Long ago, in a village lived an old couple an old man and an old woman, they were contented and happy.
One day, the old man thought of planting some yams. So he dug up holes in his vegetable garden and started planting them. Suddenly a fox came and after having some flattering conversation, he asked the old couple that the way of their planting yams was not proper. Rather they should plant the yams after boiling and covering them with banana plants leaves. The old couple at first denied accepting the proposal of the fox, but at last, they surrendered to the consistent insistence of the fox and agreed to follow the direction of the fox in the hope of better and rapid harvesting. At night the fox along with other foxes ate up all the yams and wrapped their droppings and placed them in the holes.
On the other hand, the old couple always visited the field in the hope of rapid growth of the plant but always found that the yams were never spouted. When they didn't find any sign of sprouting for many days, they grew suspicious and one day they dug up the holes and the truth came to light. They decided to teach the fox a good lesson.
As planned, the old woman sat in the doorway of her house and started weeping and wailing loudly. One of the foxes who happened to pass by asked her the reason for her sorrow. She answered; “My old man has died and left me alone. Who will now perform his last rites? I have no one in this world". The fox saw that the old man lying on the bed like the dead. The fox re-assured her, “Don't worry. I am here to help you. I shall call my friends"
The fox was delighted. When he told his friends, they were all happy because now it meant that they will have a feast upon the old man's body. They all came and went inside the hut one by one. The woman sat in the doorway and started counting their number in a wailing tone. "One has gone in old man, two have gone in old man, three have gone in old man". When she counted all, she suddenly closed the door from the outside. The old man who was pretending dead got up and seized a big stick. He then started beating up the foxes left and right. The foxes yelped in pain and ran helter-skelter.
They were taught a good lesson.
The foxes escaped into the jungle, sorely wounded, with broken legs and pain. They lay in wait to catch either of the old man or woman alone.
The old man and woman lived for a long time in peace. One day, the old woman said that she wanted to visit her daughter's home in another village where she had been married off. But the old man said that the foxes might get her. She answered that she will be careful. So she set out and reached her daughter's place safe and well. She ate and drank in plenty, played with her grandchildren, and after few weeks, thought o returning home. She said to her daughter, that it was time for her to go back home, but the foxes might get her on the way. So the daughter asked her mother to go in a huge dried-up gourd shell. The old Woman did as told and went as such. On reaching the forest, the foxes were all surprised to see such a strange object. They all broke open the shell and came out the old lady. The foxes all shouted and said, “Who will save you now old woman? We will eat you up?”
The old woman answered, "All right, my sons, but first let me sing my prayers to God before I die."
She closed her eyes and shouted at the top of her voice
O Blackie, O Brownie, come here."
Blackie and Brownie were the names of the two pet dogs they had. As the forest was near their home, the two dogs heard it and came running to her. The foxes were shocked. They ran helter-skelter with the two fierce dogs at their heels.
The foxes never showed their faces again and the old man and women lived happily ever after.
It is not the full story