The Legend of Willow's Flock: Redbud's Test

First I shall tell a tale of the gander who is considered to be second most in favor to my beloved. 

His knob does not protrude in the same way as it does on a Classic Chinese gander's head. For it is what I call big but simple.

This gander wooed three ladies to be his own. They loved him each as much

as they themselves could love any goose. The gander's name was Eastern Redbud. The first year of the flock the three ladies Paper Mulberry, Sassafras, and Mockernut Hickory were his. Paper Mulberry was his closest.

One morning when the sun had risen in great briliance, Redbud woke suddenly as though he had something great upon his mind. Indeed, he had thought of something which he deemed necessary to wake his ladies for. The ladies waited in sleepy silence to hear what he had to say. "Whichever lady can prove herself to love me most of all shall become my first and closest lady. Therefore, I ask you: If I had died and you were told that I could come back if only you gave up what you loved most, what would it be that you gave up?" Redbud asked. 

Hickory was the first to answer this question. "I would give up all the most wonderful of food and deny myself clean water to have you back." ​

"What of you, Sassafras?" Redbud asked. "I would give up all food and water and all the comfort of the grass and ground to have you back," Sassafras replied. "What of you, Mulberry?" Redbud asked. "I would give up my life so that you could return to your flock," Mulberry replied. "Truly you love me most of all, Mulberry. For life is indeed what is most precious among all geese. You two ladies have offered what you thought to be the most wonderful sacrifice. Look to Mulberry for council for she is both wise and brave," Redbud said.

In this way was Mulberry's wisdom made known throughout the flock and neighboring flocks by the songs of birds.