Mbe and the Singing Bird

Mbe the Tortoise captured a magical bird that sang the most beautiful songs in the world. He decided to take it to the king, hoping for a great reward. On his way, he met the Leopard. "What do you have there?" the Leopard asked. Mbe boasted about his singing bird. The Leopard insisted on hearing it, so Mbe made the bird sing. The song was so beautiful the Leopard was mesmerized and Mbe went on his way. He met several other animals, and each time, he would stop and show off his prize. By the time he reached the king's palace, the poor bird had sung so much that its voice was gone; it could only produce a weak, scratchy croak. The king, hearing the terrible sound, was furious and accused Mbe of mocking him. Mbe was chased from the palace in disgrace. The story is a cautionary tale about the foolishness of showing off a treasure before you have secured your reward. By boasting along the way, Mbe had exhausted the very gift he was hoping to profit from.