The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1882-08-19
"rmg KINGS BUSINESS"

-Eposns T. ia1. IN thieavp Inter Dream
"Tmg KINGS BUSINESS"
Slowly and almlessly out Of the VII
lage wandered poor. ~ha'f-witted Nat
that Pheasant summer afternoon. IIo
had no particular destination. "onli
goin' somewhcre"-h reply always
10 any question In regard TO his move.
ments. During the morning he bad
been paradIng the village street. his hat
trimmed lusuriautly with feathers.
while he sounded forth his W praises
through thu medium u a tin horn. ~
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. hut now his
grandeur wa gone. One by ono his
followers had forsakeu him. until nj last
he was left alone In his glory" aud
with poor Nat, like the rest Of US, what
does glory amount 10 when there are
none 10 wiinessP
And 10 he moved onward In his drift
Ing, uncertain way across the creek at
the edge Of the village. up the hill, I'M
Ill 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 20 where the
road entered n forest which strtchod
for miles away. II was here quiet and
lonely, but Nat fancicd this. He coca.
u%ionally liked 10 escape from human
voices and human hsbifations. 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 Ms claims TO greatness, no n
denied his being a noted general, .
gifted orator or musician. when the
fancy seized him 10 be such. In fact.
Nat always had GREATNESS thrust upon
him. he was eve an ordinary man
In his NJ estimation. and ho was not
now.
But on this occasion q now fancy had
taken possession Of him-he was on
business for the King. What King. or
what was the particular business be did
not precisely know, but he had derived
his idea from various sermons be had
heard ut tho village church aud Sun
day-schcol.' which he attended with
scrnpulous punctualiiy through all
weathcrs. and although be understood
but little OF the proceedings, yet chance
sentences had fastened themselves on
his sluggish brain.
Ppm IN business for the King" he
mutiered. reaching up his great strong
hand and wrenching q huge oyerhang-
ing branch from lts place and speedily
converting Il Into q walking-s,ick.
Yes. I'm on business for the King.
the King Of all around here. tho biris,
the trees, tho flowers and the humble
bees. He. sent me. He did. Parson
said u t'oshcr Sunday. lie said the
King sent out His messengers TO do His
work. He sent out twelve on 'em
oncc't an they wasn't 10 take no
money IN their purse nor noshin' TO eat,
Gucss He sent me. cause | hain't 90,
no money an hain't had nothin' IN eat
I'll day.a
lie strobe onward. mumuring Nj.
thoughts a. he went until shcr . time
b came upon . public road which ran
through the wood. A placari fastened
10 = tree By the roadside attracted hls
attention. mi he paused 10 consider H.
He could not read. but ~ his eyes wers
nxcd upon the printed characters the
tinklc 81 . cow-bell was heard down the
road, and presently . COW came into
view. followed BY The short, sturdy iir.
urc and round. freokled iaco Of Tommy
Brock. Tommy was nourishing 4 large
stick and shouting Al The COW In his 81.
forts 10 keep her IN 4 proper homeward
direction. And be came up and ex'
Hello. Natl VIVA. are yoa doia'
hcruY"
Pm On business for the King 70.
piled Nat with dignity.
"on business for-whof' asked
Tommy. In surprise.
''for the King. He sent me- aid
/. Nat again. "fhst's his Orders lhcrc.
take L." pointing 70 the placard
What Il Il, Tommy"
THAT Why that's only an adver
ti>emcnL" answered Tommy. his ere,
opening wider In his axtonishmenl II
says; Go 70 Trscey's Halfway Hous'
for . SQUARE neal"
"Yes. ! hncw'd iti I kno~'d mr. or
.r-Aa 49, -----s