Near Anansi’s miserable little hut there was a fine palace where lived
a very rich man called Nothing. Nothing and Anansi proposed, one day,
to go to the neighbouring town to get some wives. Accordingly, they set
off together.
Nothing, being a rich man, wore a very fine velvet cloth, while Anansi
had a ragged cotton one. While they were on their way Anansi persuaded
Nothing to change clothes for a little while, promising to give back
the fine velvet before they reached the town. He delayed doing this,
however, first on one pretext, then on another—till they arrived at
their destination.
Anansi, being dressed in such a fine garment, found no difficulty in
getting as many wives as he wished. Poor Nothing, with his ragged and
miserable cloth, was treated with great contempt. At first he could not
get even one wife. At last, however, a woman took pity on him and gave
him her daughter. The poor girl was laughed at very heartily by
Anansi’s wives for choosing such a beggar as Nothing appeared to be.
She wisely took no notice of their scorn.
The party set off for home. When they reached the cross-roads leading
to their respective houses the women were astonished. The road leading
to Anansi’s house was only half cleared. The one which led to Nothing’s
palace was, of course, wide and well made. Not only so, but his
servants had strewn it with beautiful skins and carpets, in preparation
for his return. Servants were there, awaiting him, with fine clothes
for himself and his wife. No one was waiting for Anansi.
Nothing’s wife was queen over the whole district and had everything her
heart could desire. Anansi’s wives could not even get proper food; they
had to live on unripe bananas with peppers. The wife of Nothing heard
of her friends’ miserable state and invited them to a great feast in
her palace. They came, and were so pleased with all they saw that they
agreed to stay there. Accordingly, they refused to come back to
Anansi’s hut.
He was very angry, and tried in many ways to kill Nothing, but without
success. Finally, however, he persuaded some rat friends to dig a deep
tunnel in front of Nothing’s door. When the hole was finished Anansi
lined it with knives and broken bottles. He then smeared the steps of
the palace with okro to make them very slippery, and withdrew to a
little distance.
When he thought Nothing’s household was safely in bed and asleep, he
called to Nothing to come out to the courtyard and see something.
Nothing’s wife, however, dissuaded him from going. Anansi tried again
and again, and each time she bade her husband not to listen. At last
Nothing determined to go and see this thing. As he placed his foot on
the first step, of course he slipped, and down he fell into the hole.
The noise alarmed the household. Lights were fetched and Nothing was
found in the ditch, so much wounded by the knives that he soon died.
His wife was terribly grieved at his untimely death. She boiled many
yams, mashed them, and took a great dishful of them round the district.
To every child she met she gave some, so that the child might help her
to cry for her husband. This is why, if you find a child crying and ask
the cause, you will often be told he is “crying for nothing.”