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The Legend of Goose

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First Published: 2013/07/19

A goose may bear a striking resemblance to a duck except for one thing – they have longer necks. But that wasn't always the case, the geese used to look like the ducks and their necks were also small. Do you want to know why the goose’s neck became longer?

Once there was a goose couple who was newly wed. The couple decided to put their nest near the riverbank so that once their goslings hatched from their eggs, they could teach them right then and there. It sounds convenient right? After all, they’d be spending most of their lives in the riverbanks so they’d better learn to swim or wade as quickly as they can!



The couple looked around for a suitable nesting place and found one that delighted them to no end. It was hidden carefully so that no predator could find the little eggs. Some nasty animals liked goose eggs for breakfast and it was wise for the couple to find a safe place. They also chose the spot where they’d know that the neighbors are kind and respectful.

The male goose was quickly able to find some friends. They were an odd bunch: another male goose, a duck and a very noisy frog. Every night they came together and happily chatted about what’s happening in the neighborhood. They enjoyed each other’s company and went home when they’ve talked all that they could.

One day, when the friends came together, the male goose happily recounted that his wife finally laid some eggs. They’re going to hatch anytime soon. He was happy to know that he was going to be a father really, really soon. He also sadly told them that he won’t be able to hang out with his buddies as much as he would like to since he’d have to take care of his family and watch over their eggs. It was also at this time that he remembered that he has to take care of his eggs! So he rushed home.

One night, the father goose saw that the mother goose was really tired and sleepy. After all, which goose wouldn’t be tired after sitting on all those eggs day in and day out. A mother goose is entitled to a little rest right?

The father goose told the momma goose that she could rest for the night and that he would be the one to sit on the eggs. The mommy goose was very elated and relieved specially since her bottom was getting numb from all the sitting!

The father goose then happily sat on the eggs for an hour or so. But then he heard some familiar voices. It was his friends. They were boisterous and happily joking around. The father goose suddenly felt that he wanted to be with his friends and was envious because he can’t. He wanted to know what was going on and felt that he really wanted to go. He almost stood up from his nest but then remembered the eggs. So he tried to stand up with his short little legs to try and see and hear what his friends were up to. But the tall grass made it impossible for him to see anything. What he did instead was try to stretch his neck way out so that he could see them. He stretched and he stretched his neck just so he could hear his friends. Finally, he could see their smiling faces and hear their conversation.

When his friends were finished talking, they finally left. The father goose then tried to stretch his neck back down. He can’t!

In the morning when his wife came home to see how he was doing, she found that his neck was now very long. And that’s how the goose’s neck became very long.
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Almeida, Caiky Xavier. ""One Year in Mission" Project, South American Division." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. November 27, 2021. Accessed March 05, 2024. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=EIFW.

Almeida, Caiky Xavier. ""One Year in Mission" Project, South American Division." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. November 27, 2021. Date of access March 05, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=EIFW.

Almeida, Caiky Xavier (2021, November 27). "One Year in Mission" Project, South American Division. Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved March 05, 2024, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=EIFW.