TWO brown men were blind, and they both took a walk to find some one or something to help their condition. The one in front found a little horn and he blew it. As soon as he blew it his eyes were opened and he could see. How happy he was to be able to see again the beautiful world!
He said to the other blind man, “I found a little horn and blew it, and now I can see.”
He gave it to the blind man to blow, and he blew it and he could see also. He was both happy and thankful that he also could see.
But as soon as the second man obtained his sight he threw away the horn.
The man who found it said, “Where is my horn?”
The other replied, “I threw it away.”
“Give me my horn,” replied the first man. The second man went and found the horn.
“Here is your horn,” said the second man as he handed it to the first man.
The first man was jealous because the second man could see, and he thought by blowing again he could be made to see much better than the other man. So he blew his horn again and became blind.
As soon as he saw that he was blind, he handed the horn to the second man, saying, “I have fixed my eyes better than yours; you fix yours now.”
The second man replied, “I do not wish to blow again: I am satisfied with my sight. Before, I could not see at all and I am thankful for the sight I have obtained; you keep the horn.”
The first man became enraged and demanded that the second man must blow or fight.
“I cannot blow, so we must fight, then,” said the second man, whereupon he ran away and left the jealous man helpless and blind.
His ingratitude and jealousy had caused him to lose his sight. He was not thankful for the blessing which he had received. He wanted more than his companion had received.
“Jealousy is self-love.” One should not love himself. He should love others. In the end jealousy harms the jealous man himself. Africans, therefore, warn against jealousy and fear it as a green-eyed monster.