Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-08-22
ROBIN HOOD AND THE CLOUTEI
BEGGAR.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE CLOUTED
BEGGAR.
Robin Hood sometimes did wrong, and
at such times, as is usually the case with
those who willfully misbehave, he re.
ceived evil in return.
One day, he met strengthening
beggar in the road. The fellow was
covered with many thicknesses of rags
or clouts; in fact, his cloak was so patched
and repatched that, in its thinnest
part, it was more than twenty-fold. His
hat was really three hats put together
so as to form one heavy covering for his
head. He carried sack of meal swing.
ing from his neck by leather strap,
fastened by strong buckle.
Ii was near night-fall when Robin
stepped out of the woods, and called to
the beggar to stop and talk awhile with
him. But the clouted tramp paid no
as if he had not heard.
"Stop when speak to you!" cried
Robin, growing angry.
81 won't do it," responded the beg
gar, quite boldly. 1T is some distance
to where l lodge, and l don't care to
miss my supper. d"
LEND me some money!" jeeringly
cried Robin. Il must have supper,
too"
"Ive no money for YOU" responded
the beggar, gruffly. "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'll be apt to fast the rest of the
yearr'
This last speech made Robin very
angry.
III you have but one farthing," he
exclaimed, "rll take it from you. So
you may as well lay aside your ragged
old cloak and offer no further resist
ance. Unite your,sack, and let me see
What is in 1t, and, if you make any
noise,I will see what effect broad
headed arrow can have on n beggar's
hiden
But the beggar only grinned at the
outlaw, and very quietly said:
You'd better let me alone. I'm not
afraid of your bent stick and little point
ed shafts which arc only fit for pudding
skewers. If you offer me any harm,
I'll baste you till you'll be glad to let
me 90"
Robin at once flew into 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 bad fix. The sturdy
vagrant now fell upon him, all defense
less as he was, and belabOred him
nightly. He basted his head, his
shoulders, his back, his legs, till at last
Robin fell down senseless.
80 fie! stand up, man! Don't lie
down to sleep this time o day! Wait
till you get my money, and then go to
your tavern and be merryr' shouted the
beggar, in derision; and thinking Robin
was dead, he trudged on his way, not
caring whit for what he had done.
Shortly after, Little John, Much and
Scathelock came up to where Robin lay.
He was moaning and writhing, the
blood flowing freely from his basted
head. They poured cold water on his
face, chafed his hands and finally re-
stored him to consciousness.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, with deep
sigh, II never before was so thrashed.
1t is forty years that have wandered in
the greenwood, but no man ever so
mauled 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 pikestaff and
beat me so fear / never shall be well
again. If you love me, you will run
and catch him and fetch him back to
me. But beware of his staff; get hold of
it first, or he'll pound the life out of all
of YOU"
"Never fear," said Little John;
"Scathelock and will take him. Much
may stay and take care of you"
So the two seized their bows and ran
after the beggar, who was leisurely pur-
suing his way over the distant hill.
They did not go along the road, how
ever, but took route through the
woods, and running very fast got ahead
of their victim and hid on each side of
lllt Iouus NHtn thc DtSSai SuhiO oh
they sprang out, Little John catching
hold of his staff and Scathelock holding
a drawn dagger before his breast.
"Give up your staff, or III slay you on
the spotv cried Scathelock.
The beggar let go his staff, which Lit
tie John stuck in the ground hard by.
Don't kill me!'' cried the beggar, in
q whining voice. II never did you
harm"
"You have nearly killed our master,
who lies back yonder by the road, " ex-
claimed Little John. Come along
with us, that he may give you your sem
tencer'
Now" said the beggar, assuming a
different tone, II know you are honest
fellows, and do not wish to harm me
for acting in self-defense. II you will
let me go, will give you hundred
pounds in good money which have in
my bag"
To this proposition Little John and
Scathelock agreed. II was a wicked
thing; for they intended TO get his
money and then take him all the same.
SO they bade him count oat the money.
The beggar took of his cloak and
spread it upon the ground. Then he
unslung his meal bag and put II in the
middle of the cloak. Little John and
Scathelock drew close, to see him count
out the good money. As they did so,
the beggar thrust his two hands into the
bag, and taking up a lot of meal in each
he dashed IL into the eyes of Little John