Sharp County record., 1880-01-15
An American King David.

When the Spaniards under the fa
nous Cortes came to Mexico, in 1919,
they found the country inhabited by
people already civilized.
About a hundred years before, the
Tezcucans, the most enlightened of the
native tribes, had a Prince whose histo
ry has q striking resemblance to that of
the Hebrew King David. His name is
a hard one, but by dividing it into
double syllables we may master it
Neza-hual-coyotl. In his youth, like
David, he was obliged to flee for his
life from the wrath of morose mon
arch 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 cloud of incense, such as attend
ants burned before princes, and con-
cealed himself in a sewer until his enc
mics were gone. He fled to the noun
tains, where he slept in caves and thick
cts, and lived on wild fruits, occasional
ly 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 reaping in a field, he
begged her to cover him from sight
with the stalks of grain she was cutting;
she did 50, and when his enemies came
up, directed the pursuit into a wrong
path. At another time he took refuge
with some soldiers who were frieadly to
him, and who covered him with war
drum, about which they were dancing.
No bribe could induce his faithful 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!n replied the peasant.
"Not for a fair lady's hand and great
fortune?n said the Prince.
"Not for all the world!" 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 dctestcd.
A battle was fought, the usurper's forces
were routed, and he was afterWard
slain. The Prince, who so lately fled for
his life, was now proclaimed King
He at once set about reforming abuses,
and making wise laws for his kingdom.
He established q society devoted to the
encouragement of science and art. He
gave prizes for the best literary compo-
sitions (for these people had a sort of
picture writing), and he was himself a
poet, like King David. His poems,
some of which have been preserved and
translated, were generally of religious
character. His favorite 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 INDUCED in the hor-
rid rites of human sacrifice to their aw-
full deities; but this wise and good King
detested such things, and endeavored to
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 60 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 gath
ering sticks in field.
"Why don't you 90 into yonder for
est, where you will find plenty of
wood?" asked the disguised monarch.
"Ah!n 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"
"Is he so hard man as that?n
"Aye, that he is-a very hard man,
indeed, who denies his people what
God has given them!"
"Tt is bad law" said the King :
"and 1 advise you not to mind it.
Come, there is no one here to see you;
90 into the forest, and help yourself to
sticks"
mot IT, exclaimed the boy.
"You are afraid some one will come
and find you? But ] will keep watch
for you," urged the King.
"Will you take the punishment in
my place, if 1 chance to get caught
No, no!n cried the boy, shrewdly shak-