Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-02-09


running out to catch 1t.
Yes. the Squire saw il running too
"Oh, let il run" said he. there's no use
in thinking to catch hare BY running
after H."
A little while after, the youth let the
second hare go. and they saw it in the
kitchen. and thought it was the same they
had seen before. and still wanted to run
out and catch it, but the Squire said
again it was no use. 1t wasnot long be
! fore the youth let the third hare GO, and
it set off and ran round the yard as the
others before it. Now. they saw it from
the kitchen and still thought it was the
same hare tina; kept Oh running about,
and were all eager to be out after it.
We'll, it is fine hare" said the
Squire; "come let's see if we can't lay
our hands on it,
So out he ran, and they after, so that
it was rare fun TO see. But meantime
the youth took the roast and ran off with
il, and where the Squire got a roas;
for his dinner that day. don't know; but
one thing | know. and that is, that he
had no roast hare. though he ran after ii
till he was both warm and weary.
Now it chanced that the Priest came
to dinner that day. and when the Squire
told him what a trick the Master Thief
had played him. he made such game OF
him tha. there was no end TO it.
"For my part" said the Priest. 81
| don't think how it could ever happen to
me to be made such fool of by fellow
; like that
Very weil--only keep sharp look
out" said the Squire; "may be he'll
come TO see you before you know a word
of it." But the Priest stuck TO his text,
that he did. and made game Of the Squire
because he had been SO taken in.
Later in The afternoon came the Mas
ter Thief. and wanted TO have the Squire S
daughter, as he Rad given his word. Bu,
the Squire began to talk him over. and
said, "Oh. you must first prove your skill
a little more; for what you did to dav
was no great thing. after all. Couldn
you now play off good tIick or the
Priest. who Is sitting in there. making
game of me for letting such fellow as
you twist me round his thumb"
well. as for that. il wouldn't be
hard" said :he Master Thief. So he
dressed himself up like bird, threw a
great white sheet over his body. took the
wings ola goose and tied them to his
back. end SO climbed up into a great ma :
pie that stood in the Priests garden
And when the Priest came home in the
evening. the youth began to bawl out:
Father Laurence! Father Laurence!'
! for that was the Priests name.
WHO is that calling me?" said the
Priest.
Il am an angrl." said the Master Thief.
'sent from God to let you know you
shall be taken up alive into Heaven for
your piety's sake. Next Monday you
must hold yourself ready for the journey.
for | shall come then TO fetch you in a
sack; and all your gold and you, silver,
and all that you have of this world s
goods. you must lay together in heap liz
your dining-rocEn.
Well. Father Laurence fell on his knees
before the angel. and thanked him; and
the very next day he preached a farewell
sermon. and expounded how there had
come down an angel unto the big maple
IN his garden. was to be taken up alive
into Heaven for his piety's sake; and he
preached and made such touching dis
course. that all who were at church wept,
both young and old.
So he Monday after. came the Master
Thief like an angel again. and the Priest
fell on his knees and thanked him before
he was put into the sack; but when he
had got him we'll in, the Master Thief
drew and dragged him over stocks and
stones.
"ow owl groaned the Priest inside
the sack. "wherever are we going!"
This is the narrow way which lead
eth unto the kingdom of Heaven" said
the Master Thief. who went on dragging
him along until he had nearly broken ev
cry bone in his body. At last he tum-
blrd him into goose house that belonged
TO the Squire. and the geese began peck
ing and pinching him with their bills, SO
that he was more dead than alive.
Now you are In the flames Of purga-
tory. to be cleansed and purified for life
everlasting" said the Master Thief; and
with that he went his way, and took all
the gold and silver. and all the fire things
which the Priest had laid together in his
dining room. The next morning when
the goose girl came to let the geese out.
she heard how the Priest lay in the sack.
and bcmoaned himself in the goose.
house.
'Oh!" said the Priest. "if you are an
angel from Heaven. do let me out, and
let me return again to earth. for il is
worse here than in hell The little fends
keep on pinching me with tongs."
God help US. am no angel at ALL"
said the girl as she let the Priest out of
the sack. "I only lnok a ffar the Ccu;re's