Long ago in the land of the Ashanti, there lived a squirrel whose paws and patience brought forth one of the finest farms the region had ever seen. He worked tirelessly day after day, tilling the soil, planting seeds, and tending his fields with great care. By the end of his labor, his crops had grown lush and strong, standing tall like a sea of golden promise waiting for the harvest.
The squirrel was not only hardworking but also a masterful climber. Because of his agility among the branches, he had never bothered to cut a road into his farmland. Instead, he reached his fields by leaping gracefully from tree to tree, gliding through the forest canopy as though it were his own secret highway.
As the harvest season approached, his fields shimmered with ripening crops. Squirrel felt joy bubbling in his heart, for soon his granaries would be full, and his family would be well-fed.
But fate had another plan.
One afternoon, the cunning Spider, known throughout the land for his tricks and schemes, wandered into the area while out hunting. His many eyes spotted the squirrel’s farm. He marveled at its rich bounty, the kind of harvest every farmer longed for.
“Ah,” Spider whispered to himself with delight, “what fortune I have stumbled upon today!”
He searched for the entrance to this marvelous farm, but he found no road, no path, no sign of human or animal tread. Perplexed but unwilling to let the opportunity slip away, he returned home and told his family about the discovery.
The very next day, Spider gathered his children. “Come with me,” he said, “for I have found a farm of great wealth. Together, we shall make it ours.”
And so, the whole Spider family set out. When they arrived, they wasted no time. They cut a clear road into the squirrel’s farm, hacking their way through bushes and undergrowth until a neat pathway stretched before them. To seal their claim, Spider cleverly scattered fragments of broken clay pots along the road. “This will make it look,” he said slyly, “as if my children dropped these while building the path. Then no one can deny that the land is ours.”
Once the deceit was laid, the family began to harvest. They cut down the ripened crops, carrying away bundles of corn and grain, their laughter echoing as they plundered what was not theirs.
It did not take long for the squirrel to notice his fields diminishing. At first, he was baffled, for he could see no thief. Determined to uncover the truth, he decided to keep watch.
Soon enough, Spider crept back with his family, intent on stealing more. The squirrel leapt from the trees and confronted him.
“What right do you have here, Spider?” the squirrel demanded. “This is my farm!”
Spider, feigning innocence, sneered and shot back, “Your farm? No, my friend, this is mine. I built the road to it. Do you not see the signs? My children even dropped pottery along the way as proof!”
The squirrel’s voice quivered with anger. “I tilled this land, I planted these seeds, and I nurtured these crops. They belong to me!”
Spider chuckled at such a claim. “What nonsense. Who has ever heard of a farm without a road leading to it? You may leap through trees, but that is no proof of ownership.”
The two argued bitterly until finally the matter was taken before the village court. The judges listened carefully but, in the end, ruled in Spider’s favor.
“No farm has ever existed without a road to it,” they declared. “The farm must belong to Spider.”
The squirrel’s heart sank. His hard work had been stolen by lies. Spider, however, could not contain his glee. He and his family rushed back to cut down the rest of the harvest. They tied the crops into large bundles and carried them off toward the marketplace, eager to sell and grow rich from their theft.
But fate, as always, has a way of balancing the scales.
Halfway to the market, dark clouds gathered in the sky. A storm broke suddenly, lashing the land with fierce winds and pounding rain. Spider and his children struggled under the weight of their bundles until finally, drenched and exhausted, they laid them down by the roadside and ran for shelter.
When the storm cleared, they hurried back to retrieve their harvest. To their shock, they found a great black crow standing guard. His vast wings stretched wide, shielding the bundles from the rain.
Spider approached cautiously. “Good crow, we thank you for protecting our goods. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.”
The crow turned his sharp eyes upon them and let out a deep caw. “Your goods? Do not be ridiculous. Who would leave fine bundles of corn by the roadside? Clearly, they are mine. I found them here, and now I shall take them.”
And with that, the crow lifted the bundles in his claws and flew away, leaving Spider and his children stunned, empty-handed, and sorrowful.
Thus Spider’s greed and deceit, though victorious for a time, ended in bitter loss.
Moral of the Story
Greed and dishonesty may win temporary gains, but true justice always finds a way. The squirrel’s labor was stolen, yet Spider’s trickery bore him no lasting fruit. Those who take what is not theirs often lose more than they gain.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who cultivated the farm in this Ashanti folktale?
A: The squirrel, who worked hard to grow his crops.
Q2: How did the squirrel access his farm without a road?
A: By climbing and leaping through the trees.
Q3: What trick did Spider use to claim the farm?
A: He built a road, scattered pottery shards, and pretended the land was his.
Q4: Why did the court side with Spider instead of the squirrel?
A: Because they ruled that no farm could exist without a road.
Q5: What role did the crow play in the story?
A: The crow took away Spider’s stolen harvest bundles, teaching him a lesson.
Q6: What is the main lesson of the story?
A: Greed and dishonesty may bring short-term success but end in loss.
Source: Ghanaian Folktale
