Why There Are Cracks In The Tortoise’s Shell

by Paul Radin

Mr. Tortoise, who was married to Mrs. Tortoise, had in Vulture a friend who was constant in visiting him. But, having no wings, Tortoise was unable to return the visits, and this upset him. One day he be-thought himself of his cunning and said to his wife, "Wife!"

Mrs. Tortoise answered, "Hello, husband! What is it?"

Said he, "Don‘t you see, wife, that we are becoming despicable in Vulture ‘s eyes?"

"How despicable?"

"Despicable, because it is despicable for me not to visit Vulture. He is always coming here and I have never yet been to his house—and he is my friend."

Mr. Tortoise persisted: "Nevertheless, wife, it is despicable."

Said his wife, "Very well, then sprout some wings and fly and visit your friend Vulture."

Mr. Tortoise answered, "No, I shan‘t sprout any wings because I was not born that way."

"Well," said Mrs. Tortoise, "and let us see what you will do."

Later Tortoise said to his wife, "Come and tie me up in a parcel with a lump of tobacco and, when Vulture arrives, give it to him and say that it is tobacco to buy grain for us." So Mrs. Tortoise took a palm leaf and made him into a parcel and put him down in the corner.

At his usual time, Vulture came to pay his visit and said, "Where ‘s your husband gone, Mrs. Tortoise?"

"My husband has gone some distance to visit some people, and he left hunger here. We have not a bit of grain in the house."