The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-12-19
AN AMERICAN KING DAVID.
BY J. T. TBowBRIDGE.

When the Spaniards, under the famous
Cortes, came to Mexico in 1919, they found
the country inhabited by people already
civilized.
About hundred years before, the Tezcu-
CAPS, the most enlightened of thJ native
tribes, had prince whose history has a
sttiking resemblance to that of the Hebrew
King David. His name ia a hard one, but
by dividing into double syllables we may
master it,--Neza-husl-coyot. 1t, In his youth,
like David, he was obliged to flee for his
life from the wrath Of a morose monarch who
occupied the throne, and he met with many
romantic adventures and hair.breadth es-
capes.
Once, when some soldiers came to take
him in his own house he vanished in cloud
of incense, such as attendants burned before
princes, and concealed himself in a sewer
until his enemies were gone. He fled to
the mountains, where he slept in caves and
thickets, and lived on wild fruits, OCCASION
ally showing himself in the cottages of the
poor people, who befriended their prince at
the peril of their own lives. Once, when
closely pursued passing girl who was reap
ing in a field, he begged her to cover him
from sight with the stalks of grain she was
cutting she did So, and when his enemies
came up, directed the pursuit into a false
path. At another time, he took refuge with
some soldiers who were friendly to him, and
who covered him with a war.drum, about
which they were dancing. No bribe could
induce his faithful people to betray him.
Would you not deliver up your prince il
he came in your way ?? he once asked a
young country-fellow, to whom his person
was unknown.
Never 7 replied the peasant
Not for fair lady's hand and great for
tune !? said the prince. ...-
Not for all the world 7 WAS the answer.
The prince, who was rightful heir to the
throne, grew every day in the favor
of the people, and at last he found him
self at the head of an army, while the bad
king was more and more detested. A battle
was fought, the usurpers forces were routed,
and he was afterward slain. The prince,
who so lately fed for his life, was now pro.
claimed king.
He at once set about reforming abuses,
and making wise laws for his kingdom. He
established a society devoted to the encour-
agement of science and art. He gave prizes
for the best literary compositions (for these
people had a sort OF picture-writing), and
be was himself poet, like King David. Hi:
poems, some of which have been preserved
and translated, were generally of a religion,
character. His favorite themes we're The
vanity of human greatness, praise of tht
Unknown God, and the blessings of tn,
future life for such as do good in this. Tht
Tezcucans, like the Aztecs, were idolators
who INDUCED in the horrid rites of human
sacrifice to their awful deities but this wis
and good king detested such things, and en-
deavored to wean his people from them, de
claring, like David, that, above all idols, ,ant
over all men, ruled an unseen Spirit, wb,
was the one God
The king used to disguise himself, and g
about among his people, in order to learl
who we're happy, how his laws were admin
istered, and what was thought of his govern
ment. On. one such occasion, he fell il
with boy gathering sticks in field.
why don't you go into yonder forest
where you will find plenty of wood p aske
the disguised monarch.
'Ahv cried the boy, that forest belongs t
the king, and he would have me killed if
should take his wood for that is the law
is he so hard man as that I?
! AYE, that he is very hard man, il
} deed, who denies his people what God hi
: given them 7 .....
1T is bad law said the king and Al
wise you not to mind it. Come, there is I
one here to see you go into the forest, al
, help yourself to sticks.
Not l ? exclaimed the boy.
You are afraid some one will come al
find you? But will keep watch for yot
urged the king.
will you take the punishment in n
place, if | chance to get caught ? No, no
cried the boy, shrewdly shaking his head,
should risk my life if took the kinl
L wood
But tell you it will be no risk said t
king. i will protect you; go and get Sol
wood t..t.
Upon that the boy turned and looked b
= boldly in the face.
Q 4 believe you are q traitor he cried,
AN enemy of the king or else you want
Is get me into trouble. But you can't. kn
how to take care of myself; and shall sh
respect to the laws, though they are bad.
'g The boy went on gathering sticks, and
'r the evening went home with his load
W fuel.
The next day, his parents were astonisl
., to receive a summons to appear with tt
~ son before the king. As they went trer
'' lingly- into his presence, the boy recogni
the man with whom he had talked the
10 before, and he turned deadly pale.
~ IF that be the king he said, then we
no better than dead folks, all =
'e But the king, descended from his thrc
40 and smilingly said
Come here, my son Come here, &
no people both! Fear nothing. ! met this
ty in the fields yesterday, and tried to persu
eu him to disobey the law. But / found
ng proof against all temptation. SO sem
you, good people, to tell you what true
ny honest son you have, and that The law
ur be changed, so that poor people can go
Ike where into the kings forests. and gather
lat wood they find on the ground r,.
we He then dismissed the lad and his par
with handsome presents, which made
pie rich for the remainder of their lives.
i'd While our boys and girls are taugl
nd read the histories of many an Old-W
ing prince and monarch far more barbarous
lis he, they need not neglect the story OF
md Indian king Nezs-hual coyotl, ourAmel
| Kinn nayiA ~ h,ahnIaa