The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-08-17
"THE KINGS BUSINESS. y

"THE KINGS BUSINESS"
Slowly and aimlessy out of the vii
lage wandered poor, half-witted Nat
that pleasant summer afternoon. He
had no particular destination, '.only
goin' somewhere ''-his reply always
TO any question in regard to his move
ments. During the morning he had
been parading the village street, his hat
trimmed luxuriantly with feathers.
while he sounded forth his own praises
through the medium Of a tin horn OF
course, he had attracted attention. A
small army of urchins had surrounded
him. front and rear, and he had taken
their shouts and teasing remarks for
applause and admiration. But now his
grandeur was gone. One by one his
followers had forsaken him, until at last
he was left alone in his glory" and
with poor Nat, like the rest of us what
does glory amount to when there are
none to witnessP
And so he moved onward in his drift
ing, uncertain way across the creek at
the edge of the village, up the hill, un-
til his stalwart form stood out against
the sky-for Nat was strong in BODY
though weak in mind; then he passed
down on the other side to where the
road entered forest which stretched
for miles away. Ii was here quiet and
lonely, but Nat fancied this. He occa-
sionally liked to escape from human
voices and human habitations, to get
away by himself and talk with the
birds, the trees and the flowers. Here
in the wood the wild vagaries of his
brain found full play. Here no one dis
puted ais claims to greatness, no one
denied his being a noted general, q
giftec orator or musician, when the
fancy seized him to be SUCH In fact,
Nat always had greatness thrust upon
him;' he was never an ordinary man
in his own estimation, and he was not
now.
But on this occasion a new fancy had
taken possession of him-he was on
business for the King. What King, or
what was the particular business he did
not precisely know, but he had derived
his idea from various sermons be had
heard ut the village church and Sun
day-schoOl which he attended with
scrupulous punctuality through all
Weathers; and although he understood
but little Of the proceedings, yet chance
sentences had fastened themselves on
his sluggish brain.
Pm on business for the King" he
muttered, reaching up his great strong
hand and wrenching a huge overhang-
ing branch from its place and speedily
converting it into walking stick
tf1es, Pm on business for the King,
the King of all around here. the birds,
the trees, the flowers andR the humble
bees. He sent me, He did. Parson
said so tother Sunday. He said the
King sent out His messengers to do His
work. He sent out twelve on 'em
once't, an they wasn't to take no
money in their purse nor nothin' to eat
Guess He sent me, cause / hain't got
no money an hain't had nothin' to eat
all day"
He strobe onward, murmuring his
thoughts as he went. until after a time
he came upon a public road which ran
through the wood. A placard fastened
10 tree by the roadside attracted his
attention, and he paused 10 consider it.
He could not read. but as his eyes were
fixed upon the printed characters the
tinlle Of a cow-bell was heard down the
road, and presently cow came into
view, followed by the short, sturdy dg-
IRE and round. frec5led face of Tommy
Brock. Tommy was flourishing a large
stick and shouting at the COW in his eff
forts 10 keep her in aproper homeward
direction. And he came up and ex-
claimed:
Hello, Mats What are you dom
here?"
Pm on business for the King re-
piled Nat with dignity.
"On business for-who?' asked
Tommy, in surprise.
"For the King. He sent me, - said
Nat again. +" That's his orders there. /
take it," pointing to the placard.
"What is it. TommyP''
THAT? Why that only an adver-
tisement" answered Tommy, his eyes
opening wider in his astonishment 1T
says; 60 to Tracey's Halfway House
for a square meal -
Yes, know d it! know it," ex-
claimed Nat, exultmgly 1.-The KING
said take money nor nothin' to eat,
an He'd take keer of me. He says
= Go, am L llobey orders and instant
ly his tall figure was moving swiftly
down the road.
Tommy gazed after him a minute in
bewildered silence, and then exclaimed.
emphatically, rs he turned away;
''My but aim he orackedr'
With rapid steps Nat hurried forward.
swinging his huge stick and talking to
himself He had taken the placard as a
veritable command 10 go to Tracey S,
and tl1itherward he directed his steps.
1t was not the first time he had been
there. On previous occasions when he
had passed that way he had been
kindly treated by Mrs. Tracey, and
perhaps that had something to dc
with the alacrity of his movement. and
he FASTENED down the road till il
brought him to small stream, on the
bank OF which stood saw-min Mr.
Tracey, the owner of the Halfway
House, was engaged at work here, and
he turned aside to speak to him.
I'm on business for the King. and
I'm goin' TO your house, he an
nounced, with the dignified gravity that
belonged to bis royal commission.
- On business for the King. and gOin'
to my house, eh?" answered the person
addressed, a good nacJlred smile cross
ing his kindly face. ''WeN. | reckon
that's high honor to me. You've 60
tramp afore You, though, Nat-a good
seven miles"
1 must obey orders, replied Nat
simply.
That's r'ght-obey orders. Well
# you do go tel Mrs. Tracey I'll bC
home tomorrow night. Tell her, too
not TO be uneasy about that money be