The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-01-24
single TAX DEPARTMENT.
THE DEVIL 70 IN.

Inc klng was puZZleus Tor MS CfeoS-
ury was empty, and be knew not how to
fllit While he pondered this mighty
question of state, tho devil came to him,
not in a dream, but in sober earnest
And the devil, as is his habit, went ct
once to business.
lyon arc in trouble. sir, (" said he t.
the King; s'silall help you out Of sit?"
mo, thank you," replied the King,
you charge too much- for your help I
do not forget that my father is still
working out q debt to you which was
beyond all proportion to your service.
! ''Yes," said tho DEVIL II did charge
the old man about all the traffic would
bear; but have tried to DO 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 qucstion. Your treasury is empty. and
] can Gil it. 1 will mako no conditions
You may command mo freely. What
say your
.'And has the devil turned saint?' the
King inquired.
s'Not by long shot shall got my
pay; though not from you, from your
subjects.
MY subjects be -"
''Stopw interrupted the devil, shat
sentiment is not original with you. 1t
is the motto OF my kingdom, and won't
permit it to be appropriated with inn
punity. Come. what do yon say; shall l
tell you how to fill your trcasury?,
Yes" the King whispered. =
''I'hen, listen All your subjects have
plenty, have they not:7 &
grhey have. There is not poor man
in my kingdom, except myself"
''How DO they get it?'' ~
'''rhey work for it" sea
''Why do you allow them to work."
ut is the command of God 49,"
''silence!v the devil screamed. his face
purple with rage and his tail flashing the
floor of the palace till the air was laden
with sparks.
well, them" gaspcd the frightened
king, 'they would starve if l stopped
them. and what good would that do
me?" 8
1T would do you no good If they
starved" the devil answered, as he gath
cred his tail under his left arm and
opened tho window to let out the sitting
fumes s'But it would do you some good
to charge them for working, wouldn't
its They would pay rather than starve,
eh?"
Good idear' exclaimed tho king.
Il thought So" said the devil. "Now,
suppose you issue proclamation that
no one may work without royal char
ter
''Ycs." the king interrupted, impa-
tiently.
''And then suppose you sell charters to
one man to work in certain territory
and to another man to work in another
territory, and SO on"
Eyes"
"And suppose you allow the owners of
these charters to farm out the privileges
under them.''
"Yoa"
"And suppose you issue no charters
at all for some Of the best territory;
don't you see that you will get a lot Of
ready money from the sale of charters
and have permanent income from the
territory reserved. and be favored with
a 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, he sent for his attorney-gener
and ordered that functionary, on the ba-
sis Of contingent fee. to draft form
of charter. 1t read in substance like
this: Be it known that his pious and |
gracious majesty. Impecunious X. hay-j
ing from love of his faithful subjects
forbidden them to work without his
command, docs now, by these presents.
confer upon his well-beloved Bylighote,
lord Of Towmay tokahn 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 |
o work. as to him may seem best, and |
N such terms as to him may seem just
Signed. scaled, ETC., ETC., etc.
The proclamation caused an uproar |
'mong the people, for the seeding season
vas just opening; but when Lord Byli-
.hote appeared with his charter in Quad, I
uiet was restored and terms were made
Il will give so much year to be allowed |
o work, " said one. and II will give 30
auch, said another And in this way
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