In a small village nestled between rolling hills and winding streams, there lived a man who had nearly as many children as there were sparrows fluttering through his garden. From dawn until dusk, he labored tirelessly to put food on the table for his large family, and the endless work wore him down until bitterness filled his heart. He complained about everything the weather, his neighbors, his lot in life until the villagers shook their heads and called him “Father Grumbler.”
As the years passed, Father Grumbler grew weary of his constant toil. On Sundays, instead of joining his neighbors at church, he stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling and brooding over unpaid rent and mounting debts. The loneliness of his thoughts became unbearable, and one day, the cheerful glow of the tavern across the road beckoned to him like a warm fire on a winter’s night. “Just to chase away my worries,” he told himself as he pushed open the door and joined his drinking companions.
But when he stumbled home hours later, his purse lighter and his head heavier, Care walked right alongside him, whispering reminders of wasted time and squandered coins.
Click here to discover more legendary tales from West Africa
“I must seek wisdom,” Father Grumbler decided, his conscience pricking him. “I’ll visit the Holy Man who lives in the cave near the ancient well. Perhaps he can explain why fortune smiles on everyone but me.”
The journey was long and arduous. Father Grumbler climbed steep mountain paths and crossed deep valleys, his feet aching and his stomach growling. Finally, he reached the cave entrance and knocked with trembling hands.
“Who disturbs my solitude?” called a voice from within.
“It’s Father Grumbler, Holy Man, the one with as many children as garden sparrows. I need your help! Why does luck favor everyone else while only misfortune finds me?”
The Holy Man disappeared into the shadows of an inner chamber. When he emerged, he carried a curious woven basket. “This is a magical basket,” he explained, his eyes twinkling with ancient wisdom. “When hunger strikes, simply say, ‘Little basket, little basket, do your duty,’ and you’ll feast like a king. When you’ve had enough, say, ‘That will do for today.’ But heed my warning, don’t boast about this gift or tell everyone where it came from.”
Father Grumbler, so accustomed to disappointment that he suspected a trick, snatched the basket without a word of thanks and hurried away. The moment the cave disappeared from view, he couldn’t resist testing it. “Little basket, little basket, do your duty!”
The basket’s lid flew open, and white rolls tumbled out like snowflakes in a storm, followed by an endless river of perfectly cooked fish, trout, salmon, turbot, and dozens of other varieties, all sizzling and fragrant. The road vanished beneath this miraculous feast, and Father Grumbler watched in amazement as the banks began to overflow.
“Enough! That will do for today!” he shouted, and the lid snapped shut.
He sat upon a pile of stones and ate until his belly was full, savoring flavors he’d never known existed. Yet even in his satisfaction, he grumbled, “All this food makes me terribly thirsty.”
As if in answer, he looked up to find himself standing before the tavern, though he could have sworn it was miles away.
“Bring your finest wine, good woman,” he called to the innkeeper’s wife, “and if you’re fond of fish, I have plenty to share. But keep quiet about it, no need to spread gossip.”
He whispered to the basket again, and the innkeeper and his wife leaped back in shock as fish and bread cascaded across their floor, covering every surface and spilling into the street. Their eyes gleamed with greed as they scrambled to collect the treasure, whispering to each other about stealing this magical basket that could make their fortune.
They plied Father Grumbler with their best wine, hoping to loosen his tongue about the basket’s origin, but he kept his secret. However, wine did what questions could not, soon he slumped over the table, snoring loudly. The innkeeper’s wife quickly replaced the magic basket with an ordinary one that looked identical, hiding the real treasure away.
When Father Grumbler awoke and returned home, he proudly demonstrated the basket to his hungry children gathered around their thin soup. But no matter how many times they repeated the magic words, nothing happened. The realization hit him like cold water: “Those scoundrels at the tavern have tricked me!”
He raced back to the Holy Man’s cave, and after hearing his tale, the wise man gave him a magnificent red cock. “Say, ‘Show me what you can do, cock,’ and you’ll witness wonders. But again, keep this secret.”
Father Grumbler immediately went to the tavern, where he demonstrated the cock’s amazing ability to drop golden coins and diamonds from its beak. But once again, wine clouded his judgment, and while he slept, the innkeepers switched the magic cock with an ordinary bird.
When Father Grumbler discovered the deception, he returned a third time to the Holy Man, who gave him one final gift, a magical switch. “Say, ‘Flack, flick, switch, be quick,’ and you’ll see what happens.”
This time, Father Grumbler laid a clever trap. He asked the innkeepers to cook his cock and burn his basket, then revealed his new treasure. When he commanded the switch to action, it leaped from the bag and delivered swift, stinging blows to everyone in the room, including Father Grumbler himself.
“Stop! We’ll return your basket and cock!” the innkeepers screamed, hopping about like fleas on a hot skillet.
“That’s enough for today!” Father Grumbler tried to shout, but the switch continued its relentless work until the Holy Man heard their cries and came running. He commanded the switch back into the bag and made the couple return the stolen treasures.
“You’ve all received what you deserve,” the Holy Man declared solemnly. “I’ll take my treasures home and perhaps one day find someone who knows how to appreciate life’s blessings. But that person will never be you, Father Grumbler.”
The Moral of the Story
This tale teaches us that greed, dishonesty, and ingratitude lead only to suffering. Father Grumbler received extraordinary gifts but failed to appreciate them properly, carelessly revealing his secrets while drinking at the tavern. The innkeepers’ theft brought them pain rather than profit. True wealth comes not from magical objects, but from gratitude, wisdom, and using our blessings responsibly. When we fail to value what we’re given and seek shortcuts through deception, we ultimately harm ourselves.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who is Father Grumbler and why did he get this nickname?
A: Father Grumbler was a hardworking man with many children who constantly complained about his life and circumstances. The villagers gave him this nickname because he grumbled about everything and everyone, never finding satisfaction despite his blessings.
Q2: What were the three magical gifts the Holy Man gave to Father Grumbler?
A: The Holy Man gave Father Grumbler three magical items: a basket that produced endless delicious food, a cock that dropped gold coins and diamonds from its beak, and a switch that delivered punishing blows to teach lessons about greed and deception.
Q3: What mistake did Father Grumbler make that led to losing his magical gifts?
A: Father Grumbler ignored the Holy Man’s warning not to show off his gifts or reveal where they came from. He went to the tavern, demonstrated the magical items, and drank too much wine, allowing the dishonest innkeepers to switch them with ordinary objects while he slept.
Q4: What lesson does the magical switch teach in this folktale?
A: The magical switch symbolizes justice and consequences. It punishes both the greedy innkeepers for their theft and Father Grumbler for his carelessness and lack of gratitude. The switch demonstrates that wrongdoing brings suffering to everyone involved, teaching accountability.
Q5: What does this folktale teach about gratitude and wisdom?
A: The story teaches that receiving blessings requires responsibility, discretion, and appreciation. Father Grumbler failed to thank the Holy Man, ignored his warnings, and carelessly showed off his gifts. True wisdom means valuing what we have and using our blessings thoughtfully rather than seeking to impress others.
Q6: Why is the tavern significant in Father Grumbler’s downfall?
A: The tavern represents temptation and poor judgment. It’s where Father Grumbler wastes his time and money, loosens his tongue, and falls into the innkeepers’ trap repeatedly. The tavern symbolizes how indulgence and lack of self-control can lead to losing valuable opportunities and blessings.
Source: Ivorian folktale, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa
