Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-27
The Adventures OF Prince Nezahua,.
cOYOtl.

| Ever SO many years ago-lOng before
white people came to America there
lived, down in what we now call Mexico.
little Aztec Prince named Nezahual,,
coyoti. A long, funny name, is it not ?
What do you suppose they called him
"for short 90
But in spite of such long name he
proved himself, as he grew older. to be
one of the bravest Princes and bri ghtest
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 Of
times make them gloomy and sad yet
one would imagine that boy Prince, too
young to assume responsibilities, would
have no other care than to do right, and
be happy. But poor Nezahualcoyotl
had more cares than you imagine.
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 Nezahaualcoyotl
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 viii not be unkind to
me I'
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 to the new Kings
dwelling to offer his congratulations.
But when the crowd stepped aside to
let him approach his uncle, and when he
knelt down and said: "Uncle, 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 Nezahualc oyotl knew
that his uncle was unfriendly to him.
and he hurried, as friends advised him,
to palace III s. distant part of the
country.
One bright morning, soon after, the
Prince was playing ball in the palace
court yard, and, as he was laughing and
tossing the piaything against the wall,
an attendant came running up, and
said:
ooh, sir, there are some armed men
coming from the King!" And, after
pausing to catch his breath, he said,
ION, hide, OF they will kill you'll
quick!"
The Prince turned very pale at this,
but, quoting his friends and attendants,
he showed them how foolish it would be
to show his frightat 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 Cor Aztecs)
of those days it was mark of respect to
burn incense when great men were visit
ing at a house; so, before long, the in
cense began to send up its curling
wreaths of smoke in the doorway leading
to the next room, while Nezahualcoyotl
entertained his cruel guests.
As he talked pleasantly with them,
and they were enjoying the meal, he
quietly rose, and, saying, ''Excuse me a
moment" passed into the next room.
The doors were wide open, so that his
enemies did not suspect anything at lis
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.
CHANGING back through the wavering
clouds of incense at his enemies, he saw
them dreamily watching the curling
smoke, and evidently not thinking of his
movements. So he quietly opened
door, and there close by it lay long
pipe, through which water formerly had
been brought to the palace, but which
had been for some time unused. 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 faith
full 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 Prince Neza-
hualcoyoh. He Immediately proclaimed
that an enormous prize would be given
to any one who would bring the Prince
to him dead OF alive.
Therefore poor Nezahualcoyotl was
with small body Of friends,
to wander about in the night over high
and across lonely plains;
and seldom in daytime could he safely
venture out, for, as he knew, many per-
sons In all parts Of the country were
watching to capture him.
Poor boy! He continually urged his
faithful followers to leave him, lest they
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 fortunate thing for
nim. For one day, as he lay concealed |
n some bushes, he heard the tramp of |
many feet and saw the soldiers in the |
distance.
Nearer and nearer they came, until
about sunset they pitched their tents
lose to the hidden Prince and ended |
he day by lively dance. The keen
glance of one Of the soldiers spied the
Door Prince trying to hide among the