The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-01-09
a souT AT ouARrER.srArE.


A Stout swineherd More than Held
lis Own with Robin Hood,
Caroline Brown contributes a story
about tGeorge O'Green and Robin
Hood" Ito St. Nicholas. Here is an &C.
count of the meeting between these
two characters
How art thou called, Master Pig
minderT
George o'Green.7
why thatY'
"HO, no. hop' roared the churl. $50
wise, and don't know that wlthal! Why,
live on the green and mind tine pigsw
And he wiped the tears of laughter
from his eyes on the sleeve of his fus-
tian Jerkin.
Il doubt me, said robin. ''if thVa
canst play with the quarter-staff."
"Ay, but camp said George, quickly
SHOW thy prowess, them said Rot.
In, with quick thrust at him with his
white-oak staff"
"Bide here and mind the pigs till 20
to yon thicket and get me staff"
Robin consented, and gazed after the
brawny man as he walked with long.
slow strides to the oak thlcket on the
hither side of the brook. There he
carefully selected a tough green sap
ling, almost two inches thick, and then
wrenched 1t Off near the ground with a
twist of his powerful hands.
This bodies me no good In the coming
tilt thought Robin. But though h.
never withdraw for any cause, rarely
had he suffered defeat
George turned him about. and, COM
ing up to Robin, said:
"Canst lend that knife thine? Ills
DER too frayed for good staff" he
said, looking at the fringe Of splinters
where he had snapped off the stem.
He trimmed the stan carefully, then
handed back to Robin his knife. But
CHANGING to look around. lie saw the
pigs scampering Off to II listant corner
of the common.
''Thou'st not minded the pigs! Now
Goody Hosklns will rate me wellp' cried
George with heat, yet timidly wlthal
But Sandy didn't give me warn
ingW pleaded Robin.
Good old Sandy! Faithful shOat! He
knows thee not. He'll talk only to me!'
and Georges Immature left him at this
proof of the faithfulness of his favor
tie.
He set off at full speed after the pigs,
Robin at his heels. When they had got
the swine back to their own feeding
ground they lay themselves down on
the sort thymy turf to rest. The chase
had been a right merry one, and both
were short Of wind; for the pigs had
scampered and lodged sprightfully in
way that made the men more weary
than a five-mile sprint.
George dozed off on the Instant and
Robin painted loud. In ten minutes
Robin prodded George with his staff,
and said:
''Sluggard! Art readyT'
George yawned prOdiglOusly, show
ing strong teeth, white as a young
dogs, trimming his jaws. Then he rose
and ran his fingers through his shock
Of red hair, stretched nightly, and
said briefly:
Il be. Lay onr' , ST.
"Well, then" cried Robin, stand
forth now and defend thyself. I'll war.
rant thou wilt be no longer sleepy when
] shall have done with theew
At once the sound or the clashing of
slaves filled the air. AS both were 80
deft in handling the starr, all blows
We're skillfully parted. At the end of
an hour Robins arm began to weary,
but Georges brawny arm was unfail-
ing. In warding off a powerful blow
Robins arm swerved, and Georges
staff came down on his crown with a
sharp rap, the first hit made by either.
For near two hours the clashing of
slaves kept up, when Robins foot slip
ped on the thyme, and down he rolled .
Into the brook.