Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1868-01-21
Vbe 6a3ette an0 Comet.
THREE WOLVES AND A LAMB.
AN ITALIAN STORY

1t is pity, said one Of them, that
we can do no better than this. |
am unwilling to let day pass with
out some gain.
Here's a chance said another !;
and as they looked up they saw on
the top Of the hill before them, a
man riding on donkey, and by a
string leading sheep with a bell
attached to its neck.
I will steal that sheep, said the
first of the robbers.
You cannot, said the second do
you not perceive the cord and the
bell?
l see them, said the first, but they
present no obstacle to me. III
steal that sheep!
If you do, said the second, III
steal the donkey.
What said the third, steal a
mans donkey from under him
You cannot.
You will soon know better, said
the second.
If you do, said the third, I'll steal
all the clothes the man has upon him
or forfeit my pretensions to profes
sional excellence.
Bah ! said the other two, you will
attempt what you cannot accomplish.
We will see said the the third.
The unsuspecting man was plod-
ding along without thoughts of in
jury, when the first approached and
cut the cord and bell from the sleeps
neck, and attached the bell to the
donkey's tail, where its jingle con-
tinued to be heard.
In due time the man looked be-
hind to observe the condition of the
sheep, and to his horror found it was
gone. In dismay and distress, he
appealed to the first person be met,
and asked if he had seen any one
with sheep.
Yes, replied the person, I saw
man clamberiug down the hill side
with such prize, but | thought it
was his own.
Hold my donkey for a moment,
said the man; and as the person did
so he went in the wrong direction in
pursuit of the missing sheep.
Finding, however, that his pursuit
was vain, he returned, tired and
breathless, to where he had left the
donkey. But 10 !! it was not there
Sheep and donkey both were stolen
from him. Sad and perplexed, he
sat down to reflect, and grieve over
his losses, but soon he heard wall
ing of some one in distress. He lis
tened for moment and the sound
became more audible.
What is this : he said. Can any
one be more miserable than II
But the cry of anguish became
louder and still louder. lie fastened
to the place whence it proceeded, and
there beheld man weeping as
though there was no comfort for him.
What is this, my friend said he.
How are you afflicted
Alas said the man, Pm ruined
forever
Ruined! said he, how are you
ruined
| came to this well for draught
of water, he replied, and while |
drank | let drop costly gem and it
lies beneath the water.
Is that all said he.
All ! exclaimed the other, it is Of
great worth.
So it may be, said the honest man;
but | have lost my sheep and donkey,
which | was unwillingly about to
sell at the next market town, that |
might pay off some Of my pressing
debts; yet I do not bewail my loss.
What's that loss, replied the other,
compared TO my loss of gem worth
thousands of ducats, and without
which it would only cost my life to
return it to the king, my master,
who sent me with it to royal friend
beyond the seas.
Why do you not go down into the
water and recover it asked the man.
Alas said the other, l cannot
swim; would only drown.
Then | will go down for you, said
the good honest man.
Will you, exclaimed the other Do
50 and here are three golden pieces
for your pains, more than the sum of
all your losses; and if you regain
my treasure, | shall forever owe you
my gratitude.
The honest man received the
pieces Of gold and placed them in his