Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-07-31
VOLUME "a, NO. SO.

ever.
"Iutotu - said one, and shiyered and
SHOOK.
"Hutetu - said the old woman, and
shiyercd 50 that every tooth in her head
chattcred. Then she pulled out tho flask
Of brandy, and her hand shook 90 tha'
the spirit splashod abou, in the aask, and
then she took such gulph, aat it went
" bop" in her throat
"What is that you've got in your flask.
old girl 90 said one Of the grooms.
"Oh! it's only a drop u brandy, old
man." said she.
Brandy Well, | never DO let me
have drop" screamed the whole twelve,
one after another.
"Oh but il is such little drop" mum
blcd the old woman, sit will not even wet
your mouths round" but they must and
would have IL there was no help for it;
aud 50 she pulled out the aa'k with ths
sleeping drink in it, and put il to the first
mans lips then she shook no more, but
guided the flask 80 that each OF them 60!
what they wanted, and the twelfth had not
done drinking before the frst at and snoroi.
Then the Master Thief threw Of his beggar's
rags, and took one groom after the other 50
softly oG their horses, and set them astrido
ON the beams between the stalls aud 80 ho
called hi, eleven men, aud rode OF with tho
Squir,'s twelve horses.
But when the Squire got up in tho morn
in. and went 70 look after his grooms, they
had just begun 70 come to and some Of
them fsll 10 spurrng tho beams with their
spurs, ull the splintsrs hew again, and souo
fell OF. aud some still hung on, and sas
there looking ike fools.
+ "Ho, Eo,' said the squire 81 SEQ very
we'll who has been hero but as iOr you.
pretty set Of blockhcad' You must be to st
hero and let tho Master ThiCfstcal the horses
from between your legs."
- they all so, a good Gathering because
.hcy bad not kept a sharper lookout.
Further on IN the day came tho Master
Thief again, aud told how ho had managed
the matter, anl asked for the Squiro's
daughter. a. hs hal promiscI' but tho
squire CAV, him one hundred dollars down.
and sad be- must Il, something better still.
"p5 you think now - said he, "you cia
steal the horse from uni5r mo while am
out riding on hi- bask?"
80. yes darc,ly could" said the
Master thief, "ii twc'o really suro OF got
ting your daughter
Wei, we'll. III, Slnirr would -, what h,
could do; and hc told the Master ThiefA
DAY when hc w5nli b, taking a rid, on
,rrat common whcr, they drilled the troops.
$, the Master Thief s',n sotholl Of worn
out i.I, OF a mare, auI set - work AMI
mad, traces AMI collar or withc' anl broom
twis,. and bought an old be:strly cart ani
"a ,rrat ca,k. After that b., said u an oil
ber,nr woman, that h5 would give her ten
dollar. II sho would get in tho cask, and
keep her mouth a-,pe o,er the tapholc, into
which hs was going 70 stick h' finger. No
harm should happen to her she should
only be driven about little and IL h' took
hi. finger on, more than once, she wa, n
have ten dollars more. Then he threw 4
. r,y, ra-s and tat,srs over himself and stuffed
himself out, anl put on a wig and great
beard of goats hair, 50 that no one could
know him again. anil sotoT cor the common,
where the SQuirual already been riding
about a god bat. Whom 10 reached tho
when he reached the place, ho went along
80 softly aud slowly that be scarce made an
inch OF way. Gee up goe up and 50 he
went on a little; then he stood stock still,
and - on little again aud altogether tho
pace was 50 miserable that il never once
came into the Squre's head that thi, could
be the Master Thief
At last the Squire rode right up to him
and asked IT he had seen any ono lurking
about in the wood ihcrelbouts.
"No," said the man, " | hayen't seen a
soul"
IIarkyc, now" said the Squire, eli
YOU haze - mind to ride into the wood, and
hun, about and see II you can f,ll upon any
one lurking about there, you shall have the
loan Of nv horss and shilling into the
bargain, to drink my health, for your
pains"
IL don't see how can co." 7i tho
man, " ior am going to a welding with
,hi. cask Of mead, which | have been 10
town to fetch, aud hero tho tap has fallen
out by the way, aud so ! must 90 along,
holding my finger in the tapholc."
| Ride oG, said the squire; "lll look
after your horse and cask q"
| Well. on these terms, the man was willing
to 60; but he begged the Squire To be quick
. in putting hi, finger into the tapholO when
he took his own out, and to mind and keep
/ /, there till he came back. Yes, the Squire
would DO the best be could and 50 tho
Master Thlef mounted tie horse and rodo
oG. Hut time went by. and hour after hour
passed, and still no one came back AZ
lat the Squire grew weiry Of standing
there with his finger in the taPhOls' 50 he
took IL out.
"Now shall have ten dollars more
screamed the old woman inside the eask !
c.l.. .nu az nnna how the