The Iola register., 1882-03-17
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PRINCE NEzAHUALCOYoTL.

i
/ PRINCE NEZAHUALCOYOTL.
Ever so many years ago-long before
white people came to America there
lived, down in what we now call Mexi.
co. q little Aztec Prince named Neza-
hualcoyot. A long, funny name, is il
not' What do you suppose they called
But, in spite of such long name, he
proved himself, as he grew older, to be
one of the bravest Princes and brightes,
boys of whom history tells-as an Amer.
lean Prince should be.
Great Kings. although they have
beautiful palaces to live in, and every
thing to make them happy, endure
heavy cares of government which al
times make them gloomy and sad; YET
one would imagine that q boy Prince,
too young to assume responsibilities,
would have no other care than to do
right, and be happy. But poor Neza-
hualcoyotl had more cares than you inn
agine.
A few years before this story opens
his father had been killed in terrible
battle, and, soon after, wicked uncle
named MOxtla was crowned King, al
though he knew that Nezahualcoyotl
was rightfully the ruler. And when the
boys friends advised him to hide from
MOxtla, who, of course, jealously
watched his movements, the lad said:
"Why, surely, he will not be unkind to
mer'
So, on the coronation day, when
everybody was gayly dressed, and a
great banquet was to be held at the
palace, Nezahualcoyotl dressed himself
| in his best and went bravely to the new
Kings dwelling to offer his contratula-
tons.
But when the crowd stepped aside to
let him approach his uncle, and when
he knelt down and said: "Uncle, 1
hope you will be happy and handed
him a bouquet of flowers. his uncle
turned rudely away and began talking
with his officers. By this NezahualcO-
yotl knew that his uncle was unfriendly
to him, and he hurried, as friends ad-
vised him. to palace in distant part
of the country.
One bright morning, soon after. the
Prince was playing ball in the palace
courtyard, and as he was laughing and
tossing the plaything against the wall,
an attendant came running up, and
said:
"Oh, sir, there are some armed men
coming from the Kingr' And after
pausing to catch his breath, he said:
''Oh. hide, or they will kill you'll
quick!''
The Prince turned very pale at this,
but, quieting his friends and attendants,
he showed them how foolish it would
be to show his fright at this time, and
urged them to stand by him.
In few minutes up came.the armed
men. with the feathers on their heads
nodding in the wind, and they were all
ready to kill the Prince, although he
had done no harm.
But he stepped forward to greet them,
and welcomed them to his palace, and
invited them to dine with him. Being
treated so courteously, they walked in,
and were soon seated at the table.
Now. among the Mexicans (er Az
tecs) of those days, it was mark of re-
spect to burn incense when great men
were visiting at a house; so, before
long, the incense began to send up its
curling wreaths of smoke in the door
way leading to the next room, while
Nezahualcoyotl politely entertained his
cruel guests.
As he talked pleasantly with them,
and they were enjoying the meal. he
quietly rose, and saying: Excuse me
moment" passed into the next room.
The doors were wide open, so that his
enemies did not suspect anything at his
departure.
But, as the servants fed the fire of the
incense, the clouds of smoke became
denser and denser, and completely hid
Nezahualcoyotl from the feasters.
Glancing back through the wavering
clouds of incense at his enemies, he |
saw them dreamily watching the curl
ing smoke. and evidently not thinking
of his movements. So he quietly |
opened door, and there close by it lay |
a long pipe, through which water for
merly had been brought to the palace,
but which had been for some time un-
used. Softly closing the door behind
him. he quickly dropped into the long
dark pipe, and lay there safely hidden
until night-fall, when he came out. and
with some faithful followers hurried far
away from his prosecutors.
Now, just think how angry Moxtla
must have been when he heard of this
and how severely he would punish the
men he had sent to kill the Prince Ne
He Immediately pro-
claimed that an enormous prize would
be given to any one who would bring
the Prince to him, dead or alive.
Therefore poor Nezahualcoyotl was
with small band of friends,
to wander about in the night over high
and across lonely plains;
and seldom in day time could he safely
venture out, for, as he knew, many per-
sons in all parts of the country were
watching to capture him.
Poor 10Y! He continually urged his
faithful followers to leave him, lest thew
should endanger their own lives. But
they refused, for they loved him; and,
indeed, even the cruel soldiers of his
uncle thought of the little Prince with
tenderness.
And this was a fortunate thing for
him. For, one day, as he lay concealed
N some bushes, he heard the tramp of
many feet, and saw the soldiers in the
1istanoo |