HONEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 58, 9 March 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

HONEY.

i n.v \V. Joan Beaumont. 1. Fairtmrn Road Otabuhu, 5.E.7; age 13 years.)

One sunny morning in the year 450 A.D., young Ulric the swineherd sallied

forth to perform his usual arduous task of minding the pigs. Commonplace though his duty was, it had some compensations, for could he not listen to the wonderful bird songs while he watched the swine? When the bird sang his soul sang too, and always lie shared his meagre meal with his feathered friends. Never did the timid deer run from him as they did from other wanderers in the forest.

. On this particular morning Ulric was so enraptured that he was deaf to all else but his feathered friends. He did not hear a soft thud, thud, behind him. On lie went, driving his charges before him. Little did he dream that someone else was be-nt on adventure. However, something seemed to warn him, and, on turning round, lie beheld, to his horror, a great brown bear making its way towards him. Terrified, he scuttled up a tree in less time than it takes to relate.

Still, he need not have feared, for Bruin seemed intent on some errand of his own. Ulric breathlessly watched the big bear as it moved towards a large tree in which was a deep hole. The bear, on reaching this tree, raised himself on his hind legs and dipped one paw down into tho hollow. After a few seconds Bruin withdrew it, and, placing it in his mouth, he ravenously sucked his paw. This performance he repeated again and again, and then moved away in another direction.

Ulric, having assured himself that all was safe, climbed down the tree in which ho had taken refuge, and decided that

he, too, would like to sample the substance which Bruin appeared to enjoy so. Eathor cautiously at first he dipped his grubby little hands into the hollow tree, and on withdrawing it found it covei.ed with a sticky yellow substance. Following the bear's example, and thinking -hat what was good for beast was good for boy, he sucked his fingers with great relish. "Uum-um, goody-good," lie cried. What a delicious meal it was!

When Ulric had had his fill ho wended his way home, driving his pigs before him. Next morning he again visited hie wonderful storehouse and regaled himself with his newly discovered deli-

cacy. A week passed, during which time Ulrte enjoyed his daily feast all by himself. No one but Bruin and himself knew of this golden nectar. It was indeed food for the gods. But alas! the secret was not to be theirs alone. One day Ulrie's father, requiring his eon to bring the swine home earlier than usual, went in search of the "lad. Surprising him in the very act of putting a delicious morsel into his mouth, the father cried out: "Jto-ho, young man! Is this how you mind my pigs for me? What ie this you are feasting on? What is good enough for you is good enough for me, I suppose." So saying, he dipped his hand into the treasured hoard, and he, too, sucked his fingers with relish. "Beautiful," said he. "Fit for a king. Come, fill your horn with it, and to-morrow we will bring our jars. Maybe there are other trees containing this golden sweet."

Thus did the yellow honey find its way into the homes of the English, and to this day it has been, and is still considered, a delightful addition to the. meal table.