THE BEAUTIFUL ROAD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19626, 21 October 1933, Page 13

THE BEAUTIFUL ROAD

A MEMORIAL TO NIKKO, THE TREE-GROWER. In an island far away there once lived a man who was very poor. His name was Nikko. And he was a retainer of the famous Prince leyasu. Now Prince leyasu had three other retainers who were ridh. Their names were: Togo San, Itta Beena, and Zasu Tokio. Between these four retainers there was keen rivalry. Each strove to do the thing that would find favour in the eye of his Prince. Being an uncommonly wise Prince, leyasu used to tell his retainers: 'Would you please me? Then be of service. Aye, be of some good service to the world, to your fellow man. Do that, and I shall call you blessed.” Of course Nikko, Itta Beena, Togo San and Zasu Tokio knew not how a spirit could say kind things about one. But they took their good prince's word for it—that was well. Deep down in his heart each retainer desired to be accounted the most excellent. It so happened that Itta Beena was a maker of incense and incense vessels. He made the vessels out of copper and brass. After the Prince leyasu | said what he said about being of service to mankind, , Itta Beena made more incense and incense vessels than he had ever made before. And better, to boot. Togo San was the owner of rich mines. Henceforth he urged his miners to greater endeavour. And precious stones—topaz, sapphire, agate, cornelian —fairly gushed from his mines. Zasu Tokio was a maker of lanterns. And, with the going forth of the Prince’s edict, the lantern output was vastly improved. Never before had the kingdom seen him turn out bigger lanterns, prettier lanterns, so many lanterns. But Nikko was only a lowly farmer and nurseryman. That is, he made his living chiefly by coaxing tall trees to grow from tiny planted seedlings. The kind of trees that he grew were called Cryp-to-me-ri-a-trees, which look something like a spreading cedar. As I say, Nikko was poor, and it hardly seemed as if he had any chance to do much service of any kind for anybody. Nevertheless, "I shall keep on growing my trees the best I know how,” said Nikko, “and fattening my pigs, and gathering my turnips to fatten them with. Who knows Perhaps it is I who shall do the greatest service to my fellow-man after all!" About this time. Prince leyasu passed on through the valley of the great shadow. And the word went forth that each retainer should bring a memorial to decorate the tomb where Prince leyasu was laid away. “Now is my chance,” said Itta Beena. “I shall bring such beautiful incense vessels, and I shall burn such rare incense, that Prince leyasu's spirit shall rise up and call me blessed." ••Ah,” said Toko San. owner of the rich mines, "such jewels as I shall use to decorate the tomb! The door of the tomb—that is the place to put my jewels. I shall make is flash as if splendidly ablaze from the facets of topaz, sapphire, agate and cornelian. It Is I whom the Prince's spirit shall call : blessed. And none other." While Zasu Tokio said: "My 1 memorial shall be lanterns. I shall

decorate the tomb with lanterns such as never have been seen before. It is a magnificent offering. And, of course, it is I whom the Prince s spirit shall call blessed.”

"Alas!” sighed Nikko, the poor gardener. “My Prince has passed on, the great leyasu. Others will beautify his tomb. I have nothing suitable for that. Turnips would not look well garlanded about the door; nor would a pig made a good monument, even If I could turn a pig into a monument.”

“Trees—well, of course, I have a great many of those tiny seedling things. Some day they will grow up to be tall and beautiful trees. But who ever heard of decorating a tomb with a tree? Perhaps the good Prince leyasu would not like it, anyway ”

At this moment a happy idea came to Nikko. “Trees—but why decorate the tomb with them? I might use them otherwise to honour the memory of Prince leyasu. I shall walk to the tomb on the right side of the road, and every 50 steps I shall plant a seedling. I shall return from the tomb on the left side of the road, and every 50 steps I shall plant a seedling. These seedlings will in time grow up to be tall trees, and they shall be my memorial to the good Prince leyasu.” Almost it seemed silly, this planting of seedling by Nikko, as a memorial to Prince leyasu, but it was not. Time passed; the lanterns of Zasu Tokio were gone. The gems of Togo San were somehow stolen from the tomb door. Likewise in the course of years, a thing of the past became the incense and the Incense vessels which had been offered by Itta Beena.

But not so the trees of poor Nikko. Unlike the gifts of the others, his offering grew more beautiful with time. They became great, spreading pyramids of green. Down each side of the long road these Cryptomeria trees threw a shade that was soft and kindly.

Weary travellers rested hencath their welcome shade, all people praised their beauty and blessed the name of Nikko the poor retainer.

RIDDLES. Q: Which is the easier to spell— Fiddle-dee-dee or Fiddle-dee-dum? A: Fiddle-dee-dee, because it is spelt with more ee's (ease). Q: What insect does the blacksmith manufacture. A: He makes the fire fly (firefly). Q: How many insects make a landlord? A: Ten—ants. (Sent by "Pixie Green Cap," GlenitL)