Sitting mournfully on the edge of her nest was a heart-broken Gonadjodjo, (Chewink). Her husband had been blown away on the breath of a storm and the bird mother was left alone to care for her hungry brood.
All day long she had waited for her mate to return but, alas, he seemed to have forgotten her. Disconsolate, she listened to her children’s cries. When she would fly to find their food they would shiver with cold and when she nestled them under her wings they would scream for bugs and seeds and berries. Something must be done or her callow nestlings would perish. So with a sad heart she began to sing in melancholy note.
Fluttering upon the stump of a fallen tree she sang and an owl within a hollow stub nearby poked out his head and said, “Oh may I not be your helper and care for your nest?”
“Alas!” sighed Gonadjodjo in great distress, “it would never do for my young birds would die when they heard you.”
The owl drew back into his hole and Gonadjodjo sang again.
From another hollow tree came an answering call. “May I not be your helper?” screeched a night hawk.
“Ah, what would you say to comfort them?” said Ganojojo.
“I would say Hai‘´, hai‘´, hai‘´, hai‘´!”
“Oh no, no!” cried Ganodjodjo, “they would scream the worse.”
Flying to an open spot she sang again and a crow poking among the weeds paused and lifted his head as he heard the song. Then, with all compassion he said, “Oh, Ganodjodjo, I would like to help you.”