Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-03
A STORY FOR BOYS.
An Account of Neza-haul- coyotl, the Amer
lean King David.

An Account of Neza-haul-coyotl, the Amer
lean King David.
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 Tez-
clcans, the most enlightened of the native
| tribes, had a prince whose history has a
str king resemblance to that of the Hebrew
| King David. His name is hard one, but
| by dividing it into double syllables we
may master it-Neza- haul-coyotl 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 escapes.
Once, when some soldiers came to take
him in his own house, he vanished in a
cloud of incense, such as att ndants burned
before princes, and concealed himself in
sewer until his enemies were gone. He
fed to the mountains, where he slept In
caves and thickets, and lived on wild
FRUITS occasionally showing himself in the
cottages of the poor people, who befriended
their prince at the peril of their lives.
Once, when closely pursued, passing girl
who was reaping 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 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 bride could induce his faith
full people to betray him.
''Would you not deliver up your prince
if he came in your way?'' he once asked a
young country-fellow, to whom his person
was unknown.
''Never !" replied the peasant.
&c Not for a fair ladys hand and great
fortune ~ said the prince.
/" Not for all the world p was the answer.
The prince, who was rightful heir to the
throne, grew every day n the favor of the
people, and at last he found himself 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 s'ain. The prince,
who so lately fed for is life, was now pro-
claimed Kin.
He at once set about reforming abuses
and making wise laws for his kingdom. He
established a society devoted to the en-
couragement of science and art. He gave
prizes for the best literary compositions
for these people had sort of picture
writing), and he was himself poet, like
King David. His poems, some of which
have been preserved and translated, were
generally of religious character. His ia
vorite themes were the vanity of human
greatness, praise of the Unknown God,
and the blessings of the future life for
such as do good in this. The Tezcucans,
| like the Aztecs, were idolators, who in
dulged in the horrid rites of human sacri-
flee to their awful deities; but this wise
and good King detested such things, and
endeavoredsto wean his people from them,
declaring like David, that, above all idols,
and over all men, ruled an unseen Spirit,
who was the one God.
The King used to disguise himself and
90 about among his people, in order to
learn who were happy, how his laws were
administered, and what was thought of
his government. On one such occasion he
fell in with boy gathering sticks in
field
"Why don't you go into yonder forest,
where you will find plenty of wood p
asked the disguised monarch.
"Ah y cried the boy, that forest be-
longs to the King and he would have me
killed if | should take his wood for that
is the law"
SIS he so hard man as that ?"
"Aye, that he is-a very hard man, in
deed, who denies his people what God has
given them p
sit is a bad law, said the King; and l
advise you not to mind it. Come, there is
l.. -, 70 +taf
and help yourself to sticks"
mot p exclaimed the boy.
You are afraid some one will come and
find you? But will keep watch for you,
urged the King.
evil you take the punishment in my
place, if chance to get caught? No, no =
cried the boy, shrewdly shaking his head,
81 should risk my hfeif took the Kings
wood
"But tell you it will be no risk, said
the King. 81 will protect you; go and
get some wood"
Upon that the boy turned and looked him
boldly in the face
Il believe you are traitor, he cried,
an enemy of the King; or else you want
to get me into trouble. But you can't.
know how to take care of myself and l
shall show respect to the laws, though they
are bad.
The boy went on gathering sticks, and
in the evening went home with his load of
fuel.
The next day, his parents were aston
ished to receive a summons to appear with
their son before the King As they went
tremblingly into his presence, the boy rec
ognized the man with whom he had talked
the day before, and he turned deadly pale
eff that be the Ring" he said, then
we are no better than dead folks, all !"
But the King descended from his throne,
and smilingly said
"Come here, my sonl Come here, good
people both! Fear nothing. met this
lad in the fields yesterday, and tried to
persuade him to disobey the law. But l
found him proof against all temptation.
So sent for you, good people, to tell you
what true and honest son you have, and
| that the law is to be changed, so that poor
people can 90 anywhere into the Kings
forests and gather the wood they find on
! the ground. f"
/ He then dismissed the lad and hisp parents
with handsome presents, which made them
rich for the remainder of their lives.
While our boys and girls are taught to
read the histories OF many an Old-World
prince and monarch far more barbarous
4 than he, they need not neglect the story of
4 A. J,d;ao Kiuo Neza -husl ..oyatl Our