Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-06-02
gelsrtth Misrtllany
Sherwood Forest and the Story OF
Robin Hood.
by GRACE GREENWOOD.

l have said that Newstead Abbey stood
in the heart of old Sherwood Forest
This you will remember, was the iavorite
domain of that prince of outlaws, Robin
Hood. There is little forest land about
there now--none, indeed, that we should
so call-all the woods being incloscd in
parks, and as carefully kept as gardens
But as IjourneyeG through the country my
thoughts went back to the old old time,
that | almost expected, whenever we pass
ed grove oftrees or shadowy glen, to
be suddenly surrounded By Robin Hoods
merry men, armed with long bows, and
and clad in Lincoln green.
You have all doubtless read many sto-
ries of Robin Hood; but if you will listen
to mine hope that shall be able to tell
you something that you have never heard
before.
Robert Fitzooth, Earl of Huntingdon,
was born at Locksley, in the county of
Nottingham about the year 11G0, in the
reign of Henry IL. lie was left an or
phan in his childhood and placed under the
guardianship of his uncle, the Abbot of
St. Mary's in York. This priest profess
ed to be just and holy man; but as it Of
ten is when people make great pretentions
to piety. he was far enough the other way
In those days, priests were greatly feared
and honorcd, and could do pretty much as
they pleased; so the Abbot of st. Mays
who was hard avaricious man, found no
difficulty in ntaking advantages ofthc young
Earl Robert. By such willy, wicked ways,
as only bad priests know, he took posses
sion of all his ncphcw's estates and reve-
nues, one after another-prctending that
he only meant to take care of them. lest
Robert, whom he accused of being wild
lad should squander thea in dissipation
Robert bore this for awhile and tried hard
to keep on peaceable terms with his uncle;
but the old man was very provoking
He would sit in the rcfectory of the old
Abbey, at dinner-tablc loaded with ev-
cry luxury in the way of food served on
massive gold and silver plate and with
half dozen bottles Of good old wine be-
fore him, and then lectured poor Robert
upon temperance, sclf-denial, and sober,
godly living till Robert would smile grim
ly, and play with the hilt of his dagger
an a way that the venerable Abbot did not
dixie.
When the Earl Of Huntingdon came of
age, there was not handsomer or more
gallant young man among all the nobility
and yeomanry of England He was tall,
straight, and athletic, with quick bound
ing step, and brave broad breast. He
had commanding but pleasant voice, a
hearty smile, clear honest eyes, ruddy,
cheeks and lips, and, his head, which he
held haughtily, was crowned with light
brown curls. Though belonging to a
proud and aristecratic family, who, in ira
cling their'neble pedigree, could go back,
back, till, for all know, they lost them
selves and their reck oning in the fogs Of
the first morning after the deluge---Robert
was no aristocrat. He sympathizcd with
the common people, in that day shameful
ly imposed upon--taxed and tyranized
over by the bad barons and hard d-hearted
priest. He joined in all their mreryma-
kings, their manly and warlike exercises
He became so skillful with his bow, that
it is said he frequently sent an arrow the
distance of a mile. From among his
friends he selected four comrades-John
Nailor, whom henick-named Little John
George Green, Muck, millers son, and
ajolly friar called Tuck-the only priest
Robert could ever abide.
One day small sprig of nobility, one
Sir Roger, of Doncaster saw him ming
ling with the honest yeoman in theirsports
and sneered at his vulgar tastes. Robert
reptile by challenging him to shooting
match. Sir. Rogers arrow missed the
target altogether, and stuck fast in the
rink Of u tree some distance further on.--