The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-03
PERSIAN TALES.
His Nibbs Goes out and Learns a Few
Things.

breakfast and took a walk out into the
country to see what he could see.
that While he was the greatest thing
OH wheels, he had skipped a few things
that might be worth knowing. As he
had dOnned a business suit and looked
Ike an American drummer in the
hardware trade. no one recognized
him, and after an hour he found him
self hVe miles from town and close
upon q peasant who was working by
the roadside.
'1Iy good man" said the king, at
Ter they had passed the time of say
"a -eller with whom I was playing
poker few evenings ago told me that
there was a curious kind Of bird
around this season, and I thought
would come out into the country and
take a look for myself"
Il have noticed no strange bird
about this year" replied The peasant.
what did he say of it2''
1t was a small bird. to begin with
According to what he said 1 should
gay that it was no larger than half my
thumb he said the color was black,
with yellow spots. and that it made a
orOning noise when it flew Have you
kept your eyes open for such bird ?"
have had enough to do to keep
my eyes open for the kings tax coll
lectors, but had there been any such
bird around I am sure that I should
have noticed it. The bird don't sing.
Ell?
'sThe Teller said not. He said it was
p bird that nested in the grass and
made other folks do the singing. He
didn't talk Ike a liar
II can't possibly imagine replied
the peasant, and then a grin spread
over his face. and he continued:
Did this Teller say anything about
the bird biting2'
He said they would have to be han
died carefully"
Then 1 think I know what he
meant. I think you will find a flock
of those very birds in that patch Of
grass over in the meadow. Just kick
around Lively when you get there and
you VIII rout EN- out
The king proceeded to the spot des-
1gnated ana began to stir up the grass
a a great rate. When he had been
q it about two minutes fifty humble
bees rose ND end demanded what he
vas at. and before he could do any
explaining they hoped on to him and
gave him The red-hOttest time of his
life. Not until he had reached the
peasants cottage and had his nine
teen bites p1astered with clay did
lie give way his identity Then he
"Caun. know ye not that am your
bless my soulf" replied the peas
ant and his wife in the same breath.
Aye, your king I am. and for this
little joke I can make you head
shorter Nineteen bites have been ln7
ficted on my sacred person and those
call for nineteen human lives.
But took you for guy, Q blessed
Ruler"
And that's why your head Will con-
finuc to rest on your shoulders. The
Teller who told me about the birds
took me for guy in turn took you
for one; you butted in and thought 7
was fair game and stacked me UP
against q humble bees nest. For tri-
fling with the dignity Of your king
sentence YOU to decapitation for be-
ing a joker I remit the sentence.
may also add that after this I shall
know the difference between a humble
bee and a bird. 7 will now toddie
along and see what else new I can
tumble across.
Having travelled along for two miles
further the king came upon a persin-
mon tree by the roadside loaded With
green frlit.
Now. what honest. considerate sub
jects I have." he exclaimed as he
gazed at the fruit. Here is a tree
loaded with fruit and standing on the
public highway, and yet no man has
robbed it. Tt is because the yield be-
longs to the crown and no man would
rob me. Those are the kind Of peo-
pie it makes a man proud to rule over
Az that moment a man driving a
laden ass on his way to market came
along and was passing with a nod
when the king halted him to ask:
Friend, dOst not observe this we'll
laden tree2"
Aye, DO.
"'Tis a kings tree. I should say"
Fright you are
'But hast no desire to pluck Of the
fru It to refresh thyself?"
f'Not that I know Of"
And it's because what belongs to
the king is sacred2"
aye, It's that"
But I have no such feeling" con-
tinued the king. See? bend down
this branch and pluck Of the fruit and
eat
The fruit was green, and as the
kings mouth was drawn into a quicker
for the next two minutes the owner
of the ass leaned against the fence
and laughed until the tears came.
'Why laughest thOu2" demanded
the king when he could make use OF
his mouth again
ITO see YOU cEaw on green per-
simmOn. Say, it was good as circus.
a thousand men might pass here at
this season and not pluck the fruit
A month hence. king or no king, the
tree viii be stripped in a day
"Knowest who ] am ?" asked the
king as he drew himself up
you may belong to some baseball
team but a man who don't know a
green persimmon from ripe one
cant amount to much. Try another.
7 want to see that quicker work again
'S'death, man am your king.
"Then am doomed cried the
poor man as he fell on his knees and
cIasped his hands in duplication.
''TVeu as you have insulted your
king I shall sentence you to death, but
as your king is more ignorant than
the ass you are driving shall also
pardon you. The latter is on condi-
ton. however. that never, under any
circumstances. do you-
II shall be mum, o Ruler am
working for my head, you know
The king passed on with his mouth
irving to draw itself on his left shout
der. and at the end Of another mile
he reached a peasants cottage and
= y. = :.