The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-26
1.-THE KINGS BUSINESS. ;


wandered poor halt. witted Nat that plcasa
summer afternoon, He had no particular de
tlnation, only goin' somewnere"-his rep
always to any question In regard to his NOV
nents. During the morning he had been para
ing the village street, his hat trimmed luxur
antiy with feathers, while he sounded fort
MS praises through the medium of tin hor
VI course he had attracted attention. A sma
army of urchins had surrounded him, troI
aud rear, and he had taken the shouts an
teasing remarks tor applause anu admiration
But now his grandeur was gone One by on
his followers had torsaken him. until at las
he was LEFT alone In his glory" and with poo
Nat, like the rest of Us, what does glOr
amount to when there are none to witness?
And SO he moved onward in bis drifting
uncertain way across the creek at the edge Q
the village, up the hill, until his stawart toru
stood out against the sky, for Nat WAS stron,
IN body though weak In mind; then he paSse,
down the other side to where the road entere,
forest which stretched for miles away.
was here quite lonely, but Nat fancied this
He occasionally liked to escape from human
voices and human habliations, to get away b,
himself and talk with the birds and trees ant
flowers. Here in the wood the Wild yagarie
Of his brain found full play. Here no one dis
puted his claims to greatness, no one deniet
his being noted general u gifted orator OF
musician, when fancy seized HIM to be such
Nat always had greatness thrust upon him :
he was never an ordinary man in his own esii
nation, and he was not now
But on this occasion new fancy had taken
possession Of hlm.-he WAS ON business tor the
King. What King or Whist WAS the particular
business he did not precisely know, bur he had
hi h.,h h.,
heard at the village church and Sunday
school, which he attended with scrupulous
through all wea,hers, and al.
though he understood but little OF the proceed.
lngs, yet chance sentences had fastened them.
selves on his sluggish brain.
I'm on business for the Ming" he matter.
cd, reaching up his great, strong hand and
huge overhsnging branch from
It's place and speedily converting il into a
walking stick. Yes. I'm on business tor the
King, and the King Of all around here, the
birds, the trees, the flowers and the bum bic
bees. He sent me, lie did Parson said so
'other Sunday. He said the King sent out His
messengers to do His work. lie sent out
'welve ON 'em once't and they wasn't to take
40 money In their purse nor nothin' 10 eat
Guess He sent me, cause hain't got no mon.
~ an haint had nOthiu' to eat ali day"
He strobe onward murmuring his thoughts
y he went, until after time he came upon
public road which ran through the wood. A
'lacard fastened to tree by the roadside at
racted his attention, and he paused to con.
ider II. He could not read, bu, a, his eyes
we're fixed upon the printed characters the tin.
lie OF cOw.bell was hear down the road.
nd presently COW came into view, followed
y the short, sturdy figure and round, frecklcd
ace Of Tommy Brock. Tommy was flourish
ng large stick and shouting at the COW to
eep her IN proper homewar,i direction.
md be came up and exclaimed:
"Hello, Nat! What are you doing here ~
Pm on business for the King" replied Nat
nth dignity.
ION business for-who:" asked Tommy, In
lrprise.
"For the King. He sent me,' said Nat
gain. That's His orders there, l take IT,"
ointng TO the placard. What Is il, Tom |
'y%
That's Why, that's only an advertisement"
answered Tommy, his eyes opening wider
18th establishment. at says: Go to Tracey's
" square meal'"
"Yes, know'd It! know'd it," cried MAI.
tultingly. The King SAID take no money
" nothn' to eat, and He'd take keer of me.
% says Co. an I'll obey orders" and IN.
antly his tall figure was moving swiftly down
e road.
Tommy gazed after HIM a minute in BE-
lldered silence, and then exclaimed, EN-.
as he turned away:
MY! but amt he cracked"
With rapid steps Nat hurried forward,
vinging his huge stick and talking to him.
IT, he had taken the plscard rs a veritable
mmand to go to Tracey's, and thitherward
directed bis steps II was not the first time
! had been there. On previous occasions
hen he had passed that way he had been .
ndly treated by Mrs Tracey, and perhaps
at had something to do with the alacrity of
5 movement, and he FASTENED down the road ,
II brought him 10 small stream, on the
nix OF which stood u saw mill. Mr. Tracey.
e owner Of the Halfway House, was engag
at work here, and he tHrned aside 10 speak
him
I'm on business Tor the King, aud I'm go. , !,
10 your house." he announced with the dig .
he'd gravity that belonged to his royal com /;
ssion.
On business for the King, and going to my !,
use, ell w answered the person addressed, !.
'ood.natured smile crossir x his kindly face,
'ell, l reckon that's high honor to me. u
u've got tramp afore you, though, Nat-a :
Dd seven miles" I.
! must obey orders" replied Nat, simply. u
That's right-obey orders. Well, If you p
60 tell Mrs. Tracey III lie home to NOR. g
v night. Tell her, too, not to be uneasy q
'at that money bein' in the house, cause y
see TO IL when come"
What moneys that" asked fellow work. C,
n ms Nat turned away
My pension. My claim was allowed last al
Elk, and got my mOney-fve hundred dol. Of
was foolish not to put It m
the bank right off; but didn't, and as OF
u I have time to go to town yesterday had d.
cave it at home. | reckon it's safe enough. A
ugh, till tomorrow night, and then" ec
Hist" interrupted his companion, sudden. Iii
What's that"
racey paused to listen "I
didn't hear anything" he said
thought | heard someone over there" b,
sued the Other, pointing to large, high 90
Of boards few feet distant, the boards il
lg piled in form of square, with large IN
ny in the center. Most likely 1t was rats, TO
lgh." 80
More likely to be rats than anything else, b,
e's so many about here" answered Tracey. WI