Class 7 English Honeycomb Chapter 1 Important Questions

These three things were – What is the right time to begin something? Which people should he listen to? What is the most important thing for him to do?

The thought came to a king’s mind that he would never fail if he knew three things.

The king sent messengers throughout his kingdom, promising a large sum of money to anyone who would answer these three questions.

In reply to the 1st question some said the king must prepare a time table, others said it’s was impossible to decide in advance the right time for doing something, while some said do whatever seemed necessary at that time. Some advice the king needed a council of wise men who would help him act at the proper time. Some also advised the king would have to go to the magicians to predict the future.

This was because one man would find it impossible to decide correctly, without help from others, the right time for every action.

In reply to the second question, some said that the people most necessary to the king were his councilors, others said, the priests. A few others chose the doctors. And yet others said that his soldiers were the most necessary.

The answer to the third question was that some people said science, others chose to fight, and yet others religious worship was the most important thing to do for him.

No, the king was not satisfied as the answers to his questions were so different and he gave no reward to anyone. He decided to seek the advice of a certain hermit, who was widely known for his wisdom.

The hermit lived in a wood which he never left. As the king came near the hermit’s hut, he saw the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut.

The king went like an ordinary man because he saw no one but simple people, and so the king put on ordinary clothes. Before he reached the hermit’s hut the king left his horse with his bodyguard and went on alone.

The king takes the spade from the hermit to dig the earth for the seeds to be sown the next day.

They both saw a bearded man running towards them. His hands were pressed against his stomach, from which blood was flowing. When he reached the king he fainted and fell to the ground.

The king and the hermit removed the man’s clothing and found a large wound in his stomach. The king washed and covered it with his handkerchief, but the blood would not stop flowing. The king re-dressed the wound until at last, the bleeding stopped. The man felt better and asked for something to drink. The king brought fresh water and gave it to him.

The king and wounded bearded man stayed at hermit’s hut that night.

The bearded man was the king’s enemy. He told the king that he swore revenge on you because he put his brother to death and seized his property. He knew you had gone alone to see that hermit, and he made up his mind to kill you on your way home.

When the king saved his life he said he will serve you as your most faithful servant and will order his sons to do the same. And lastly, he said Forgive him.

The king was very happy to have made peace with his enemy so easily and to have won him over as a friend. He not only forgave him but said he would send his servants and his doctor to look after him, and he promised to give back the man his property.

When the king asked hermit, he replied if you had not pitied my weakness yesterday and had not dug these beds for me, you would have gone away. Then that man would have attacked you and you would have wished you had stayed with me. So the most important time was when you were digging the beds. And I was the most important man, and to do me well was your most important business.

There is only one important time and that time is “Now”. It is the most important time because it is the only time we have any power to act.

The most necessary person is the person you are with at a particular moment, for no one knows what will happen in the future and whether we will meet anyone else.