The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-07

too quick, and so we went over, and
as we were going through the park
we saw an old man in citizens clothes,
sitting on a bench, patting the head
of a boar hound, and when he saw
us he said, Come here, Uncle Sam,
and let my dog chew your pants
Dad thought it must be some lun-
attic, and was going to make a sneak
and get out, when the man rose up
and we saw it was the king, and we
went up to him and sat down on the
bench, and he asked dad if he had
come as a relative of the opera singer,
to commence suit against the king for
breach of promise, or to settle for q
money consideration. remarkirg that
he had always rather pay cash than
to have any fuss made about these
little ma tiers Dad told him he had
no claim against him for alternating
anybody's affections, or for breach of
promise, and that all he wanted was
to find out how a king lived, and
how he had any fun in running the
king business, at his age, and they
sat down and began to talk as friendly
as two old chums, while the dog
played tag with me- We found the
king was a regular boy, and that in
stead Of his mind being occupied by
affairs of state. or his African conces-
sions with Congo country where he
owns a few million slaves who steal
ivory for him. and murder other
tribes. he was enjoying life just as
he did when he was q farefoOted boy.
fishing for perch at the old-mill pond,
and when he mentioned his career
as boy, and his enjoyments, dad told
about his youth, and how he never
got SO much pleasure in after life rs
he did when he had a stone bruse
on his heel, and went off into the
woods and cut a tamarark pole and
caught sunfish til. the cows came
home.
The king frightened up and told
dad he had a pond in the palace
grounds, stocked with old fashioned
fish. and every day he took off his
shoes and rolled up his pants, and
with nothing on but a shirt, and pants
held up by one suspender of striped
bed ticking, he went out in a boat
and fished as he did when boy, with
a bent pin for a hook, and he was
never so happy as when so engaged,
and they could all have their grand
functions and balls and dinners and
Turkish baths, if they wanted them,
but give him the old swimming hole.
Me, too said dad, and as dad
looked down into the park he saw a
little lake, and dad held up two fling
to say, Come on, let's go in SWIM
ming" and the king said, I'll go
YOU" and they locked arms and
started through the woods to the lit
tie lake. and the dog and I followed.
Well, sir, you'd dide to see dad
and Leopold make rush for that
swimming place. The king put his
hand in the wafer, and said it was
fine, and began to peel his clothes off,
and dad took off his Clothes and the
king made a jump and went in all
over, and came up with his eyes full |
of water, strangling because he did |
not hold his nose. and then dad made |
a leap and splashed the water like an
elephant had fallen in, and there those |
two old men were in the lake. just like |
kids.
I'll swim you a match to the other
side" said the king. Its a 60" said |
dad. and they started porpoising across |
the little lake, and then ! thought it !
was time there was something doing, |
so [ got busy and tied their clothes in !
knots so tight you couldn't get them |
united without an act of parliament. |
They went ashore on the opposite side
of the lake, cause some women were |
driving through the grounds. and then |
| found a flock of goats grazing on the |
lawn, and the dog and l drove them |
to where the clothes were tied in |
knots, and when the goats began to |
chew the clothes | took the dog and
went back to where the clothes and !
the goats were. and when they drove |
the goats away and couldn't unite the |
knots. the king gave the grand hailing |
sign of distress, or something, and the |
guards of the palace and some cavalry |
came on the run, and the park seemed |
filled with an army. and | bid the dog |
goodbye and went back to the hotel |
alone, and waited for dad.
Dad didn't get back till after dark. |
and when he came he had on a suit of
the kings clothes. too tight around the |
stomach and too long in the legs. |
cause dad is pussy. and the king is
long geared.
did you have good time, dad?'' |