Nebraska advertiser., 1867-02-14
s. elect gt0rp.
The Three Thieves.

The Three Thieves.
Their Q existed al Boussu, ,in11SS (are.
spectacle epoch), an honest sacristan
named Vincent Lefevre. He was old.
His good-nature and zeal had assured
him sufficiency in bis old age: few
people died without leaving him some.
thing in their wills. He was good and
simple, and yet cunning withal. and be
lived happy, untroubleG by thieves. hav-
ing only n old man for attendant, who
was colled Claude, and who treated the
sacristan as a relative.
As he grew feeble, and it became a
trouble to walk, while he still liked to at
tend the weekly market at Mons, where
he INDUCED freely in beer, Claude per-
suaded him to purchase steed; so he
went forth one Saturday with sum of
money, which he was resolved to invest
in horse or mule.
There dwelt at this epoch three men
at Pomergul, who had been beyond the
seas in the holy war. having accompanied
Count Thierry d'Alsace on his fourth
military pilgrimage to Jerusalem. They
had not brougRt much that was edifying
from their piods expedition. Returning
idle and dissipated. they found it moEs
agreeable to live at theexpense of others
than by the sweat of their brows, as many
do in the present day. They had cast
their eyes for some time past upon Vim
cent Lefevre, as he was known to be in
possessi on of ready mcney-a thing at
that time not very common; and as to
how they become aware of his intention
to buy a mule, we are told every thing is
known in small places. They went and
posted themselves in his way, each at
about quarter of mile from one anoth.
er, and when he came by on his mule,
which be had purchased for six forms,
the first rogue said to him:
Heaven protect you, Messire Vim
cent! Have you made good bargain at
the market of Mons ?''
Gas you see," he replied, 81 bought
this mule"
"What mule ?'' said the warrior from
paleslina, looking around him.
Why, the one / am Tsdlng.
eeelatils
bsasl hat yon are ridia IS donkey.
"A donkey! replies tbe saeFistan,
Indignantly. And struggling his shoul-
ders, be continued his way.
The second rogue he came up to salu-
ted him after the same fashion, and ask
ed him if there had been good market
that day at Mons.
Eyes, assuredly," replied the sacristan.
'and bought there the mule that you
see,"
ut is not possible" 4" replied the other,
"that you took it for mule; it is don
key"
The old man protested against the sup
position that his mule was donkey, bu;
still he went away in dissatisfied mood;
and meeting the third rogue, who ad-
dressed him in the same terms, he felt so
annoyed that he jumped off its back with
greater activity than would have been
expected from bis age, saying: "lt 1t Is
an ass. take it, and make what you can
of it," And be returned home on tool
much disconcerted.
When he came in and related what
had happened CIande laughed at him.
"Relative," he said. ''they have played
you trick, and for the future every one
at Harchis, at Pomereul, and at Saint
Ghislain, will look upon you as fool d"
"Well. Go not vex yourself" replied
the sacristan, after having ruminated a
few minutes off they have played ne
trick will play them two" -
So the next day the old man went of
to Quaregnon, and he bought two white
goats from a peasant, which so resembled
one another that it was impossible to dis
tinguish them. The Saturday following:
being market-day at Mons, he bade
Claude have good supper ready, and
leaving one of his goats in the garden,
he took the other with him to town.
The three ex- x-crusaders were there.
"What do you come to buy, Messire
Vincent2" said they to the sacristan.
"Proyisions, he replied; ''and if you
will come and parlake of them with me 1t
will afford me much pleasure"
The companions accepted joyfully.-
The sacristan, having selected fish and
poultry, placed the load on the back Of
the goat, and said TO it, as if it could un-
derstand him;
$50 away home, and tell them to cook
the things forthwith, after the best fash
ion. Tell them also to have pasty, and
do not loiter on the way"
The three boon companions looked al
one another in astonishment, wondering
if the old man had lost his senses. The
goat. in the mean time being set free
went lis way, and Heaven knows intc
whose hands it fell. After having walk.
ed for some time with his three guests
and partaken of some of the old beer fol
which Mons was famous. Vincent Lefevre
deeming it was getting near supper-time
led his Friends away TO Boussu. WheI
! thev arrived there the three ex-crusader
saw the white goat in the garden, an,
took it for the one they had seen at mar
ket. They were filed with surprise, ant
their sstonishment augmented whel
they heard the sacristan say to Claude
Have you done what sent you wOr,
by the goat?'
"Yes,'' replied the othor. And the
sat down to table, where were the fsH
the poultry. and the pasty. The rogue
looked at one another, and deeming lha
il would not be easy to steal the gos
they said TO the old man: