How the Giraffe Got Its Long Neck

Long ago, when all beasts were near the same size, the Giraffe was short, with a neck no longer than a goat’s. One dry day, the grass was gone and the leaves high up in the trees laughed at him. He jumped, he climbed, he cried, but the leaves stayed far. Then came the Wise Wind, who saw his wish and pulled his head gently upward. “You want the high leaves? Then reach!” said the Wind. And oh! How his neck stretched—first a bit, then a lot, and it hurt so good he did not mind. From then on, he could eat where no beast could. But his voice stayed small, for all the stretch went to his neck. And that is how it was.