, 1875-05-09

Three robbers we're walking by the roadside
one evening altar q day of prohtless anxiety.
~"It's + pity" said one OF them, that Se can
do no better than this. I am unwilling to let Il
dry pass without some Gain."
Here's chance" said another, and Is they
Looked up they saW on the brow OF the hill before
them man riding On donkey, and by u string
leading nheep With 8 bell attached to its neck.
81 will steal tEat sheep, +" said tha first Of the
robbers.
'You cannot, !" said the second ''do you not
perceive the cord and the bell ?"
II see theua." said the first; q but they pre-
sent 10 obstacle to me, I'll steal that sheep"
IF you do, said the second, 'lA steal the
donkey"
"What!" said the third, s*steal mans dop-
key from under him' You cannot-"
"You will coon know better" said ths sec
end
III you do" said the third, "rll steal al the
clothes the man has upon him, or forfeit my
p1etensions to professional excellence.
'"Bah!" said the other two, .4syoa will attempt
What You cannot accomplish.
awe will see" snid the third.
The uneuspectlng man WAS plodding along
without thoughts of injury, when tho first ap-
preached and cut the cord and bell from tho
ehecp's neck, and attached the bell to the DON
Kev's tail where its Jungle continued to be heard
In due time the man looked behind to observe
the condition Of his sheep, and to h'e horrur
found it was gone. In dismay and distress he
appealed to the first person he met, and asked II
he had Eeeb any one WILL hutGp
"Yea," replied the person, II saw man
e1AmberinE down the hill side With such prize !;
but thought it was his OWL"
=. Hold my donkey for = moment" said the
man, and, as the person did 80, he went in the
wrong direction in pursuit of the robber and his
sheep. ~
, Finding, however, that his pursuit was rain,
he returned tired and b,eath!ess to where he had
left the donkey. Dut lol it WAS not there Sheep
and donkey both wero stolen from him. Sad
III. -, 11xpn IN af3nnf md fyr1a aFa
oyer his Losses hut soon he heard the wailing Of
sone ono in distress. He listened for moment
and the sound became audible.
:ssWhat is this :" he said "Can any ono be
more miserable than II"
Bat the CITY OF anguish became louder and stis
louder. He hastened to the place whence 1t
proceeded and there beheld man weeping as
fKoueh there was no comfort for him
*.1shat is this. my hiends" said be. "How
are you a1ected?"
...A,as!" sad the mnn. "I'n ruined foreveri"
4.Ruined!" said he. ~ How are you ruined p.
III came to this well for draueht OF water" :"
hererlied, 4.:nnd while I drank let drop costly
gem. and it lies beneath the water."
"Is that all 2" said he.
.t-Ah!'' exclaimed tho other, 'sit is OF great
worth" -.
"soit may be, :" said the honest man; shut I
hive lost my sheep and doukey, which mas
uhw1l1insly about to sell at the next mark ct
town, tlat might pay Oh some pressing debts,
Jet do not bewssl my loes-"
What's that loss" replied the other, ''com-
pared to my loss Of q gem worth thousands Of
ducats and without which it would only cost my
life to return to the King my master, who sent
me with it rs gilt to Royal friend beyond the
seas P"
s"Wby do You not go donn in the water and
recover it ?" asked the 1uan-
."Alas r. zaid the other, II cannot swim;
would only drown" .... ...-.-.-:..
Then will 20 dorn for you" said Tho good
hbnest man. :.
.ttWi1l you?" exc1hmed the other. 'sDo 80,
md here are four golden pieees for your pains
more than the sum of all your losses; and if you
regain my treasure shall forever, owe you mJ
gratitude"
.4he honert man received the pieces Of gold
md placed them in his pocket, and then took OF
his clothes and descended into the water. But
liter long and careful search he came out Of
the well to ask the stranger 0n which side the
KEN had fallen. when 10 he VAS gone and the
poor countryman was without sheep or donkey,
pt clothing, ,-there all alone by the brink Of
deep val, and the robbers we're ell far away
nth the trophies Of their aHfnl toguery.