Segab's mother died when he was eleven years old.
His father married another woman, Bizunesh by name. Segab did not like Bizunesh.
But Bizunesh began to love the boy very much and tried to be a good mother to
him. She always made good breakfasts, dinners, and suppers, but he did not eat
them. She bought him many good clothes, but he did not look at them. She gave
him new shoes, but he went to the river and threw the shoes into the water. When
she spoke to him, he always ran away.
One day the poor woman said to Segab, "I always wanted to have a son, and
now I have you, Segab. I love you very much, my dear boy!"
But Segab said angrily, "I am not your son, and you are not my mother. My
mother is dead. I do not love you. I will never love you."
Bizunesh was very sorry and cried all night. In the morning she decided to go to
a wise old man. She told him about Segab who did not love her.
The old man said, "I can help you. But first you must bring me three hairs
of a lion."
"But how can I do this? The lion will kill me," Bizunesh said.
"I cannot answer your question. I need three hairs of a lion. Try to get
them."
So Bizunesh went out to try to get the hairs. She went far, far away from her
house and came to a place where a lion lived. The lion was very big and roared
angrily. He was hungry. Bizunesh was afraid of him and ran away quickly. But the
next day she came back with some meat for the lion. She put the meat not far
from him and ran away.
The lion saw the meat and went to it. He ate it all very quickly.
The next day she again brought some meat for the lion and put it a little
nearer. And again the lion ate it all up.
Every day Bizunesh brought some meat for the lion, and he soon understood that
the woman was his friend. He was not angry, and he did not roar. He was happy to
see her.
And one day Bizunesh came very near to the lion and gave him the meat from her
hand. At the same time she tore three hairs off his back. The lion was not
angry. Bizunesh ran to the old man and showed him the hairs.
"What must I do with them now?" she asked.
"Nothing," he answered. "But you know how to get near a lion,
little by little, step by step. Do the same with Segab, and I am sure he will
love you."