Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-10
How Robin Hood Got and Gave.
A STORY OF OLD ENGLAND WHEN Robbers WERE
ACCOUNTED HEROES,

ACCOUNTED HEROES.
One day Robin Hood stood near tree in
Barnesdale and beside him we're his three
chief men, Little john Scarlet and Much,
the millers son.
ut is time for dinner" said Little John.
mo dinner for me, said Robin "until |
have some baron or abbot to pay for it, Go,
then, and leave me alone"
The trio departed, and ere long they es-
pied knight riding along the forest glade
Something was amiss, for he looked the very
picture of sorrow with his hood drawn over
his eyes, one foot in the Btirrup, and the 9TH
er waving to and fro, in a disconsolate fash
ion.
"How do you do ?" said Little John, re-
moving his cap. 'You are welcome to the
wood We have been waiting for you these
three hours"
"Who are your" asked the knight.
"We are servants Of bold yeoman, named
Robin Hood"
II have heard much good of him, said the
knight. II did intend dining Mt Blyth or
Doncaster but l will go with you and see
your master"
The knight rode with the three outlaws,
and very sad was he. The tears ran down
his cheeks, but it was not because he had met
with Robin Hoods men. He had more cause
for JOY than grief in that meeting, as you will
see Robin welcomed him, and gave him a
very handsome dinner. There was venson,
and pheasant, swan and river fowl, and plen-
ty of bread and wine.
Help YOURSELF" said the hosptlble Rob
in.
II will, answered the knight for such n
dinner I've not sat down to this many a long
day"
Robin then delicately limited that the guest
should pay for his dinner as it was scarcely
proper that a yeoman should entertain a
knight
ALAS" :" answered the knight my purse
has so little, could not offer it you for very
shame"
"How much have you Z"
But ten shillings."
IF that be all, - said the outlaw, mot one
penny Of it will take. Little John, 60 aud
see if the knight speaks truly"
Little John did so, and found there was
just half a sovereign, aud no more.
Sir Knight" said Robin, "how is this
wondered to see your clothes so thin. Have
you been a spendthrift, or were you made
knight Of poor yeoman family :"
Neither the one nor the other answered
the knight. For hundred years my fore
fathers have been knighted; and | have not
become poor through waste but through
misfortune My son unfortunately slew
Lancashire knight in tournament, and to
save him my goods have been sold have
borrowed money Of the abbot of ST. Mary,
and if do not raise 400 pounds 10y certain
day my lands and all possess must be for
feited, and shall be beggared man
but where are your friends = asked Rob
in
Friends" :" exclaimed the knight with
bitter smile 81 have no friends they are
fed. Not one, not even h. who boasted
loudest of his friendship, is left"
This tale made Little John weep, for he
was one Of the most tender-htarted men in
the world his heart was very big and full of
feeling. Meanwhile Robin was thinking what
he could do TO help the knight At length
he told Little John to 60 to the treasury and
bring out 400 pounds 'and. said he, 'see
you count it carefully"
1t was brought, and lent to the knight, who
received it with tears and Joy.
Little John had been pitying the knights
i'll clad limbs aud he persuaded his master to
let him have some Of their good Lincoln
green cloth to wrap his body in. Robin Hood
said,
OF every color take three yards"
And Little John measured the yards with
his bow, and skipped so much each time he
applied the wand that Much called him "a
Lhc lhuttl. lluN W III OChIltl hhlls
He may give good measure, for the cloth
cost him but light"
Little John next begged for horse to car
ry the goods, and Robin bads him take the
gray courser and new saddle.
Other presents were showered upon the
grateful knight, who must have blessed the
hour which brought him into the company of
such kind rogues.
when am l to repay the loan :" asked he.
This day year, replied Robin Hood, and
under this tree and Little John shall go with
you to st. Mary's abbey. 1t is a shame for n
knight like you to ride alone.
Whilst the knight and his forest squire
were jogging northward to York the abbot
was thinking that the knight would lose his
land
'If he comes not to day the acres are
ours" Aud he chucklcd and rubbed his
hands.
The prior, who loved the knight. said he
hoped the money would be paid and the land
be set free for the good knights family to en-
JOY.
II would rather pay a hundred pounds
than see him dispossessed :"
At that very moment the high-cellarer
came in.
All were hoping, except the prior, that the
knight would not turn up; but whilst they
HtIt hbohh hlul bch rang anu
two horsemen entered the abbey gateway.
The knight dismounted, and strobe rapidly
to the great hall. lie greeted the company
reverently.
Have you brought the money? ?" asked
the abbot
Alas my lord" exclaimed the knight
with rueful face, mot penny of it..
"a luckless debtor are You, indeed" said
the abbot. but why are you hero if you
have not brought the gold :"
Il have come to beg for a longer day
good abbot, be my friend said the knight,
in piteous tone, "and hold my lands till l
can redeem them"
And when the debtor still pleaded the alb
bot called him hard names, and baie him be-
gone for a false knight.
Thou lest proud abbot A false knight
never was but here is the money"
And with that he shook out of bag four
hundred pieces of gold on the table, and begged
them to count il, and give him n receipt; af-
ter which he departed leaving the abbot to
digest his vexation as well As he could
The knight then hurried hOmeward to his
wife, who bade him welcome, but said -
Il fear you have no good news :"
"Yes dearest wife have" said her hus-
band And do you be merry, and pray for
Robin Hood for if he had not helped us we
man lent me the money, and have paid the
abbot, and all is well.
By the end of the year the knight had got
the money ready to repay Robin, and he went
to the forest, taking with him one hundred
bows and the same number of quivers filed
with arrows which were feathered with pea
cocks plumage, and each an ell long. A hun
dred men went with him, well equipped; and
thus he journeyed to Barnesdale, singing
merry song. As they went they stopped at a
bridge to see wrestling match. The prize
contended for was pair of gloves, red gold
ring, and pipe Of wine. The winner-a
stranger in the place-was set upon and near
ly killed by the other competitors The
knight took his part and delivered him. To
restore good humor, he paid the winner for
the wine, and ordered the barrel to be
broached and served to all the company.
This little matter delayed the knight, and
kept Robin Hood waiting full three hours be-
yond the time fixed for the payment of the