ONCE UPON A TIME . . .

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 332, 18 April 1928, Page 6

ONCE UPON A TIME . . .

ONCIS upon a time,” said the beaver, flattening a seat for himself in the mud with liis powerful and serviceable tail, “nobody worked in the vtorld.” “And when was that?” asked the stag, who had come to the water to drink. “Oh, long before beavers began building dams and stags growing antlers. You see, no one had ever placed a value on service.” “If you have a story to tell I should like to hear it,” remarked the stag. “Well, it happened like this,” said the beaver, with the important air of one who has found a listener. “There was a big gap in Gree’s cave and the wind and rain came in . . . .” “But who was Gree?” “One of the first men. lie had no name really, so I have to eall him that. At a little distance from Gree’s cave there was a large boulder that would have titted snugly into the opening if only it. had been placed there in the beginning of things. Gree. often used to look at it and sigh. Then Jee came along.” “And who was Jee ’” “Another early inhabitant of the earth, but he was bigger and more powerful than Gree. Gree told him about the boulder. After many hours of thought an idea occurred to Gree. He said: ‘Brother, you could move it?’ Jee cupped his chin in liis hands and stared for a long while at the far horizon, then he said: ‘And what will you give me if I move it,?’ Gree thought again. ‘Free food for seven sunrises,’ he suggested. So Jee put his shoulder to the great rock and rolled it into place, and Gree hunted food for him for seven sunrises. This, I am led to believe, was the first contract made in the world. Since then people have worked for a living. But beavers, yo>u know, work for the sheer pleasure of seeing their ideals accomplished. They place their own value on service. . . . Listen, someone is coming and those are fine antlers of yours, my friend.” “I shall remember your story,” sighed the stag, “for the hunter may be a descendant of the bargain-making Gree.” And, without more ado, he hastened off. REDFEATIIER.