Chronicles of the King.

Northland Age, Volume VIII, Issue 32, 29 March 1912, Page 5

Chronicles of the King.

CHAPTER 11. (Contributed.) Now the King who ruled over the land of Patricius was paying tribute to a much greater Monarch whose name was Josephus even as was his own. In the latter days of his reign the King had greatly alienated the feelings of his subjects and it was whispered that his nobles only allowed him to retain the sceptre under a promise of abdication. Being however a wary old Monarch he had fixed the date of his abdication for the “ Greek kalends,” corresponding in these days to 30th February. Now as the King was in sore straits —for his people had not of late paid him taxes on their food supplies, as had been their wont—he cast his thoughts towards obtaining some high office in the land of his ruler Josephus the Great, and to .this snd ha called together his people of high standing and said unto them : “ Yerily let us bow down and worship Josephus the Great by whose breath we live, and inscribe upon tablets his many virtues. “ I and my Chief Justioe will sign our names, and so shell Josephus the Great remember

that I exist, and perohance he may be grateful with a substantial gratitude.”

And the men of high standing said: “It shall be even as you command, O King.” And they filled many tablets with the reoord of the virtues of Josephus.

Now these meu were oalled “ Liberals ” and, their liberality having exhausted the contents of their coffers, they began to despair when calculating the cost of the messenger carrying the tablets, when again spoke the wily King: “Yerily in the oity where dwelleth Josephus the Great there also resideth a oertnin scribe who colleoteth all the tablets whioh are written and many that are not written and sheweth the contents to the people upon parchment. This scribe will pay the messenger, and so shall Josephus the Great see our message and be grate ful.”

And it was even as the King said, for Josephus the Great saw the message and sent a special messenger to the King to express his gratitude. And his people paid the messenger with a large payment. And the soul of the King was comforted, aDd he laid him down and waited, for he said : “ Cast the bread of others upon the waters and it may rsturn to thee after many days.”