Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-01-31
Miscellaneous.
The Kings Business.

SLOWLY and almles.y out Of the village
Wandered poor, half-witted Nat that pieasan;
summer afternoon. He had no particular
destination. "onl, goin' s1mewhere"-his
repl, alway. 10 an, question In regard to
hi> movements. Dufing the m, rning. be
hsl been parading the village street. his
bat trimmed !uSuuantiv with feathers while
he sounded forth his own praise through the
medium o: TN horn. OF course he had
attracted attention. a small army Of ur-
ch.ns had surrounded him. front aud rear.
aud b. had their shouts and teasing remark :
foI applause and admiration. Blu, now his
grandeur sas gone. One by one hl, fol. oa-
er, had forsaken him, until at last he was
"ltfI alone in his glon = and with poor
Nat, ike the rest of Us. What doe. glory
amount 10 hen there are none to Witness ?
And - he moved onward in his driii ny, Il,
uncertain way. across the creek a; the edge
Of the Village. up the hill. until his sialwart
form stood up against the sks-for Nat was
strong IN bod, though weak IN mind; then
lie passed down on the other side to where
the rosd entered the forest which stretched
fuF miles aua,. |, Was here quie, and lone
ly. bat Nat fancied tEI,. He occaslonall,
liked 10 escape from human voices and hu-
man habitatlons, 70 get away hy himself
and talk with the birds. the trees and foa
eT,. Here IN the rood the Wild ,agafies Of
his brain found full play. Here no one dis
puted hls claims 10 greatness, no one denied
his being a noted general, gifted orator or
musician. when the fancy seized him 10 be
such. IL fact Nat always had greatness
thrust upon him :" he wa, never an ordinary
man in his own estimation, and he Was not
nov.
But on this occasion a new fancy had
taken posse ssion of hm-he was ou busi-
ness for the King. What King. or what
was the particular business he did not pre-
ci.ely know. hut he had derived his idea
from various sermons he had heard al the
village church and Sunday school which he
attended with scrupulous punctuality
! through all weathers, and although he un-
derstood but little Of the proceedings, Vet
{ chance sentences had fastened themselves
on his sluggish brain
Z I'm on business for the King" lie nut
I tered, reaching up his great strong hand and
wrenching huge overnangiug branch from
lis place and converting 1t into walk ing
stick. "les. I'm on business for the King
the King Of all around here, the trees, the
birds, the flowers and the humble bees. He
sent me. he did. Parson said so t'other Sun.
day. lie said the King sent out his mes.
sengers to do his work. He sent out lively,
on EN- once't and they wasn't to take nc
money in their purse nor nothin' TO eat
Guess he sent me. cause hain't got NJ
money an haint had nothing 10 eat al
day"
He strobe onward. murmuring hi,
thoughts as he went, and after a time b,
came upon public road which ran through
the wood. A pacard fastened to tree b,
the roadside attracted his attention, and b.
paused TO consider it. He could not read
but as his eyes were fixed upon the printe,
characters, the tinkle of cowbell wa
heard down the road, and presently GOV
came into view, followed by the short. sturd
figure and round. freckled face Of Tomm
Brock. Tommy was hourishng laIg
stuck and shouting at the COW in his effort
to keep her in proper horleward direction
As he came up he exclaimed:
Hello, Maj What are YOU doin' here I?
aim on business for the King" replie,
Nat, with dignity.
in surprise.
TOT tue hinK. he sent me, salu VA
again That's his order there, take it,
pointing TO the placard. "Whst is it. Tom
my?"
That? Why, that's only an advertise
ment," answered Tommy, his eyes openinj
wider in his establishment. at SAYS, Go t,
Tracey's Halfway House for squar
meal"
"Yes, l know'd it. know'd it," ex
claimed Nat, exultingy. The King sal
take no money nor npthin' TO eat, an he,
take keer of me. He says Co and II
obey ORDERS" and instantly his tall 6gur
was moving swiftly down the road.
Tommy gazed after him a minute in be
wildered silence, and then exclaimed EN-
phatically, as he turned away -
"My but amt he cracked!"
With rapid steps Nat hurried forward
swinging his huge stick and talking to him
self. He had taken the placard as a verita
bic command to go to Traceys and thither
ward he directed his steps. 4 vas not tn
first time he had been there. On previou
occasions, when he had passed that way, b.
had been kindly treated BY Mrs. Tracey. AM
perhaps that had something TO do with th,
alacrity of his movement, and he hastene,
down the road till it brought him to a small
stream, on the bank of which stood say
mill. Mr.. Tracey, the owner Of the Half
Way House, was engaged here, and b
turned aside to speak 10 him.
"lm on business for the King, and In