The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-04-18
ROBIN HOOPS MIRACLE.

Fair, fair was the forest Of Sherwood In the days
OF Robin Hood; long were the summers that gar
mented the forests with green and bright were the
autumns that Drowned the thickets and COVerts
from which the merry hunters, clad in Lincoln.
green, started the deer. The silver horns OF Rob.
In Hoods merry men divided In the morning and
their notes we're lost in the great deep forests hut
they blended again at evening, echOing at first
from atar and then drawing near
Then merry were the tales Of the hunters, as the
red morn rose in the dusky shadows, and poured
her light over the forest like silver sea.
Robin Hood performed most wonderful mira
Gle In his day.
Perhaps, though you may not think 1t so won
derful after all.
We will tell 1t to you as a very old ballad told
10 US.
One day, Robin, being In merry mood took 1t
into his head to go into the kings highway in the
disguise Of a friar. H put on hood crown cru
cihx and beads and walked off slowly, looking
very demure and woebegoue.
He had not gone far, when he met two lusty
priests, clad all in black and riding gallantly
along
"Benedictr' he said Have pity on a poor friar,
who has been wandering since morning without
meat or drink"
"In the name OF the virgin" said one Of the
priests, I'VE cannot help thee. We've been robbed
and haven't penny to help ourselves"
Robin laid hold Of the priests robes, and drew
him from his horse Robin was so stout man
that the priest could not resist and when he com
manded the other priest to dismount, he dared not
dlsobey him.
you say you have no money" said Robin,
Neither have l." .....
you know how to pray2 said Robin.
"Yes" said the priests.
"Then let us all fall on our knees, we three to.
gether, and for money we will pray earnestly, and
we will see what Heaven will send" "
The priests knelt down.
"Now pray" said Robin.
They prayed very doefully. AT last they began
to weep and wiring their hands. Then Robin
began to dance.
The priests prayer became more doleful than
ever. But Robin said
PRAY PrayP'
They prayed very long time.
'Now put your hands in your pockets, and see
| If you received an answer to your prayers.
The first priest felt in his pockets, then rolled
up his eyes very solemnly and said
Nothing"
Let me feel" said Robin.
The priests now looked more troubled than
ever.
Robin searched the pockets Of one and drew
forth purse heavy with gold
What an answer to prayers ~ said Robin, and
he searched the other, and found another purse
The two priests were struck dumb-what could
they say2 If they had spoken truly at first, here
indeed was miracle The old ballad says they
sighed wond cous heavy"
"YoH have prayed WE'LL" said Robin, encour-
agingly seeing their detected looks Here are
five hundred pounds. Now we will divide IT,"
And divide it he did He gave each priest fifty
pounds for praying so well, and kept the rest him
self. But the two priests did not seem very much
pleased with Robins division and liberal present.
but rode away looking more woeful than ever.
always speak the truth" said Robin to the
priests as they departed and we have sort ol
suspicion that If they had spoken the truth about
their money to the bold outlaw, as good priests
ought, the miracle would not have been so great