The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-03-11
THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE NEZ-
HaJIt IAHUALC0YOTL. .., ..,l

|
hualcoyotl A long. funny name, is it
not? What do you suppose they called
him for short?" M -hH mmU
But, in spite of such long. name, he
4 proved himself. as he grew older. to be
one of the bravest Princes and BRIGHTEST
] boys ofwhom history tells-as an Amer
lean Prince should be. m.rl ..... ......
Great Kings, although they have
beautiful palaces to live in, and every
thing to make them happy, endure
heavy cares of government which at
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 Neza-
hualcoyotl had more cares than you i'm
agine. ..f...l
A few years before this story opens
his father had been killed in a terrible
battle, and, soon after, a wicked uncle
named MoXtla was crowned King, al
though he knew that Nezahhalcovotl
was rightfuily the ruler. And when the
boys friends advised him to hide from
MoXtla, who, of course, jealousy
watched his movements, the lad said:
"Why, surely, he will not be unkind to
mer'
SO, on the coronation day, when
everybody was gayly dressed, and a
great banquet was to be held mt the
palace, Nezahualcoyotl dressed himself
in his best and went biavely to the new
Kings dwelling to offer his contratula-
tons.
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 bouquet of flowers. his uncle
turned rudely away and began talking
with his officers. By this Neaahualco-
yotl knew that his uncle was unfriendlv
to him, and he hurried, as friends adj
vised him, to palace in distant part
of the country.
One bright morning, soop after, the
Prince was playing ball in the palace
courtyard, and rs he was laughing and
tossing the plaything against the wall,
an attendant came running up, and
said: ..... ..tT
ooh, sir, there are some armed men
coming from the King And after
pausing to catch his breath, he said:
''Oh, hide, or they will kill you'll,
quickr' t
The Prince turned very pale at this.
but, quoting his friends and attendants,
he showed them how foolish it would
be to show his fright ut this time, and
urged them to stand by aim. .......
In "A 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 80 his palace. aud
invited them to dine with him. Being
treated so courteously, they walked in,
and were soon seated ut the table.
Now, among the MeXicans Cor Az
tecs) of those days, 1t was "A mark of re-
spect to burn incense when great men
were visiting Mt a house: SO, before
long, the incense began 80 send up its
curling wreaths of smoke in the door
way leading to the next room, while
Nezahualcoyotl politely 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 his
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 curl
ing smoke and evidently not thinking
of his movements. So he quietly
opened door, and there close by it lay
a long pipe, through which water for
merly had been brought to the palace,
! but which had been for some time un-
used. 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 faithful followers hurried far
away from his prosecutors. Do lo lul.I
! 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 the Prince Ne
zahualcoyotl. He Immediately pro
claimed that an enormous prize would
be given to any one who would bring
the Prince TO him. dead or alive.
| Therefore poor Nezahualcoyotl was
! compelled, with q small band OF friends,
to wander about In the night over high
mountains, 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
vigilantly watching to capture him.