The Witch: How a Father Rescued His Missing Daughters

Once upon a time, there lived a man who had several daughters. He worked in the fields and returned home each day expecting to find his children safe. However, something troubling began to happen. Whenever he came back from work, he discovered that one of his daughters was missing.

At first, he could hardly understand what was happening. He would gather the remaining girls and ask them where their sister had gone. The daughters explained that an old woman had visited while he was away. She always appeared friendly and offered to arrange their hair. After spending some time with them, she would leave, and one of the girls would disappear.

The father was deeply troubled by their explanation. He knew that the old woman was responsible in some way, but he could not understand how she managed to take his daughters without anyone stopping her.

The visits continued, and the family suffered another loss each time the old woman appeared. The father became increasingly worried. His daughters were disappearing one after another, and he knew that he had to find a way to protect those who remained.

The Mysterious Old Woman

The old woman continued to visit the household, presenting herself as someone who simply wanted to help the girls. She would offer to do their hair, and the daughters, unable to prevent her from approaching them, found themselves in danger whenever she arrived.

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Her friendly appearance concealed something sinister. Each visit ended with another disappearance, yet the old woman continued behaving as though she were an ordinary visitor.

The father realised that waiting for the next disappearance would only put the remaining girls at greater risk. He needed a plan that would expose the old woman and prevent her from taking anyone else.

He thought carefully about what had happened during the earlier visits. The old woman always came when he was away working in the fields. She approached the girls under the pretence of helping them with their hair, and somehow managed to make them disappear.

This time, he decided that he would be at home when she returned, even if she believed otherwise.

The Father’s Plan

One morning, the father prepared a large grain basket and took a sharp knife. He called his daughters together and explained what they needed to do.

He instructed them to climb the tree standing in the middle of their courtyard. They were to remain among its branches and refuse to come down, no matter what the old woman said. He warned them not to reveal his hiding place or allow the visitor to persuade them to leave the tree.

The girls followed their father’s instructions. They climbed into the tree and settled among its branches, keeping themselves out of the old woman’s reach.

Meanwhile, their father placed himself inside the large grain basket. He held the knife and waited for the visitor to arrive.

The courtyard became quiet. The father remained concealed, watching and listening for the familiar visitor. He knew that the old woman might return as she had done on previous occasions, and he was determined not to let her escape again.

After some time, the old woman appeared.

The Witch Returns

As usual, the old woman approached the house and looked for the girls. When she saw them in the tree, she asked where their father was.

The daughters answered that he had gone out. They remembered his warning and did not reveal that he was hiding nearby.

The old woman then invited them to come down so that she could do their hair. Her request sounded familiar because it was the same excuse she had used during her previous visits.

However, the girls refused to leave the tree. They remained where they were, following their father’s instructions.

The old woman continued trying to persuade them, but the daughters would not move. She had expected them to respond as they had on earlier occasions, yet this time her usual approach was unsuccessful.

The father, who had been waiting for this moment, recognised that the opportunity had come. He emerged from the grain basket with his knife and confronted the old woman.

The Witch’s Secret Is Revealed

Before the old woman could escape, the father struck her belly with the knife. The action exposed the terrible secret behind the repeated disappearances.

The daughters who had vanished during the earlier visits came out from inside the old woman’s belly. The father had finally discovered where his missing children had been taken.

The old woman was no ordinary visitor. She was a witch who had been using her appearance of kindness to deceive the girls and carry them away.

The father’s plan had succeeded. By hiding himself and keeping his daughters out of the witch’s reach, he had created an opportunity to confront her and rescue the missing children.

The witch, caught by surprise, disappeared after the attack. Her repeated visits had finally come to an end, and the daughters were reunited with their father.

The family could now understand what had been happening whenever the old woman came to their home. Her offer to arrange the girls’ hair had never been an act of kindness. It was a disguise that allowed her to approach them and take them away.

A Warning Against Deception

The father’s experience became a reminder of the danger that can hide behind a friendly appearance. The old woman had repeatedly approached the girls as though she wanted to help them, but her intentions were harmful.

The daughters had been unable to protect themselves from her during the earlier visits. Their father eventually recognised the pattern, prepared a plan and acted when the witch returned.

Through his determination and cleverness, he rescued his missing children and prevented further disappearances.

The story warns listeners not to judge people solely by how they present themselves. It also highlights the importance of paying attention to unusual behaviour and taking reasonable steps to protect loved ones when danger becomes apparent.

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Moral Lesson

The story teaches the importance of caution, vigilance and wisdom. Not everyone who appears friendly has good intentions, and people should be careful when dealing with strangers whose behaviour raises concern. The father’s actions also demonstrate the value of observing a repeated problem, thinking carefully and preparing a sensible response. His determination to protect his daughters eventually exposed the witch and brought his missing children home.

Knowledge Check

1. What happened whenever the father returned home from working in the fields?

He discovered that one of his daughters had disappeared.

2. What excuse did the old woman use to approach the daughters?

She offered to arrange their hair.

3. What did the father use to prepare his plan?

He used a large grain basket and a sharp knife.

4. Where did the father instruct his daughters to hide?

He instructed them to climb the tree in the middle of their courtyard.

5. How did the father discover what had happened to his missing daughters?

He struck the old woman’s belly with his knife, and the missing daughters came out.

6. What is the main lesson of the folktale?

The story teaches people to remain cautious, recognise deceptive behaviour and protect their loved ones.

Source

This story is documented as “The Witch” in Alain-Joseph Sissao’s Folktales from the Moose of Burkina Faso, translated by Nina Tanti and published by African Books Collective in 2010. It appears as Story 16, page 41. The collection documents traditional folktales of the Moose (Mossi) people of Burkina Faso.

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