Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-05-28
ROBIN HOOD AND THE
CLOUTED BEGGAR.

Robin Hood sometimes did wrong, and
those who willfully misbehave, he receiv-
ed evil in return.
One day, he met Strengthening beg
gar in the road. The fellow was covered
with many thicknesses Of rags, or clouts;
in fact, his cloak was so patched that in
its thinnest part, it was more than TWEEN
ty fold His hat was really three hats
put together so as to form one heavy COW
ering for his head. He carried sack of
meal swinging from his neck by a leather
strap, fastened by a strong buckle
1t was near night-fall when Robin step
ped out of the woods and called to the
beggar to stop and talk awhile with him.
But the clouted tramp paid no heed to his
words, and walked right along as if he
had not heard.
"Stop when 1 speak to your. cried
Robin, growing angry.
81 wont do it, responded the beggar,
quite boldly. cit is some distance to
where lodge, and don't care to miss
my supper"
"Lend me some money" jeeringly cried
Robin. II must have supper, too"
GIVE no money for you," responded
the beggar, gruffiy. ssYou are as young
as L, and you seem lazy and good-for-
nothing. Ifyou wait for your supper till
give you money to buy it, you'll be apt
to fast the rest of the year!"
This last speech made Robin very an
CRY.
"lf you have but one farthing," he ex
claimed, 'Ill take it from YOU So yot
may as well lay aside your ragged ole
cloak and offer no resistance. Unite you
sack, and let me see what there is in it
and, ifyou make any noise, I will Sc,
what effect broad-headed arrow cal
have on a beggar's hide p
But the beggar only grinned at the out
law and very quietly said
'You'd better let me alone. I'm no
afraid of your bent stick and little point
ed shafts, which are only fit for pudding
skeWers. Ifyou offer ME any harm, II
haste you till you'll be glad to let me 90.
Robin at once few into a towering pas
sion, and bent his bow to shoot the beg
gar; but, before he could draw an arrow
the clouted tramp struck at him with hi
oak staff and knocked his bow into splin
ers Robin drew his sword; but, befo1
he could use it, the beggar struck h
sword hand, disabling it, and knockin
the weapon away. Poor Robin was in
bad fix. The sturdy vagrant now fe
upon him, all defenseless as he was, an
belabored him nightly. He basted h
head, his shoulders, his back, his leg
till at last Robin fell down senseless.
go fie! stand up, man! Don't lie dow
to sleep this time o. day. Wait till "
get my money, and then go to your TIA
ern and be merryl" shouted the begga
in dirision; and thinking Robin w
dead, he trudged on his way, not Carl
whit for what he had DONE
Shortly after, Little John, Much, al
He was moaning and writhing, the bio
flowing freely from his basted head Th
poured cold water on his face. chafed |
hands, and finally restored him to &C
seriousness.
''Ah!" he exclaimed with a deep sic
81 never before was so thrashed. 1t
forty years that have wandered in t
greenwood, but no man ever mauled
back as has that beggar whom you s
trudging away up the hill yonder. 4
not think he could do me any harm, |
he took his pikestaff and beat me so tt
1 fear never shall be well again. If '
love me, you will run and catch him ba
to me. But beware of his staff; get h
of it first, or he'll pound the life out
you"
s'Never fear," said Little Jol
"Scathelock and I will take him. MI
may stay and take care of YOU