News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-08-10
"THE KINGS BUSINESS.

Slowly and aimlessly out of the village
vsndered poor, half-witted Nat that
pleasant summer afternoon. He had
no particular destination, ''only goin'
somewhere reply always to any
question in regard TO his movements.
During the morning he had been parad
ing the village street, his hat trimmed
luxuriantly with feathers, while be
sounded forth his own praise 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
cleft alone in his glory" and with poor
Nat, like the rest OF us, what does glory
amount to when there are none to wit
ness?
And so he moved onward in his drift
ing, uncertain way across the creek at
the edge of the village, up the hill, until
his stalwart form stood out against the
sky-for Nat was strongin body though
weak in mind then he passed down on
the other side to where the road entered
q forest which stretched for miles away.
1t was here quiet and lonely, but Nat
fancied this. He occasionally 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 disputed his claims to great
ness, no one denied his being a noted
general, gifted orator or musician,
when the fancy seized him to be such.
In fact Nat always had greatness
thrust upon him )" he was never an Or
binary man in his own estimation, and
he was not now.
But on this occasion q new fancy had
taken possession of him-he was on
business for tine King. What King, or
what was the particular business he did
not precisely know, but he had derived
his idea from various sermons he had
heard ct the village church and Sunday
school, which he attended with scrupu-
lous punctuality through all weathers,
and although he understood but little
Of the proceedings, yet chance sentences
had fastened themselves on his sluggish
brain.
"I'm on busir ess for the KING" he
muttered, reaching up his great strong
hand and wrenching huge over-hang-
ing branch from its place and speedily
converting it into a walking-s stick
eyes, I'm on business for the King, the
King Of all around here, the birds, the
trees, the flowers and the bumble-bees.
He sent me, He did. Parson said sc
t'other 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 noth1n' to eat. Guess He sent me-
cause hain't got no money an hahn
had pothln' to eat all day."
He strobe onward, murmuring hi
thoughts as he went, until after q time
he come upon public road which rar
through the wood. Aplscard fastened tc
a tree by the roadside attracted his atten
ton, and he paused to consider it. He
could not read, but as his eyes were ixec
upon the printed characters the tinkIe
of cow-bell was heard down the road
and presently a COW came into view
followed by the short, sturdy figure and
round, freckled face of Tommy Brock.
Tommy was fourishing a large stick
and shouting at the COW in his efforts
to keep her in proper homeward direc
ton. As he came up ne exclaimed:
"Hello, Nat What are you dom
here?"
'1'm on business for the King" re.
piled Nat with dignity.
son business for-who ?" asked Tom
my in surprise.
'rFor the King. He sent me-" said
Nat again. "That's his orders there,
take it." pointing to the placard.
"What is it, Tommy ?"
"That +? Why that's only an adver-
tisement," answered Tommy, his eyes
opening wider in his establishment. 'It
says, 60 to Tracey's Half Way House
for square meal"
''Yes, know'd it I know'd it p ex-
claimed Nat exultingly. ''The King
said take no money nor nothin' to eat,
an He'd take keer of me. He says
Go, an Ill obey orders, and instantly
his tall figure was moving swiftly down
the road.
Tommy gazed after hira a minute