Long ago, when the world was still young and fresh, the dog was not only the companion of man but also his equal in speech. She lived among men, walked beside them, and spoke with them as easily as one friend to another. The bond between dog and man was deep, and their voices carried across villages like a shared song.
One day, however, a quarrel arose between the dog and the men. They argued fiercely, neither side willing to yield, until at last the dog suggested, “We must find someone wiser than ourselves. A wise man will decide who is right.”
The men nodded. “Let us seek judgment in the sky,” they said. “Surely the greatest wisdom is found there.”
Together, the dog and the men journeyed upward into the heavens, where they found a wise man who listened carefully and judged their dispute fairly. His decision satisfied them all, and peace returned between dog and man. Yet while they lingered in the sky, they saw something new and marvelous, fire.
The flames glowed brightly, casting warmth and comfort. The men stared in wonder, but the dog was enchanted. “I do not know what this is,” she said, “but it is beautiful and warm. I will lie beside it.”
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The men, however, grew restless. “We must return to the earth,” they said. “Come, aren’t you coming with us?”
The dog shook her head. “Go on ahead. I can run swiftly and catch up with you later. For now, I will stay beside this lovely fire.”
So the men descended back to earth. When the last of them had gone, the dog grasped a burning branch in her tail and raced after them. In this way, the gift of fire came down from the sky to the world below, carried by the faithful dog.
Not long after, the men went hunting, with the dog running at their side. Their path crossed that of a lion, and fear gripped their hearts.
“This beast devours others,” they whispered nervously. “Perhaps it will devour us, too.”
They fled until they came upon a buffalo, which they hunted down with great effort. They skinned it, cut the meat, and laid out their prize.
“Wait,” one man said. “Before we feast, we must honor the spirits with an offering.”
“But the spirits dwell far away,” another replied.
“Our friend the dog runs swiftly,” a third suggested. “Let her carry a portion of the best meat to them.”
They agreed, and they placed a piece of the richest, fattest meat into the dog’s mouth. “Take this gift to the spirits,” they commanded. “When they receive it, we may eat.”
The dog, loyal and eager, began to run. She ran long and hard beneath the sun, her body hot and weary. She longed to let her tongue loll out to cool herself, but the meat held it captive. At last, exhausted, she stopped and laid the meat upon the ground.
As she rested, the juices from the meat dripped down her throat. The taste was heavenly.
“This is delicious,” she thought, “and I am so hungry. Yet this gift belongs to the spirits. I must resist.”
She lifted the meat again and ran on. Soon fatigue overcame her once more. Again she rested, and again the juices slid down her throat, tormenting her hunger.
“Perhaps one bite will do no harm,” she reasoned. She took a small piece. But one piece led to another, and another still, until at last nothing remained.
Her heart heavy with guilt, the dog returned slowly to the men.
“Dog,” they asked, “have you given the meat to the spirits?”
She could not answer. Instead, she lowered her ears, tucked her tail between her legs, and let out a mournful howl.
The men exchanged uneasy glances. “Perhaps she is too tired,” they murmured. “But did she deliver the offering? Perhaps she did not.”
Despite their doubts, they roasted the buffalo meat over the very fire the dog had once brought from the heavens.
“Come, Dog,” they invited, “share this feast with us.”
But the dog did not speak. She only howled, her eyes dark with sorrow. And from that day forward, the spirits took her voice from her. Never again did the dog speak, for her disobedience had silenced her forever.
Moral Lesson
This tale reminds us that loyalty and responsibility must never falter in the face of temptation. The dog was trusted with a sacred duty, yet her hunger overcame her resolve. In losing control, she lost her voice and her place as man’s speaking companion.
The story teaches that gifts and privileges are fragile; they can be taken away when we break trust. Self-discipline preserves honor, while indulgence in weakness brings lasting consequences.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What ability did the dog originally have in this Ethiopian folktale?
A: The dog could speak and converse with humans.
Q2: How did fire come to earth in the story?
A: The dog carried a burning branch from the sky with her tail.
Q3: What task did the men give the dog after killing the buffalo?
A: To deliver the fattest meat to the spirits before they could eat.
Q4: Why did the dog fail to complete her duty?
A: She grew tired, tasted the meat, and eventually ate it all.
Q5: What consequence did the dog face for eating the spirits’ offering?
A: The spirits took away her voice, leaving her unable to speak.
Q6: What is the cultural origin of this folktale?
A: It comes from the Gambela region of Ethiopia.
Source: Ethiopian folktale, Gambela region.
