The Porcupine and the Farmer's Debt

A Porcupine was caught stealing maize from a farmer's field. The farmer caught him and was about to kill him. "Wait," said the Porcupine. "Do not kill me. I will repay you. For seven days, I will bring you a treasure from the forest." The farmer, intrigued, agreed. On the first day, the Porcupine brought a rare, medicinal root. On the second, a beautiful feather from a lilac-breasted roller. On the third, a chunk of sweet honeycomb. He did this for six days. On the seventh day, the Porcupine brought the farmer a single, sharp quill from his own back. "This is the final payment," he said. "It is the very thing I use to defend my life. I give it to you to show that my debt is paid and I trust your mercy." The farmer was so moved by this act of ultimate trust that he declared the Porcupine and his family would always be welcome to take a small share of his harvest, for the Porcupine had paid his debt not just with treasures, but with wisdom and honor.