Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-01
Three wolves and n Lamb!
AN ITALIAN STORY.

FH
Translated for the American Telegraph
Three robbers were walking by the roadside
one evening, after a day of proftless anxiety.
g 1t is pity" said one of them, q that we can
do no better than this. | am unwilling to let
day pass without some gain"
oHere is d chance" said another; and as they
looked up they saw on the brow of the hill before
them man riding on donkey, and by string
leading sheep with bell attached to its neck,
Il will steal that Sheep" said the first of the
robbers.
"You cannot, said the second "do you not
perceive the cord and the bell %
Il see them," said the first; "but they pre-
sent no obstacle to me. I'll steal the sheep''
''If you do" said the second, "Ill steal the
donkey"
"What p said the third, I" steal a mans dom
key from under him You cannot
"You will soon know better" said the second.
"Ifyou do" said the third, '.I'll steal all the
clothes the man has upon him, or forfeit my pre-
tensions to professional excellence"
"Bahp said the other two, 'you will attempt
what you cannot accomplish !"
- we VIII see, sdlu tue tnlTu.
The unsuspecting man was plodding along with
out thoughts of injury, when the first robber ap-
preached and cut the cord and bell from the sleeps
neck, and attached the bell to the donkey's tail,
where its jingle continued to be heard.
In due time the man looked behind him to OBJ
serve the condition of his sheep and to his horror
found it was gone In dismay and distress he
appealed to the first person he met, and asked if
he had seen any one with sheep.
Yes" replied the person, q saw man
clambering down the hill side with such q prize;
but thought it was his own"
Hold my donkey for moment" said the
man, and, rs the person did so, he went in the
wrong direction in pursuit Of the robber and his
sheep Finding, however, that his pursuit was
vain, he returned, tired and breathless, to where
he had left his donkey. But 10 it was not there
Sheep and donkey both were stolen from him
Sad and perplexed, he sat down to reflect, and
to grieve over his losses; but soon he heard the
waiing Of some one in distress He listened for
a moment and the sound became more audible.
"What is this 2? he said. ''Can any one be
more miserable than / ?" But the cry of anguish
became louder and still louder. He FASTENED to
the place whence it proceeded and there beheld
man weeping as though there was no comfort
for him.
"What is this, my friend?" said he. " How
arc you afflicted ?"
Alas !" said the man, "I am ruined forever!"
"Ruined!' said he, chow are you ruined?'
81 came to this well for draught of water"
he replied, "and while / drank / let drop
costly gem, and it lies beneath the water"
'sIs that all ?" said he.
CAM" exclaimed the other. at is of great
worth"
$50 it may be, said the honest man but
have lost my sheep and donkey, which was un-
willingly about to sell at the next market town
that might pay off some pressing debts yet
do not idly bewail my loss"
"What is that loss," the other replied, " COM
pared to my loss Of agem worth thousands of
ducats, and without which it would cost me my
life to return to the king my master, who sent
me with it as gift to a royal friend beyond the
seas ?"
"Why do you not go down into the water and
recover it ?" asked the man.
"Alasl' said the other, 81 cafnot swim; /
could only drown"
"Theu / will go down for you" said the good
honest man.
"Will you?" exclaimed the other. "Do so,
and here are four golden pieces for, your pains
more than the sum of all your losses and if you
regain my treasure, l shall forever owe you my
gratitude"
The honest man received the pieces of gold
and placed Shcp in bis pocket, aud then-took off
his clothes and descended into tho water But
s6e,. lon&. and careful search, he o.ne up'out Of
INss1n to ask The stranger on which side his
&nfsS&d fallen; when, 10 HE WAS aoNE and
S1SIpcr couutryman was without sheep, or don