The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-08-18
"THE KINGS BUSINESS"

"THE KINGS BUSINESS"
Slowly and aimlessly out of the vii
lage wandered poor, half-witted Ma
that pleasant summer afternoon. He
had no particular destination. "only
goin' somewhere Ibis reply always
to any question in regard to his move
ments. During the morning he haG
been parading the village street, his hat
trimmed luXuriantly with feathers,
while he sounded forth his own praises
through the medium of tin horn. Oh
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 fol
applause and admiration. Bat 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 witness?
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 a forest which stretched
for miles away. 1t was here quiet and
lonely, but Nat fancied this. He occa-
sionally 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 dis
puted his claims to greatness, no one
denied his being a noted general, a
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 ordinary man
in his own estimation, and he was not
now.
But on this occasion a new fancy had
taken possession of him--he was on
business for the King. What King, or
what was the particular business he did
not precisely know, but he had derived
his idea from various sermons be had
heard at the village church and Sun
day-school, which he attended with
scrupulous punctuality through all
weathers, and although he understood
but little of the proceedings, yet chance
sentences had fastened themselves on
his sluggish brain.
Pm ON business for the King" he
muttered, reaching up his great strong
hand and wrenching a huge overhang-
ing branch from its place and speedily
converting it into a walking-stick.
Yes, Pm on business for the King,
the King of all around here, the birds,
the trees, the flowers and the humble
bees. He sent me, He did. Parson
said so 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 nothin' to eat.
Guess He sent me, cause l hain't got
no money an hain't had nothin' to eat
all day."
He strobe onward, murmuring his
thoughts as he went, Until after a time
he came upon a public road which ran
through the wood. A placard fastened
to tree by the roadside attracted his
attention, and he paused to consider it.
He could not read, but as his eyes were
fixed upon the printed characters the
tinkle of a eow-ben was heard down the
road, and presently q cow came into
view, followed bv the short, sturdy fig-
ure and round. freckled face of Tommy
Brock. Tommy was fiourishing a large
stick and shouting at the cow in his ef-
forts to keep her in proper homeward
direction. And he came up and ex-
claimed:
Hello. Nat! What are you dom
here?'
Ppm on business for the King" re-
piled Nat, with dignity.
"On business for-who?" asked
Tommy, in surprise.
"For the King. He sent me-" said
Nat again. That's his orders there, l
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 ut
says: go to Tracey's Half Way House
for square NEAL"
"Yes, know'd it! 1 know'd itr' ex-
claimed Nat, exultingly. 1.-The King
said take no money nor nothin' to eat,
an He'd take keer of me. He says
Co. an I'll obey orders" and instant
ly his tall figure was moving swiftly
down the road.
Tommy gazed after him a minute in
silence, and then exclaimed,
as he turned away:
my! but amt he crackedr'
With rapid steps Nat hurried forward,
swinging his huge stick and talking to