Zainab’s Kindness by the Niger River

Long ago in a small village by the Niger River lived an orphan girl named Zainab. After her parents

died, she was taken in by her aunt, who treated her like a servant.

Zainab fetched water before sunrise, cooked for the household, and slept on a mat by the kitchen door,

while her cousins lived in comfort. Though her days were hard, Zainab remained

kind. She greeted elders politely and shared what little food she had with strangers.

One evening, during a village festival, Zainab was sent to the river to

fetch water. There she met a stranger whose fine clothes were dusty from travel.

He asked for water, and Zainab gave him some without knowing who he was. The stranger was