Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-02-09

up for him to stop.
CLOSE the book said he; II shall
follow the example of the King in the
story. There may be peasant in my
realm who thinks true happiness
comes to those in power. and who
could be induced to exchange his posi-
ton in life for mine.''
The courtier protested against such
an experiment. until he thought the
safety of his head was involved-and
then desisted.
On the following day the King
started out behind four white horses.
in his best purple and golden crown.
to exchange places with the happiest
man he could find
On an almost deserted road, he
espied little cabin under some large
trees that almost screened it from
view. As the carriage drew nearer.
the King saw the occupant of the
Ca bin digging in a patch. He seemed
as happy as the birds that were sing
ing on every limb; and he himself
sung. while he pushed the spade into
the ground and turned up the soft
earth.
When the carriage stopped. the man
dropped his spade. and came to the
fence to see what was wanted.
The King stepped down and asked
him some questions regarding the
prospect of good crops in the country.
and then said:
Il should be very well contented if
1 were as happy as you are"
"And l." replied the peasant.
should be very happy if I were a
King"
You are one," replied the King.
as he threw his robes about the mans
shoulders, and placed the golden
crown upon his head. THAT is your
carriage, and these are your servants,
who will bear witness that we have
changed places. and that am the
peasant"
The Joy of the new-made King knew
no bounds. He sat up in the carriage.
with all the dignity of an old King. In
his heart he fancied that he must be
dreaming. and pinched his arms.
and asked his attendants to stick
pins in him that he might be
sure he was awake. He thought of
his great power with absolute glee.
and felt supremely happy in the
knowledge that he could make the
country 60 to war, and cut off the
heads of people who in any way dis
pleased him. What puzzled him most
was the fact that he had ever been
happy before, and he was at a loss to
understand it.
whip up the horses" he said; Il
wish to reach the place before SUM-
down."
But, in reality, he feared that the old
King might have changed his mind,
and might be running along the road
to overtake them.
When he reached the place, there
was little excitement, as all the in
mates knew they were to have new
King, having been informed of the ma
ture of the old Kings mission in the
morning.
That night he made up his mind to
have a grand banquet, such as King
should have. So he ate most inor-
dinate quantity of the richest dishes
he could think of. and he did not stop
until almost midnight, when he re-
tired.
He was awakened several times be-
fore morning with nightmare. and
passed SO miserable a night. that he
was tired and sleepy when it was time
to rise tor the day. While he was a
peasant and worked hard year in and
year out. he had never known any but
nights of refreshing sleep.
But this did not trouble him much.
He concluded that he would soon be-
come accustomed to royal banquets.
and that would be the end of sleepless
nights. No sooner had he disposed of
this trouble. than it occurred to him
that he had heard that it was COM
mon thing for Kings to have their food
poisoned. Perhaps his food had been
lnsutliciently poisoned the night be-
fore. In hat case the servants would
make sure to put enough in his coffee
to kill him at breakfast.
This was terrible reflection. and it
narrowed the Kings feelings in way
that they had never Deen narrowed be-
fore. But he went to his breakfast.
determining that lie would not touch
the coffee. Then he concluded that
they might deceive him by putting the
poison where he would least suspect it.
When he was a peasant. he never
knew such fear as this. He finished
his breakfast in great alarm. His agi-
tation had been SO great that it gave
him a worried. pale look.
..Is your Majesty well?" asked one
of the courtiers.
"Why?" said the King.
your Majesty certainly looks very
ill" replied the courtier.
IL E:u~ ~nr~o oafsSEo1 that ho