Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-12-21
faF THIEVES WHO COULDN'T HELP
SNErZISG.

Many wears ago, when oak-treeS now
past their prime were about as large as
elderly gentlemen's wallling-sticks, there
lived in Wessex yeOman's son whose
name Was Hubert. He was about four
teen years of age, and was a. remarkable
for his candOr and hghtness OF heart as
for his physical couroge, of which, III
deed, he Was little VAN.
One cold Christmas Eve, his father,
having no other help at hand, sent him
on an important errand to small town
several miles from home. He travel
ed on horseback and was detaIn-
ed by the business till a late hour OF
the evening.
At last, however, II was completed;
ne returned to the inn, the horse was
saddled. and he started on his way.
His Iourney homeward lay through the
Valley of Blackmore a fertile but some
what lonely district with heavy clay
roads and crooked lanes. In those
days, too, a great part of 1t was thickly
wooded.
II must hsxe been about nine o'clock
when riding along amid the Overhang-
ing trees upon his stout-legged cob
Jerry, and singing a Christmas carol. to
be in harmony with the season, Hubert
fancied he heard noise among the
bOughs.
This recalled to his mind that the spot
he WAS traversing bore an evil name.
Men had been wsylaid there. He look
Ell at Jerry, and wished he had been of
any other color than hght-grey; for on
this account the docile animal S form was
visible even here in the dense
shade
What do care?" he said aloud,
after a few minutes ofrefiection. Jerry 5
legs are too nimble to allow any highway
man to come near me.
ma, hal indeed, " was said in deep
voice; and the next moment man
iarted from the thicket on his left hand,
Yards ahead. Hubert's bride was seized,
ne WAS pulled from his horse, and
although he struck out with all his
might, as brave boy naturally would
do. he was overpowered. His arms
we're tied behind him, his legs were
bound tightly togethes, and he was
thrown into the ditch. The robbers
whose faces he could now dimlv preceivt
70 be artiicially blackened, at once de
par ed, leading off the horse.
As % IL as Hubert had little recover.
ed himself, he found tn It by great cx.
artion he WAS able to extricate his legs
from the cord; but, in spite of every
sndeavor, his arms remqiued bound a,
fast as before All, therefore, that he
could do was to rise to his feet and pro-
seed on his way with his arms behind
him, and trust t. chance for getting
them unfastened
He knew that II would be impossible
- reach home IN foot that night, an6
in such condition; but he walked
on.
Owing to the confusion which tliis at
.ack caused in his brain, he lost his way
and would have been inclined to lie
down and rest until morning among the
dead leaves, had he not known the
Danger of sleeping without wrappers IL
a frost so severe.
ac Was not little glad when he di,.
cJrled through the trees a distant light.
Forwards TINS he made his WAY, and
presently found himself IN front of a
.trgr m,ynsiun with flankiug wings,
sailrs and towers, the battlements and
chimney showing their shapes against
the stars,
All was silent; but the door stood wide
open, it being from this do T that the
hight shone which had attracted hnn.
entering he found hims If in vast
apartment arranged A. a dining -hall.
tGd brilliantly Illuminated. The walls
were covered with a great deal of vain
s.otlug. formed into molde,i panels.
c.rviu"s, closet-doors, and the usual
afciu.S o. house Of that kind. But
What drew lus attention most was the
rg, table III the midst of the hall
'.. which was spread sumptuou-
-rap.r. as vet uutouched. Chairs wert
u.aeaj around and it appeared as i
sonnet. irg had occurred to interrupt the
r. inst IT the time when all wer,
r" begin
nd HulcIt been so inclined, he
.... ..-. .'' hav. ef."n in his helpless state