Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1857-11-12
ylltetesting Storb,
THE
|GREEN HU.NTSMAN.

|GREEN HU.NTSMAN.
A brave old knight, who had four
grown-up sons, and but very small pat
rimony to bequeath to them, thus ad.
dressed the young men, as he lay on his
death-bed &c My sons, have but little
to leave you besides an honorable name,
which I hopo you will transmit unspotted
to your children; but in place of more
substantial worldly goods I can at least
tell you secret by which you may enrich
yourselves"
His four sons looked surprised, and ev.
identity thought their fathers wits were
wandering.
81 guess what you're thinking" re.
sumed the old knight; you are wondering
why, if am possessed OF such knowledge
| never turned it to account for my own
profit. But sons, my prime. of life was
spent in warfare, and / had no time to
tempt adventures; and later, grew in.
different to riches as far as regards my
self; but you, my children, who have q
long life before you, you may go and seek
the treasure I alluded to. First Of all,
however, promise me you will share it
equally between you, as brothers should,
whatever be its amount"
The Oldest son made rather wry face
at this, as he considered himself entitled
to the whole; still, as promises cost moth
ing, and as he knew his father would be
capable of dying with his secret in his
bosom if he refused to do as he required;
and as, after all, a quarter OF treasure
is better than none at all, he swore to
follow the old knights injunctions. The
three younger brothers took the same en-
gagement without a moments hesita-
tion.s
.'WeIl, them resumed the father, "thsre
is forest three days journey hence, where
treasure is said to have lain buried for
centuries beneath a tree. This tree, an
aged oak, stands in the heart of the for
est, and to reach it, you must thread your
way through an avenue of heavy juniper
trees, where the woodsman's axe has new
er resounded. This will guide you to the
spot; and as for the oak itself, you will
recognize, its branches are withered, ex
cept one. You must choose the moment
when the moon is at the full, as it is to-
night, and at the spot where your horses
hoofs will strike the ground as you ap-
proach the right tree, there may you be-
gin to dig.
Eric that was the oldest sony looked
wishfully towards the window, as though
he would fain have set off at once for the
wood; when his father, as if guessing his
thoughts added:
Zone thing more, my children, is nee
essary or else the charm will fall" Here
the old mans voice grew weaker, and it
seemed doubtful whether he would be
able to say before death overlook him.
Then, making an effort and looking affec-
tionately at Harold, his youngest son,
and the only one whose eyes were mois-
tened with tears, and in whom sense of
duty rose above all covetous desire for
wealth, he continued, Unless you ap.
proach the tree with o heart pure from
sin, you will risk" But here the King
of Terrors interrupted the worthy knight,
cutting short the thread Of his life and
speech at one and the same moment, and
the close of the sentence was lost in the
death rattle.
Scarcely was the good old knight bu-
ried, than Eric bethought he would has.
ten away to the wood, which he hoped to
reach while the moon was still in the full
before any of his brothers gotwind of his
intention. So he rose in, the middle Of
the night and saddled his, horse, and con-
cealing agtrowel under his mantle, rode
off in the direction of the wood, to secure
the treasure for himself alone. He had
however, reckoned without his host. His
second brother, Baldwin, who was equal
" rapacious with himself, had hit upon
the same expedient for outwitting the 9th
ers; and having provided himself with 9
mattock presently overlook him on the
road. The recognition was not agreea
BILE to either; still as there was no help
flor it, the brothers agreed to divide the
treasure among their two selves after they
had dug it up and carried it to aplace
of safety, where the others would not BIZ
able to find it.
They had not long agreed upon tht
terms, when they heard horse gallopine
behind them, and, after pretty SHARP
race, were joined by Guy, who, spade il
hand, was busted on the same errand. -
The three brothers smiled grimly wher
they recognized the congeniality of thu
inward workings Of their minds and now
agreed, since it must be SO, to divide the
treasure into three parts, and Illustrate
Youngest brother Of his share. q
Meanwhile, the neighing of Guy horse
hadiawoke Harold out of his sleep, ans
on looking out Of the window, he caughi
sight ef his brothers mantle nuttering il
the wind as he galloped away in the di
rection Of the wood, Thinking it strange
Ehe had left the house thus secretly, be raj
- Il. u. L 80. -. & 4 49, =