Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-04-18


Robert Fitzooth, Earl of Hun.
tingdon, was born at Locksley, in
the county Of Nottingham, about
the year ll60, in the reign of Henry
II. lie was left an orphan in his
childhood, and placed under the
guardianship of his uncle, the Alb
bot of st. Mary's in York.
When he came of age, there was
not handsomer or more gallant
young man among all the nobility
and yeomanry of England. He was
tall, straight and athletic, with a
quick bounding step, and a brave
broad breast. He had a command
ing, but pleasant voice, hearty
smile, clear, honest eyes, ruddy
cheeks and lips, and his head which
he held rather haughtily, was crown
ed with clustering light brown curls.
Though belonging to proud old
family, Robert was not an aristo-
crat. He sympathized with the
common people, in that day shame
fully imposed upon-taxed and tyr
ranized over by the bold Barons
and hard-hcarted Priests.
After while, Earl Robert called
together the bravcst Of his friends,
threw up his title, assumed the
name Of Robin Hood, and took to
the forest, where he led from that
time a daring and dangerous, but
an independent and merry life.
know it is quite too late to think of
making my hero out good, honest
man, for long, long ago it got nois
ed about that Robin Hood was a
robber and outlaw. But in those
old days, when kings robbed, and
barons robbed, and priests robbed
worse than all, the thieviDg bust
ness was good deal more respccta
bic than it is now; and the only
difference between Robin Hood and
those others was, that he took only
from the rich and powerful, while
they robbed the poor and defence.
less.
One day, a small sprig of the no.
bility, one Sir Roger, of Doncaster,
saw him mingling with the honest
ycoman in their sports, and sneered
at his vulgar tastes. Robert replied
by challenging him to shooting
match. Sir Rogers arrow missed
the target altogether, and stuck fast
in the trunk of tree some distance
farther on. Robert took aim at this
shaft and split it clean up to the
middle. Then all the yeoman shout
ed and laughed; and Sir Roger was
SO enraged that he was foolish
enough to accept a second challenge
to a wrestlingmatch, in which earl
Robert threw him so often that he
never felt fairly on his legs, but
seemed always to be humping
against the ground. At last his
senses were quite bumped out Of
him, and he lay stiff and still. Earl
Robert revived him and helped him
up, but he ever after had mean,
bitter spite against his brave con-
queror.
OF the thousand and one adyen-
lures related of Robin Hood, | have
only room in this short history for
the one.
One morning, near Sherwood
Forest, Robin Hood, met young
man walking slowly, dropping his
head and signing deeply, and he
thought to himselt-"this poor fell
low must be acknowledgement, or in
love-in either case he is to be pit
led" So he kindly questioned the
youth, who proved to be a yeoman
by the name Of Will Scarlocke. He
trusted Robin Hood from the first,
and tolu him that he was grieving
because n fair maiden whom he
loved, and who loved HIM, was that
day to be married by her friends to
rich, old man, whom she detested.
Robin Hood inquired the time and
place of the wedding, then telling
Will to keep up good heart,
bounded off into the forest.
About noon there was great
ringing Of bells at the church-then
came the wedding party and their
friends. The bridegroom looked
very proud and pompous in his
gold-laced, velvet doublet, and
white silk hose; but he was wheezy
and hard of hearing, and SO gouty,
that he had a little page to lift his
feet, first one and then the other, up
the altar steps. The bride wept,
and looked wistfully around for her
lover who was hid behind a pillar,
waiting for Robin Hood. The cere-
mony began and Will was getting
desperate, when tall man, in the
dress of a beggar, standing near
the altar, drew a silver horn from
beneath his mantle, and blew 4
startling blast. Instantly fifty men
i'll Lincoln green burst into the
church and disturbed the bridal
party-all but the one happy bride
and frightened priest, whom Robin
commanded to marry the faithful
pair at once. 1t was done; and
ever after Will Scarlocke was the
fast friend of Robin Hood.-Schooi
Day -Nago=ine.
Umbrellas Seventy Years Ago.