The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-26

man he could ind.
On an almost deserted road. he
espied q 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 patch. He seemed
rs happy rs the birds that were sing.
ing on every limb; and he himself
sung, while he pushed the spade into
the ground and turned up tho 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
l were as happy as you are"
''And l." replied the peasant,
should be very happy if 1 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 l am the
| peasant"
The JOY of the new-madc King knew
no bounds. He sat up in the carriage,
with all the dignity OF an old King. In
his heart he fancied that ne 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 supremacy happy in the
knowledge that he could make the
country go 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 loss to
| understand il.
Whip up the horses" he said; 81
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 lie 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 grand banquet, such as u 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 night, that he
was tired and sleepy when it was time
to rise tor the day. While he Was Il
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
insutiiciently poisoned the night be-
fore. In that case the servants would
make sure to put enough in his coffee
to XII him at breakfast.
This was terrible reflection, and il
narrowed the Kings feelings il a way
that they had never been narrowed be-
fore. But he went to his breakfast,
determining that he would not touch
they might deceive him by putting the
poison where he would least suspect it.
When he was peasant, he never
knew such fear as this. He finished
his breakfast in great alarm. His agi-
tation had been SO graat that it gave
him Il worried, pale look.
.'Is your Majesty well?" asked one
of the co,Eticrs.
"Why?" said the King.
Your Majesty certainly looks very
i'll, replied the courtier.
Then the King was satisfied that he
was poisoned So he threw himself
upon 4 lounge, clasped his hands to
his forehead, declared he had been
poisoned, and ordered all the servants
to be beheaded if lie should die.
Shortly after, he was satisfied that
nothing serious was the matter, and
he went out in the garden to take Il
breath of fresh air He hadn't pro-
cceded far. when lie noticed some one
following him. His follower was be-
tween h:m and the palace, and he
could 10 nothing but depend upon
himself in case of an attack. No maj
ter where he walked, this man fol-
lowed him, so ne sat down to see if the
straggier would venture nearer. But
the man did not; he stood still and
watched.
The King thought that he could
never be attacked if he allowed his
prospective assailant to know that he
was watched. So he shouted for help,
and in an instant dozen servants
were at his side.
That man yonder is following me
to kill mer' he cried. pointing at the
man, who stood near.
.No vour MaipStv hn Is not ~ rc-