The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-06-22
Misttllanfuns.
From As Lille Pilgrim.
Sherwood Forest and the Story Of Rob
in Hood.
ny GRACE GREENWOOD.

none, indeed, ,ha, we should so call-all
The woods being incloscd in parks, and as
carefully kept as gardens. But as | jou''
neyed through the country, my thoughts SO
went back 10 The old, old times, that al.
mos, expected, whenever we passed a
grove Of trees or shadowy glen, TO be sud-
denly surrounded by Robin Hnod'' merry
men, armed with long bows, aud clad in
Lincoln green. .......
You have all doubtless read many stories
OF Robin Hood but il you will listen to
mine, hope that shall be able 10 tell you
something iha, you have never heard before.
Robert Fitzoo,h, Earl Of Huntingdon, wa,
born a, LoOksley, in the county Of Noting
ham abou, the year 100, in the reign Of
Henry II. He was leh an orphan in his
childhood, and placed under the guardian.
ship Of his uncle, the Abbot Of ST. Mary's
in York. This priest proiessed 10 be a jus'
and holy man; but, as j, often is when
people make grea, preiensions TO pieiy, he
was far enough the other way. In those
days priests were greatly feared and honor
ed, and could do pretty much as they
pleased; so the Abbot Of 81. Mary's who
was hard avaricious man found no diff
Guilty Of taking advantage Of the young Earl
Robert. BY such witty, wicked ways, as
only bad priest know, he took possession Of
all his nophew's estate and revenues, one
after another - pretending that be only
mean, 10 take care Of them, least Robert,
whom he accused Of being wild lad, should
squander them in dissipation. Robert bore
this for while, and tried hard 10 keep on
peaceable terms with his uncle; bu, The
old man was very provoking. He would
81, in The refeciory ofthe old Abbey, at a
dinner-,able loaded with every luxury in
the way Of food, served on massive gold
and silver plates, and with half a dozen
bottles OF good old wine before him, and
then lecture poor Robert upon temperance,
selEdenial, and sober, godly living, till
Robert would smile grimly, and play with
the hil, OF his dagger in way that the ven.
erable Abbot did not like.
When the Earl of Huntington came Of
age, there was no, handsomer or more
gallant young man among all the nobility
and yeomanry Of England. Hc was tall,
straight, and athletic, with aquick bound
Ing step, and brave broad breast. He had
a commanding, but pleasant voice, and a
hearty smile, clear homes, eyes, ruddy
cheeks aud lips, and his head, which he
held rather haush,ily, was crowned with
Iigh, brown curls. Though belonging 10 q
proud and aris,ocraiic family, who, in ,rac.
ing their noble pedigree, could go back,
back, ill, for all know, they los, them.
sleeves and their reckoning in the iogs oi The
firs, morning aier the deuge-Rober, was
no aris,ocra,. He sympa,ized with the
common people, in ,ha, day shameiully i'm
posed upOn-,asked and ,yranized over by
the bad barons and hard hearted priests
He joined in all their meuy.makings, ihei
manly and warlike exercises. He becam,
so skillful with his bow. that j, is said he
sent an arrow the distance Of mile. From
among his friends he selected four comrade,
John Nailor, whom he nick-named Lit
lie John Georgia. Green, Muck, miller,
son, and ajolly friar called Tuck-,he only
prizes, Robert could ever abide.
One day small sprig Of nobility, one
Sir Roger, OF Doncas,er, saw him minglin!
with the homes, yeoman in their sports. an,
sneered a, his vulgar tastes. Robert reptile,
by challenging him to a shooting MATCH
Sir Roger. arrow missed the target alioge,h
er, and stuck fas, ], The trunk ola tree som,
distance further on. Robert took aim a
this shafi and spill, j, clean up the middle.
Then all the yeoman shouted and laughed,
and Sir Rogers was so enraged that he wa
foolish enough 10 accep, second challenge
to wrestling match. in which Earl Rober
threw him so ohen that he never felt fairl,
on his legs, bu, seemed TO be bumpin!
agains, the ground. AT las: his sense
were quite bumped on, Of him, and he lal
stiff and sill. Earl Robert revived him ant
J helped him up-but he was mortified ant
sullen and ever after had mean, bite
} spite agains, his brave conqueror.
I, was no, long amer Robert came Of az
before he became convinced that il wa
vain 10 hope TO ge, his property ou, Of III
close clutch Of his revrend relative. Their
r was no use in his appealing 10 the King
|. Henry u, was now dead, and Richard, call
ed The l;on-hear,ed," had ascended III
throne. But in short time he leit the gov
eminent in the care Of Hugh Pudsey, Bish
on Of Durham, while he wen, on n cruis
= to the Holy Land to figh; the Saracens an,
no sooner was his back TUNED than III
,reacherous bishop usurped all the powe
J, and dignity ofa monarch, and taxed an,
tyrannized TO his hearts content.
So, getting desperate. Earl Robert calle,
Q together the braves, ofhis friends, threw u
5 his lille, assumed the name Of Robin Hood
and took TO the forest, where he led iron
Z ,ha, time daring and dangerous bu, ii
4 indepcndan, and merry life. I know ii i
. quite too la'e TO think Of making my her,
ori good homes, man, though Mr. Abbc
has done wonders in iha, way, for Bona
. parie for long, long ago II go, noise'
about ,ha, Robin Hood was robber and n
, outlaw. Bu, in those days, when king
, robbed. and barons robbed, and priests rob
bed wors, OF all, the thieving business wa
good deal more respectable than il is now
Z and the only difference between Robii