The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-09
Three Thieves of Progressive De-


gree.
Three robbers were walking by the road
side one evening. after a day of prodtless
anxiety, says an Italian story.
Its pity" said one Of them. that
We can do no better than this. I am UNI
willing TO let a day pass without some
gain"
Here's a chance" said another: and as
they looked up they saw on the brow of
the hill before them man riding on
donkey. and by a string leading a sheep
with bell attached to its neck.
81 will steal that sheep" said the first
Of the robbers.
You cennot. said the second; do you
not perceive the cord and the belly"
Il see them" said the first. but they
present TO obstacle 20 me. I'll steal that
sheep"
If you do" said the second, "TH steal
the donkey"
"whatw said the third, steal a mans
donkey from under him. You cannot"
You will soon know better" said the
second.
II you do" said the third, I'm steal
all the clothes The man has upon him Or
forfeit my pretensions TO professional ex-
cellence."
Bah" said the other two, you will at
tempt what you cannot accomplish"
We viii see said the third.
The unsuspecing man was plodding
along without thought of injury when the
first approached and cut the cord and bell
from the sleeps neck, and attached the
bell to the donkeys tail, where its jingle
continued TO be heard.
In due time the man looked behind to OBJ
serve the condition of his sheep and to his
horror found it was gone. In dismay and
distress be appealed to the first person he
met and asked if he had seen any one with
a sheep.
Yes replied the person. Il saw man
clambering down the hillside with such a
Prize but | thought it was his own"
Hold my donkey for a moment" said
the man, and as the person did so he went
in the wrong direction in pursuit of the
robber ana his sheep
FINDING. however, that his pursuit was
vain, he returned tired and breathless. TO
where he had left the donkey But To- it
was not there!-sheep and donkey both
were stolen from him. Sad and perpfexed,
he sat down to reflect and TO grieve over
ms losses; but soon he heard the wailing
of some one in distress
What is this?" he said. Can any one
be more miserable than I?'
But the cry of anguish became louder
and stll louder. He FASTENED to the place
whence it proceeded, and there beheld a
man weeping as though there was no com
fort for him
What is this. my friend?" said he.
How are you af1icted?"
Alas" said the man, I'm ruined for
evert'
ea2"
Il came to this wei for draught of
water he replied, land while drank 1
let drop costly gem, and it lies beneath
the water"
rs that all?" said he.
An! exclaimed the other, lit is of
great worth"
so it may be-" said the honest man.
but l have lost my sheen and donkey
which I was unwinngly about to sell a
the next market town that l might ray off
some pressing debts; yet 1 do not bewaiI
my loss"
What's that loss" replied the other,
compared to my loss of gem worth
thousands of ducats, and without which
1t would only cost my fe 10 return to the
King my master, who sent me with il as
a silt TO a royal f.iend beyond The seas?"
Why do you not so down in the water
and recover it?' asked the man.
Alas" said The ether, Il cannot SWIM:
and l would only drown"
Then l will go down for you" said
the good, honest man.
"Wiil you?" excla med the other. "Do 50
ana here are four golden pieces for your
pains- more than the sum of all your loss
IS; and if you regain my treasure I sha
forever owe you my gratitude"
Inc honest man received the pieces of
gold and placed them in his pocket. and
then took off his clothes and descended
INTO the water But after a long and
careful search he came out of the wei
10 ask the stranger on which side the gem
had falen when 10! he was gone! and
the poor countryman was without sheen
or donkey or clothing-there an alone BY
me brink Of a deep well-and the robbers
were all far away with the trophies of
then ar ful roguery.