The Globe-republican., 1890-11-12
SINGLE TAI DEPARTMENT.
THE DEVIL TO PAY.

And the devil, IS is his habit, went at
once to business.
"You are in trouble. sir said he to
the King; shall help you out of i:?"
NO. thank yoa." replied the King.
you charge too much for your help. 1
do not forget that my father is still
working ont debt to you which was
beyond all proportion TO your service
''Yes," said the devil. Il did charge
the cid man about all the traffic would
bear: but have tried to be considerate,
and although he is still working out the
debt. let me assure you that his position
is the most comfortable in winter. in
all my dominions. But that is beside
the question. Your treasury is empty, and
can fill it. will make no conditions.
You may command me freely. What
say your
And has the devil turned saint"' the
King inquired.
Not by long shot shall get my
pay: though not from you, from your
subjects
My subjects be -"
stop" interrupted the devil. that
sentiment is not original with you. II
is the motto of my kingdom. and l won
permit it to be appropriated with i'm
punity. Come. what do you say; shall
tell you how TO fill your treasury
YES" the King whispered
''Then, listen. All your subjects have
plenty, have they not?'
"They have. There is not 4 poor man
in my kingdom. except myself"
"How do they get it"'
''They work for it."
"Why do you allow them to work."
ut is the command of God -
''Silence- the devil screamed. his face
purple with rage and his tail flashing the
floor of the palace till the air was laden
with sparks.
We'll. then" gasped the frightened
king. they would starvc if l stopped
them, and what good would that do
me?'
1T would do you no good il they
starved" the devil answered. rs he gath
cred his tail under his left arm and
opened the window to let out the sitting
fumes. but it would DO you some good
10 charge them for working. wouldn' t
it? They would pay rather than starve,
ch?"
Good idear exclaimed the king.
Il thought So" said the devil. Now,
, suppose you issue q proclamation that
| no one may work without royal char
ter"
YES" the king interrupted, impa
| tiently.
And then suppose you sell charters &c
one man to work in a certain territory
and to another man to work in another
territory, and so on.
YES"
And suppose you allow the owners OF
these charters to farm out the privileges
under them
Yes"
"And suppose you issue no charters
at all for some of the best territory:
don't you see that you will get lot OF
ready money from the sale of charters
and have permanent income from the
territory reserved, and be favored with
wealthy leisure class in whose society
you may enjoy yourself?
Capital exclaimed the King, but
before the word was out of his mouth
the devil had vanished.
The King lost no time. Having is
sued his proclamation forbidding his be-
loved subjects to weary themselves with
work, ne sent for his attorney general
and ordered that functionary, on the ba-
of charter. 1t read in substance like
this: Be it known that his pious and
gracious majesty, Impecunious y. hav-
ing from love of his faithful subjects
forbidden them to work without his
command, does now, by these presents,
confer upon his wellbeloved Bylighote,
lord of Towmaytokahn hill, his heirs
and assigns forever, full power and au-
thority to permit the good people of all
that territory known as Quad, and
bounded. etc, etc. etc, to work or not
to work. as to him may seem hest. and
on such terms as to him may seem just.
Signed, sealed. etc, etc, etc.
The proclamation caused an uproar
among the people. for the seeding season
was just opening; but when Lord Byli-
ghote appeared with his charter in Quad.
quiet was restored and terms were made
Il will give so much year to be allowed
to work" said one, and Il will give so
much, said another. And in this way
it went. until Lord Byligho.e had ar
ranged with all the people in his terri
tory. And while Lord Bylighote was
adjusting things in Quad. Lord This and
Lord That and Lord Tother we're doing
the same in Guam and Quinn and Qurl.
And SO it was that the Kings treasury
vas full from the sale of charters. and
the Lords, instead of working as they
used to do. lived on what the people
paid them for the privilege of being al
lowed 10 work. while the Attorney Gem
erals contingent fee was big enough 10
make a shyster respectable. And be-
tween them the King. the Lords and the
Attorney General enjoyed their leisure
amazingly.
But as the Kings subjects increased
great many could not buy the right to
work and had TO hire themselves to