Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-04-18
Young Robin Hood,

" Dedr MOtiier.--I M awful tired OF staying
round at home, and can't stand it nohow since
Aunt Prudence is coming again to make us a
visit You know she hates boys terribly, and
wants me always to behave 80 proper and good
So you won't think anything of 1t because I've
gone to the woods will YOU? I'm old enough to
take care Of myself and so are the other fellers
You Just fix il up with father, and tell him he
was a boy once, that u good little mother. The
fact is, nanny, dear, am going to live like
Robin Hood, and some of the other boys are ready
to have a jolly time too. I've engaged Frial
Tuck and Little John and the rest OF the for
esters, | forget their names now but we amt go
ing to be bothered with any Maid Marian, for
girls are such an awful trouble always iussing
about their frOcks and fixins. Every one of Us
has got a bow and lots OF arrows, and we can kill
all the game we want and live like princes, you
see. | thought I'd just write you this letter so
you wouldn't worry Our post-oiiice is in the big
hole in the oak tree in front OF Sykes tavern
Your affectionate
"DlCK rOwNE mean ROBIN HOOD"
Mrs. Townes feelings on receiving this
letter, which Dick had failed to date as us
ual, were beyond description. She had seen
Dick walk off in the morning with some OF
the boys, but it was such a common occur
ence for him to go early in the morning to
spend the day with his companions, that she
had not thought of asking him about his re-
turn. So when she had read the letter which
she discovered late in the afternoon, she
had vague idea that Dick had gone for
ever.
She was loving little mother, and Dick
was her only child, and so she burst into
tears and cried as if her heart would break.
In the midst of her grief two visitors called
from the village, aud as she did not feel
like letting them into the secret of Dick ;
departure, she hastily wiped her eyes and
put OH as serene look AS possible, doing
her best to be entertaining while her heart
was nearly breaking with all sorts OF
notherly anXieties and sorrows. Two OF
three times, while relating something rather
comical, her face twitched convusively with
the effort she made to control herself, aud
consequently, one of her lady friends after
ward whispered contidentially to two OF
ihree of her choice associates, that Mrs.
rowne had st. Ntus' dance.
Mrs. Towue's burden was considerably
ightened when she heard her husband,
.oice. He had just returned from the city.
md was calling, Dick, Dick" almost loud
enough, it would seem, Tor that young gen
tleman to hear even in his Woodland retreat.
Mother" he said, as he caught sight OF
her in the parlor; for he had fallen into
Dicks way of addressing her, Where's
Dick 2"
"Gone out" she replied in such melan-
choly tone that he felt quite alarmed. Her
visitors taking their departure just then,
she burst into tears, and in the midst OF hel
,obs told him the story, as she handed him
the letter.
"Why, mother" said Mr.. Towne, in his
CHEEKY way, when she had finished don't
you worry about that boy Let him alone
he is old enough to take care OF himself, and
very likely he is only within three or foui
miles OF here, if he makes post-oiiice OF
that old tree near the tavern. That boy has
been fairly devouring the book his uncle
gave him lately, about Robin Hood, and
like most boys, has been fascinated, aud ey
identity thinks those improbable adventure,
can be carried out in real life. Don't you
worry; he will come back safe and sound
and perhaps little wiser than when he sci
out"
So Mrs. Towne concluded to take a more
cheerful view of the case, and Mr.. Town,
went to the village, for their home was
little beyond, to inquire at various house,
where Dicks cronies lived, as to who hao
gone with him on his adventures.
He found that five others had been sc
wrought upon by Dicks enthusiasm and ell
oquence that they had followed his fortunes
When Mr.. Towne arrived their parent.
were in quite state of distraction. The
boys had taken French leave, and until Mr.
| Towne enlightened Them they had no idei
where they were.
1t was as much as he could do to calm tn,
excitement in the five different families
but he reminded the parents that though
| this was a very foolish freak on the part o
the boys, still it was not really wicked
one that they, being brought up in a good
sturdy sort of way, would know how to tax,
care of themselves, and would undoubtedl,
soon return, perhaps sadder, but at any
rate, "wiser bows" His calm view of thing
prevailed, and they all resolved to wait {
day or two before setting out in search o.
the runaways-al but Bridget an old nurse
who had taken care OF Tommy Wiles, on,
of the foresters, ever since his mother died
his father being in Europe.
She was long time coming to reason
| and raved around like one demented, be
seeching the Holy "Vargin" and all tn
saints to defend her and her precious boy
and to keep him from the bowling beasts O
the wilderness.
Poor little Tommy At that particula
moment he was taking an involuntary bait
in small pond and was laundering aroun,
| in the water like fish out of it, and cal
ing upon Bridget most piteously TO com
and help him.
" Here, you baby stop that yelling" sat
Robin Hood, who was quite indignant tina
any one who protessed to be a forester
dwelling in the woods, should call on
woman for assistance. At the same time h
Owed in after him, and dragged him out.
"a great forester you are, wailing in tina
way" he continued and blowing a sma
whistle that was suspended round his mech
he summoned Friar Tuck" thin, sand,
haired boy, and told him to dry up tina
youngster.
Friar Tuck showed very submissiv
spirit, and took Tommy's clothes off an
hung them around on the branches of
great chestnut tree to dry, Tommy was tn
infant of the party, and they all seemed t
exercise a fatherly care over him.
In the meantime the other brave fores
ers were prowlng around in search of foo
an employment which had occupied tn
greater part of the day-but unfortunatel
they could find nothing but a few viii
Strawberries, which they eagerly deyoured
but what were wild strawberries for hun
cry boys ? The game they had expected t
fluid did not seem as plentiful as they ha
anticipated.
They had made various unsuccessful a
tempts to shoot hares, and unfortunatel
lost all their arrows in the thick unde
brush, except one that lodged in Fria
Tuck's hat, and came very near putting OF
one eye.
Still their enthusiasm had not begun
wane, though none of them had eaten an
thing since breakfast except Tommy Vile
who had been supplied with two or thrt
ginger cakes which had found their wa
surreptitiously into Friar Tuck's pocket.
, While little John and the Others wei
hunting for Strawberries, Robin Hood can
strutting along, his bow and arrows slun
over his shoulder, and his hat on one sid
, trying TO look as much like the hold on
law as possible.
Upon consultation they agreed to hold
, council to decide what was best TO do, e
pecially as it was getting late, and the
was no prospect of food.
, So the chieitaiu blew his whistle 10 sun
mon Friar Tuck and Tommy who appeare
+ with very small amount of clothing O.
! most of his clothes still hanging up to dr.
I When these two arrived they all sat dow
on the grass, looking like so many owls f.
wisdom.