| Due to popular demand, the Parable Page
is back!
These old parables and adages have been used for
ages throughout Africa, to disseminate wisdom to the young and
foolish.
 Many of the parables and
short stories you will see on this page will refer to
monkey and spider . Monkeys and Spiders represent many
things to the Africans. They are an important part of our
every day lives and the heroes and fools of our folklore,
tales and legends.
In the African spirit of superstition, tradition and continuation,
we present Parables
and Short
Stories. Please add your words of wisdom by submitting
a parable or short story to TLC Parable page.
Please be aware that many of the parables are submitted
in "Liberian English" which is also called "Broken
English"
.
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Spider Stories
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Spider
Story- How the world acquire wisdom
A
Grebo Parable: Submitted by Jack & Olga
van Dam
Once,
all the animals were playing a game called "Seebee".
This game they played as follows: The participants make a
ring, while singing, one of the animals would get in the center
to dance, then push another in the ring as a sign of challenge.
The one so challenged would get out of the ring and do the
same thing. The push is so violent that at times the one pushed,
falls.
Tedecho,
the smallest rat, jumped onto the elephant's foot, for him
to come out. "Eh my Man",No one has challenged me"
said the elephant. "Yes, I have" said Tedecho, the
rat. "How have you, please show me", said the elephant
there-upon the small rat stomped again on the elephant's foot.
"Is
that the challenge?", asked the elephant. "Yes",
said Tedecho. The elephant trumpeted in the air, shoke his
head and remarked that if unequal were going to challenge
each other, the play should be called off!
Moral:
It becomes embarrassing when a small boy challenges a giant,
which, if done however, should be disregarded by the latter.
Pleebo,
1959.
Spider Story By Fatu Dorley
Once upon a time... time.
There was spider who stole from the king and the punishment
was death. So the king called all the town people to come and
witness the death of Mr. spider. Every body said that they
should burn spider for the crime he committed.
Spider started to laugh and say " O fire and
myself are good friends I beg your put me in the fire please
please." So the king got mad and said they were going to
throw him in the river.
Spider started to cry and beg " No my people don't
throw me in the water I'm to afraid of the water, I don't know
how to swim." So the king said that was his punishment to
be thrown in the water.
As soon as they threw him in the water he floated right to
the top and swam right on the other side the water saying I
fool all ya'.
The significance of the story is that spider knew if they
threw him in the fire he was going to get burned so he tricked
the king into letting him put him in the water.
The End
This is about spider.
Spider and all the animals were invited to a feast. And spider
chose dog to be his partner. When the food was ready, they put
spider and dogs food together O.
All along spider never
thought dog had a big mouth. All spider thought was that dog's
nose was it's mouth. So spider was so happy because he thought
he was going to eat all the food from the dog.
Spider told the dog to start
eating, my people. Because he was going behind the house to
pee, ahhh. When spider came back all the food was gone from
the bowl. He ask the dog what happen to the food. And the dog
open his mouth wideeee.
Spider cry and laugh and said O I
thought your nose was your mouth. And spider never chose dog
as his friend again.
The End.
The moral
don't under estimate people
Parables
 You cannot be
ashamed of your bath bucket
When snake bites
you; you see lizard you will run
Dry face make
pig gut big.
Baby not born
yet, his eyeball big. Meaning: Do not be overzealous
about what has not been entrusted to you yet.
The breeze that
makes chicken shame is the one that blows from the back.
Meaning: It is the unexpected that brings serious embarrassment
Tur-tur (turtle)
want join soldier, but where he will hang the gun? Meaning: One
wants to do something but doesn't have the means.
What goes up,
must come down.
If you can't hear, you can feel - Experience is the best teacher and people learn from their mistakes.
A bird and a fish can date but where will they build their nest?
The downfall of a man is not the end of his life.
Putting pieces of cloth together will make a gown - IF YOU PUT YOUR HOUSE TOGETHER YOU WILL BE A HAPPY MAN.
Fine rain will kill you - The little thing we tend to overlook ends up causing more harm.
If you act like rotten plum, Bat will eat you. - If you act stupid, you'll be the loser.
All fingers are not equal.
Constant rain can make goats and sheep stand together in the same place
If you know you don't want to kill the chicken, don't tied the neck.
Don't dig a hole to cover another hole.
To circumcise leopard is not the thing, but who will hold
him down?
You should not stay in the water and tease the alligator.
When a green leaf sees a dried leaf fall, it should not laugh because it will get dry and fall too.
If you play with puppy, puppy will lick your mouth.
What's sweet in goat mouth runs its belle.
Never trust a woman.
Next man child is not your child.
Sleep has no mercy.
Parable continues on page 2.
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