Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-29
An Ingenious Horse Stealer.

AT one time Bunce was benighted at
Branyard, in Hertfortshire, and being
ueSUitute OF money, he was at consider
aole loss. But a fertile invention is q
necessity qualification in deceiver. and
Stephens was acquiring considerable
strength lie called at the parson s door.
and requested the maid to tell her master
that stranger wished to have the honor
fspeaking with him. When the clergy
man made his appearance, Stephen in an
eloquent and affecting tone, informed him
that he was poor student from Oxford.
going home to his friends, and, as he was
benlghted, he entreated that he would
afford him the friendly aid of his roof for
one night. The generous-hearted parson
being pleased with his appearance and
pittying his distress. kindly let him in and
entertained him according to his ability.
when stephen was taking his leave for
the night he, with no small degree of
modest respect requested that he might be
permitted to give the parson a sermon in
the morning, the next day being Sunday.
As, In general, no clergyman has anv
great objection to day of rest. the par
son willingly accepted of his offered SER
vice. The morning came and the hour of
divine service arrived, the young student
was equipped in the parsons gown and
cassockS: ahd, as it was about O mile 10
the church hewaS mounted on the parsons
horse while the latter with his wife and
family went nearer path through the
field. When his reverence came to the
church every one was Scraping and bow
ing, and inquirng why he was without
his canonical robes on the day of sacred
duty. He soon relieved them of their
anxiety by informing them that a young
gentleman of the university of Oxford
would be there presently and would
preach for him that day.
They waited for some time, then COM
menced divine service; the prayers were
now ended, and the last psalm sung, but
no preacher appeared. In short, not to
detain our readers with long narrative,
they waited until noon : the congregation
went home without a sermon. and the
parson without his robes and his horse,
while Bunce was by this time far ad-
vanced on his journey, employing the
horse to carry a thiefinstead of a parson.
Upon another day, Stephen was going
about seeking whom he mi ght make lighter
on their Journey, he saw gentleman, we'll
mounted upon gelding, and, going into
the road along which he was to ride, he
Ia L;.-r~le III -lo.>4. ~ e~..e,,,I NTH h;,
ear to it. When the gentleman came up
to him he asked the reason of such
unusual conduct. Stephen held up his
hand to him, Signifying his desire that he
should be silent but the gentleman being
of a hasty temper, cried, What a pox
are you listening to g. Upon this Stephen
sat up, saying, "Oh, dear sir, I have
often heard great talk of the fairies, but
| could never have the faith to believe
that there was ever any such thing in ma
ture, till now, in this very place, hear
such raviShing and melodiouS harmony
of all kinds Of music, that it is enough to
charm me to sit here, if possible, to all
eternity" Curiosity, this active princi-
pie m the human mind, inclined the gem
tleman to alight from his horse to hear
the enchanting music. Having reached
the ground, he gave his gelding to Stephen
to hold during his interview with the
fairies. Then applying his ear to the
ground, he said, Il can hear nothing"
Bunce desired him to turn the other ear.
This being done, and his face turned away
from him, Bunce leaped into the saddle,
and rode off with his gelding at full speed,
until he came to Runford.