Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-01-27
fanlilg Circle.
THE THREE THIEVES.

Most noble cavaliers, my tale neither
offers to your view the gallant deeds Of
chivalry. nor the subtle schemes of wife
to hide her secret intrigues from her hus
band, but humbly recounts the dexterous
exploits of three Thieves, in the vicinity
of Ian, whose joint talents had for some
time pnt both laity and clergy under con-
tribution. Two of them were brothers,
called Hamet and Bernard. Their faith
er, who had followed the same profession,
ended his days on the gallows, the com.
mon fate of talents so employed. The
others name was Travers. One thing
was, they never committed murder. but
were satisfied in picking pockets, and
their address in this was almost incredi
BILE.
| One day, when they were all three
walking in wood near Ian, the CONVEX
sation fell on their own exploits and
| Hamet, the older of the two brothers
ispying magpie's nest, with the bird il
lit, at the top of large oak, said to Der
Inard
Brother, if anybody was to propose t.
Eyou to take the eggs from under tina
bird, without disturbing her, what woul(
81 should say, replfva-. ha vounoe,
one, he was mad, and required an im
possibility"
: would have you to know, friend,
rejoined Hamet, one not able to do tina
must be an awkward hand at picking {
Ipocket."
So, saying, he Immediately climbed vi
the tree, got the nest, and opening i
gently at the bottom, caught the eggs on,
by one, as they slid out, and brought then
down, Boosting thatnot one was broken
Faith, it must be owned that you are
an Incompatible fellow cried Bernard
land now, if you can put the eggs under
the bird again, as you took them out, yot
may fairly call yourself our superior"
Hamet accepted the challenge, and
mounted again /; but this was only trick
OF Demands for when he saw him at
certain height, he said to Travers
Now you have seen what my brother
can do, you shall have touch of my art,
and instantly mounted after Hamet, fol
lowed him from branch to branch, and
| with the other glided along like ser
pent, with his eyes intently fixed On the
nest, watching the slightest motion of the
bird, that he might not brighten her, the
adro4t rogue united his drawers, and re
turned with them in his hand, as trophy
OF his victory. In the meantime, Hame
having replaced the eggs, came down, ex
peetlng the praise due to such an exploit
That's a good one" says Bernard
IlaEGhJnO tn to
/ III lay wager he has them hid in hi,
draw ers."
The eldest, looking down, found the,
were gone, and Immediately knew it wal
a trick of his brothers. Gle is clever
thief, indeed" said he, who can rob an
other"
| AS for Travers, he so equally admired
the two heroes, that he was doubtful
which merited the palm. But so much
address hunbled him, and mortified to
i InlH y wISlts not qualified to entef the
me, Tor v I'll Know ~ sasss
w6er ro' you MOULD escape twenty time
~, enoold always be taken L SC
Occupation, therefore w vi ronoun 30 -
= and take to my own again, live with m
wife, and work hard and hope by Il
blessing of God, we shall not want
lie really returned to the village. &
ne said. His wife was very fond of him
ne became very honest man, and worke
so hard, that in few months he was adj
TO buy pig, and fatten it at home. a
christmas he killed it and, as is usus
hung it up by the feet against the wal
and went to his work in the fields.
had been lucky for him if he had sold an
saved all the trouble and anxiety it CAV
nm as you will see. just after he wa
gone out, the brothers, who had not see
him since the day they parted came t
pay him a visit. His wife was alon,
euslly employed in spinning. She tol
them that her husband was out, an
would not return till the evening. 70
may very well suppose that the pig di,
not escape their watchful eyes and whe
they left the house they said to each otE
err 80, so,-this rogue has mind t
regale himself, and not invite us. AS thi
is the case we must carry off the pig, an,
eat 1t without him." They then laid thei
plan, and went and hid themselves in
nelghboring hedge till night.
When Travers returned in the evening
his wife told him Of her strange visitor
=" They were such i'll looking fellows.
said she, that | was heightened, being
alone, and burst not ask either thei
names or business. They pried abou
every where and | don't believe single
nail escaped them"
|
Alas these are my two rogues,
cried Travers, dolefully. The pig i
gone, that's certain - oh, that 1 had bu
sold it r
There's still one way to save it." sait
the wife /" let us take it down from tn,
hook, and hide it somewhere for the
night. Tomorrow, as soon as it is light
we VIII consider what further to do Will
it," =
Travers followed his wife's advice
went and took down the bacon, laid it or
the floor at the other end of the room
and put the kneading trough over it. Ht
| then went to bed, but not without anxiety
| At midnight the brothers came to put
their scheme in execution. The elder
| kept watch while Bernard bored a hole
in the wall opposite the place where the
pig had hung, but he soon found out there
was nothing is left but the string. "The
bird is hoWn," said he; we are come
too late,o