. Its voice was colder than before. “Master, I have obeyed all your commands. But this last command will be your undoing.”
The farmer ignored the warning. He stamped his foot and shouted, “Do as I say!”
The scarecrow bowed and left. Hours passed. At dawn, it returned carrying a chest of gold. The farmer rushed forward, laughing with greed. But as he touched the chest, the scarecrow wrapped its straw arms around him. Its grip tightened. No matter how he struggled, he could not escape.
“You wished for riches,” the scarecrow said. “Now you shall remain with them forever.” With that, it dragged the farmer into the chest, which closed tightly with a thunderous sound. Neither the farmer nor the scarecrow was ever seen again.
In time, the villagers found the empty fields, the maize withering without care, and the once-proud farmer gone. They shook their heads and remembered the elder’s warning. From then on, they told the story of the scarecrow, teaching their children that greed leads only to ruin.
Moral Lesson:
The story of the scarecrow reminds us that contentment is greater than endless desire. When we allow greed to blind us, we risk losing everything we already have. True wealth is not measured in possessions, but in wisdom and balance.
Knowledge Check: The Scarecrow
1. What problem led the farmer to build the scarecrow in the first place?
He built it to protect his maize fields from birds eating the crops.
2. Why did the birds eventually stop fearing the scarecrow?
Because they realized it was not alive and could not move to chase them.
3. What warning did the village elder give the farmer?
The elder warned him to be content and avoid greed, as it would bring trouble.
4. How did the scarecrow come to life?
The farmer poured a magic potion over it at midnight, following the instructions of a medicine man.
5. What was the final command that brought about the farmer’s downfall?
He ordered the scarecrow to bring him gold and hidden treasures.
6. What is the main moral lesson of The Scarecrow?
That greed and discontent can destroy a person, while wisdom and gratitude bring peace.
Source: African folktale
