NOT TO BE BRIBED.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1931, Page 21 (Supplement)

NOT TO BE BRIBED.

In the reign of Charles 11. Hull had for its member of Parliament Andrew Marvell, a poet,-a man of exceptional honesty and ability.. The King had a high appreciation of Marvell’s talents, and was anxious to obtain his help in Parliament against the people, whom, he had hitherto served most faithfully. Unfortunately the King had not so high an opinion of .Marvell’s honesty and patriotism as he-had of his ability, and he thought it. would be possible to win him to his side by the offer of a bribe. So he sent the Lord Treasurer, Dariby, to Marvell’s humble lodgings in the Strand to see what he could accomplish in the matter. The Lord Treasurer groped up the narrow stairs leading to the apartment on the second floor where Marvell resided, and stumbled awkwardly into his room. He found the statesman at ■his desk, and, after apologising for disturbing him, told him that he had been sent by His Majesty, who had a high Opinion of his character and wished to I appoint him to some important and well-paid office. Marvell knew quite well that the King could only make this offer to draw him aside from his duty to the people who had elected him, and therefore while he returned thanks to the King, he declined his offer. The Minister, finding that this proposal was of no avail, told him that the king had given orders for a thousand guineas to be paid to him as w mark-of the appreciation in which his royal _ master held him. Marvell declined this ifler, too, as he had declined the first, remarking at the same time that he had no need of such a gift, as his mode of living was quite good enough for his modest desires. In proof of this tie called up his servant and said to him, “What had I for dinner yesterday? *‘A shoulder of mutton, sir, was the

answer. , , - „ , “And what shall I have to-day? asked Marvell. , “Some of the remainder hashed, replied the servant. Marvell allowed the servant.to withdraw, and then, turning-to the Lord Treasurer, said: “To-morrow, my Lord, I shall have the blade-bone broiled.’ _ The Lord Treasurer had sense enough to see that a man so frugal, so outspoken, and so honest was not to be won by bribes, and he returned to te 1 the King what he had seen and heaid. As for Marvell, though he. never attained to wealth or to a title, he remained faithful to his duty to the last, and he left a name which has ever since been honoured as that of a patriot w o valued his character more than all the riches which could be offered him.

“LADYBIRD, LADYBIRD.” It is an old custom that we must never kill a ladybird. This is perfectly justified, for the ladybird is the greatest friend of the farmer and. the gardener. In fact, it is of such value that the Government has a special faim near London which breeds vast numbers of these tiny beetles to send out to farmers all over the Empire. If vou have a little chat with your gardener he is sure to grumble about the troublesome green fly which damages his plants. Here is where the ladybird does its good work, lhe young green fly is a little fat insect, and provides a most tasty meal for both parent and baby ladybird.. The ladybird lavs her eggs in the most plants in your garden in order .that hei little ones—slate-grey marked with yellow dots—can have an abundant food supply. These grubs delight in ridding your garden of its green fly pests, and •race about the leaves looking for them. The ladybird beetle varies greatly in colouring, but is very easy to distinguish. Some have red wing cases witn •black spots, others orange, and some even all black. I recently found a -pretty little fellow with most beautiful ■yellow wing sheaths. You will notice •that some have seven spots, and some

° n ßrom the moment of leaving the egg the grub begins to consume the green fly and continues the good work tor about a month, killing at the rate ot thirty or forty an hour. Later these grubs turn. into beetles to lay moie fggs and so carry on the good work. ; •IK winter they find some snug reheat •las the under surface of the bark) from the cold. In spring, they come forth again, although they are m common during the evenings of the interests ue in other wavs Its wonderful “feelers consist of many plates like joints which become wider towards the extremities, and aie covered with very fine hairs. Its i are quecrly constructed, lhe last joint, before the 7 pad and claw is wider a one end than the other, and cuveie with fine hairs. This enables the claw to move with remarkabje freedom.