The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-08-19
"THE KINGS BUSINESS"

Slowly and aimlessly out of the vii
lage wandered poor, half-witted Nat
that pleasant summer afternoon. He
had no particular destination, "only
goin' somewhere Ibis reply always
to any question in regard to his move
ments. Duning the morning he had
been paradihg the village street, his hat
trimmed luXuriantly with feathers.
while he sounded forth his own praises
through the medium of 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, I'M
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. 1t was here quiet and
lonely, but Nat fancied this. He occa-
ionally liked to escape from human
'oices and human habitations, to get
away by himself and talk with the
BIRDS, the trees and the flowers. Here
lnthe wood the wild vagaries of his
bnin found full play. Here no one dis
pued his claims to greatness, no one
dened his being noted general, a
glftW orator or musician, when the
fame seized him to be such. In fact,
Nat Always had "greatnesS thrust upon
nm; he was never an ordinary man
IN hlsown estimation, and he was not
now
Butln this occasion a new fancy had
taken possession of him--he was on
bushes for the King What King, or
what VS. the particular business he did
not precisely know, but he had derived
his idea'rom various sermons be had
heard atlhe village church and Sun
day-schol, which he attended with
scrupulos punctuality through all
weathers,and although he understood
but little the proceedings. yet chance
sentenceslad fastened themselves on
his sluggis brain.
I'm onbusiness for the King" he
muttered, haching up his great strong
hand ana wenching huge overhang-
ing branch rom its place and speedily
converting it into a walking-stick.
Yes, I'm business for the King,
the King OF Il around here. the birds,
the trees, thelowers and the humble
bees. He set me, He did. Parson
said so tothe Sunday. He said the
King sent out lis messengers to do His
work. de sat out twelve on 'em
once't, an tey wasn't to take no
money in their)urse nor nothin' to eat.
Guess He sentne, cause | hain't cot
no money an hint had nothin' to eat
all day."
He strobe olvard, murmurinp his
thoughts as he wnt, until after time
he came upon pblc road which ran
through the wooo A placard fastened
TO tree by the Iadside attracted his
attention, and he aused to consider it.
be could not readbut as his ewes were
fixed upon the pnted characters the
tinkle OF cow-belwas heard down the
road, and present. a cow came into
view. followed by te short, sturdy fig-
ure and round. frecled face of Tommy
Brock. Tommy wa flourishing large
stick and shouting athe COW in his ef-
forts to keep her in ,proper homeward
direction. And he 'ame up and en-
claimed:
Hello, Natl Whit are you dom
herePn
I'm on business fo the King" re-
piled Nat, with dignity
"On business for>whop' asked
Tommy. in surprise.
'.For the King. He ent me-" said
Nat again. That's hiorders there, l
take it," pointing e the nlacard.
"What is it, Tommy"