The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-21
Robin Hood ana the Boggar.

looking beggar in tie road. Tie felloy
| was covered with many thicknesses O.
rags, in fact, his cloak was so patched
and repatched that, in it's thinnest part
, it was more than twenty-fold His ha
was really three hats put together so a.
to form one heavy covering for his head
: He carried sack Of meal swinging from
his neck by leather strap, fastened b,
a strong buckle.
1T was near nigllt-fall when Robir
} stepped out Of the woods, and called tt
} the beggar to stop and talk awhile will
him. But tho clout,al. tramp %poid IA.
heed to his words, alld walked right OF
as if he had not heard.
'Stop when L speak to vOui" criet
Robin, growing angry.
81 won't do it," responded the beggar
quite boldly. "It is some distance tc
my supper.''
"Lend mo some money" jeeringl,
cric1 tan 4, Robin. Il must have supper
| 1--WE no money for you,n responded
the beggar, grutlly. "You are as YOUNG
as and you seem lazy and good for.
nothing. If you wait for your supper
till give you money to buy it, yOu'l
be apt to fast the rest of the yearp'
This last speech made Robin vcry an.
CRY.
"lf you have but one farthng,n he
exclaimed, "I'll take it from YOU. Sc
you may as we'll lay aside your ragged
old cloak and offer no further resistance.
Unite your sack, and let me see what
is in it, and, if you make any noise, |
will sec what effect Il broad headed
arrow can have on Il beggar's hider'
But The beggar only grinncd at the
outlaw, and very quietly said:
"You'd better let me alone. Pm
not afraid of your bent stick and little
pointed shafts, which are only iit for
pudding-skewers, II you offer me any
harm, I'll baste you till you'll be glad
to let mo 60"
Robin at once flew into a towering
passion, and bent his bow to shoot the
beggar; but, before he could draw an
arrow, the clouted tramp struck at him
with his oak staff and knocked his bow
into splinters. Robin drew his sword;
but, before he could use it, the beggar
struck his sword hand, disabling it, and
knocking the weapon away. Poor
Robin was in a bad fix. The sturdy
vagrant now fell upon him, all defense
less as he was, and belabored him might.
lily. He basted his head, his shoulders.
his back, his legs, till at last Robin fell
down senseless.
90 fie stand up, mani. Don't lie
down to sleep. this time O. dayl Wait
jtilp YGG!-ceE my lnoassJ5 IaIsn Ll.UI. Su 10
your tavern and be merryl" shouted the
beggar, in derision; and thinking Robin
was dead, he trudged on his way, not
D,i,,Sr xxr1,it f,>,, tI,,,E l,<> Il
Shortly after, Little John, Much, and
Scathelock came up to where Robin lay.
lie was moaning and writhing, the
blood flowing freely from ms head.
They poured cold water on his face.
chafcd his hands, and finally restored
him to consciousness.
"Ah!" he exclaimed with deep sigh
81 never before was SO thrt,shed. It is
forty years that have wandered in the
greenwood, but 10 man ever so maulcd
my back as has that beggar whom you
see trudging away up the hill yOnder.
did not think he could do me any
harm, but he took his pillestatf and beat
me SO that fear [ never shall get well
again. II you love me, you will run and
catch him and fetch him back to me.
But beware Of his staff; get hold of it
ilrSt, or he'll pound the life out of all of
YOU"
Never fear" said Little John
''Scathelock and Twill take him. Much
may stay and take care of you."
So the two seized their bows and raj
after the beggar, who was lcisurely pur.
suing his way over the distant hill
They did not go along the road, how
ever, but took route through thu
woods, and, running very fast, go
ahead of their victim and hid on eacl
side of the road, When the bcggal
came on they sprang out, Little JOIN
catching hold Of his staff and Scatholocl
holding Il drawn dagger before hi:
breast.
"Giyc up your staff, or I'll slay yo,
on the spot!" cried Scatllolock.
The beggcr let go his staff, whicl
Little John. stuck in the ground hare
by. ..
Don't kill mel" cried the bcggar il
a whining voice. 81 never did yol
HARM"
"You have nearly killed our master
who lies back yonder by the road," OK
claimed Little John. "Come aIonl
, with us, that he may give you you
sentcncc"
No", oHi't Illc poSSdl, assuming
different tone, 81 know you are homes
fellows, and do not wish to harm IN
for acting in self.dcfense. If you viii
let me go L will give you a hundre,
pounds in good money which I have il
my bag"
10 this proposition Little John ant
Scathelock agreed. 1t was q wckc,
thing; for they intended to get his none
and then take him all tho same. s.
they bado him count out the money.
The beggar took off his cloak an,
spread it upon the ground. Then II
unslung his meal-cag and put it in til
middle of the cloak. Little John an,
Scathelock drew close, to see him coun
out tho good money. AS they did SO
the beggar thrust his two hands int
the bag, and taking up u lot of meal i
each he dashed it into the eyes Of Littl
John and ScaChelock. They were blind
ed so that they could 90 nothing bu
: dance about and rub their faces. Th
beggar quickly seized his staff and bega
, thrashing them terribly. lie rappe
them over the head, he basted thei
backs, ho belabored their broad should
ers till the woods resounded with tn
! heavy blows.
! AS soon as they could escape, Littl
John and ScathelOck took to their heel