Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-12-01


robbed them, he shared his savory
booty with the poor. and fed them BY
his daring. Like Robin Hood of old
: he avenged himself on vanton wealth
aud frequently redressed by it the
wrongs Of penury. Not that | intend
TO break a lance for either Of them. mol
to go any lengths in excusing; slight
extenuation Is the limit for prudent
advocacy in these cases. Robin Hood
, and Benjamin Burke were both Of them
thieves; bold men; bad men. If any
will insist upon the bad; they sinned
against law, and order, and Providence;
they dug rudely at the roots Of social
institutions; they spoke and acted in a
dangerous fashion about rights Of men
and community OF things. But set
aside the statutes of Foresting aad We
merry, disfranchise pheasants. let it be
a cogent thing that poverty and riches
Iapproaeh the golden mean somewhat
LESS unequally, aud we shall not 6nd
much of criminality, either in Ben or
Robin.
For a general idea, then. of our
poaching friend:-he is n gigantic,
black.whiskered, humorous. ruddy
mortal. full Of strange oaths. which we
really aust not print, and bearded like
the pard. and he tumbles in amongst
our family party. with
BLESS your honest heart, Roger;
what makes you look. so sodden? I'm
a lord. il your eyes ant as red as u
hedge-hog's; and all the rest o you,
too; why, you seem to be pretty well
merry rs mutes. Hal | see what II
is." added Ben. pouring forth bene-
diction on their frugal supper; "its
that precious belly-ache porridge that's
a giving You all the 'liensy. Tip it
down the sink, dame. will you now,
and trust to me for better. Your Tom
here. Roger. s lad o mettlc. that he
is; ay and that old iron O. yours rs
true as a compass; and the pheasants
would como to il. all the same as ii
they'd been loadstoned. Here, dame,
pluck the fowl. will you: drop 'em,
Tom"
And Thomas Acton flung upon the
table couple Of fine cock pheasants.
Roger, Mary. and Grace. who were
well accustomed to Ben Burke's elo-
quent TRADES. heard the end Of this
one with anxiety and silence; for Tom
had never done the like before. Giace
was first TO expostulate. but was at
once cut short by an oath from her
brother. whose evident state Of high
excitement could not brook tho sem
blance Of reproof. Mary Acton's
marketing glance was absiraetedly
fixed upon the actual corpus delicti;
each fine plump bird. full-plumaged.
young-spurred; yes. they were still
warm, and would eat tender. so she
mechanically began to pluck them;
while, as for poor downcast Roger, he
remembered, with aconscience-sting
that almost made him start, his stolen
bit OF money in the morning--so, how
could he condemn? He only looked
pityingly on Thomas, and sighed from
tie bottom Of his heart.
"Why. what's the matter now?"
rorcd Ben; "one'ud think VIC was
bailiffs come to raise the rent. 'stead Of
son Tom and friendly Ben; hang it,
nun, We amt here to cheatyou out O.
not out o. peace o mind !
neither; so, If you don't like luck, burn I
the fowls. or bury 'em. and let brave !
Tom risk limbo for nothing"
"0h, Benz" murmured Grace, "'why |
will you lead him astray? o, brotherl I
brotherl what have you doneY" she |
said. sorrowfully.
"Miss Grace;''' her beauty always
awed the poacber. and his rugged Ca.
liban spirit bowed in reverence before
her Ariel soul; 81 wish ! was rs good I
as you, but can't be: don't condemn
us. Grace; ;:leastways, first hear me. and
then say where's the harm or sin on il.
Twelve hundred head O. game--I
heard John Gorse, the keeper. tell II al
the Jerry--twclye hundred head were
shot at tothcr days battew: Sir John
mo blame to him for ii-killed n
couple O. hundred to his own gun; and
though they sent away coachful, and
gave to all who asked. and feasted
chuckfull. and fed the cats.
and all. still u mound, like haycock.
o. them fne fat fowl rotlcd in a mass,
and were flung upon tho dungpit-
Now, Miss Grace. that ere saltpea-por-
ridge Amt nice, ain't wholesome; and,
bless your pretty mouth, Il ought TO
feed more sweelly. Look at Acton.
isn't ho halC-staryed? Is Tom. brave
boy. full O. tho iat o The land?-
Who made fowl. should like to know,
and us to eat emf And where's the
harm or SIN in bringing down bird?
No. Miss, them ere breaks. dammem
(beg humble pardon, Miss. indeed
WON'T again. )-them ere justices. rs
they call themselves, make hard laws
to hedge about their own pleasures;
and il the poor man starves, he staves;
but II he stays his hunger with the
free. wild birds Of heaven, they pris-
on him aud punish him, and call him
Poacher."
"Ben, those who make the laws. do
so under Gods permission; and they |
who break mans law, break His
Law.
Nonsense. hild."-suddenly said |
Roger; "hold your silly tongue. Do
you mean to tell us, Gods law aud |
mans law are the same thing! No.
Grace, | can't stomach that; God /
makes right and man makes might
riches go ono way, and poor mems
wrongs another Money, moneys the