The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-01-19
!: Three Thieves Of
: Progressive Decree.

Ihree robbers were walking by the
roadside one evening after a day Of
proftless anxiety
ITS pity said one of them, that
we can do no better than this l am
unwilling to let day pass without
some gain
Here's chance" said another, and
as they looked up they saw on the
brow of the hill before them man rid
ing on a donkey and by string lead
ing sheep with a bell attached to its
neck
Il will steal that sheep said the
first of the robbers.
You cannot" said the second. do
you not perceive the cord and the beII?'
Il see them" said the first, 'but they
present no obstacle to me. I'll steal
that Sheep
IF you do, said the second, "Pll
steal the donkey
"What!' said the third Steal mans
donkey from under him? You cannot"
"You will soon know better" said the
second
IF you do, said the third, "I'll steal
all the clothes the man has upon him
or forfeit my pretensions to professions
al excellence
"Bahr' said the other two. You will
attempt what you cannot accomplish"
"We will see" said the third.
The unsuspecting man was plodding
along without thought Of injury when
the first approached and cut the cord
and bell from the sleeps neck and at
tached the bell to the donkey's tail,
where it's jingle continued to be heard.
In due time the man looked behind to
observe the condition of his sheep and,
to his horror. found it was gone In
dismay and distress he appealed to the
first person lie met and asked if he had
seen any one with sheep.
'Yes, replied the person, 81 saw
man clambering down the hillside with
such prize, but l thought it was his
own"
said the man, and as the person did so
he went in the wrong direction in pur-
suit of the robber and his sheep.
Finding. however. that his pursuit
was vain, he returned, tired and breath
less, to where he had left the donkey
But, 10. it was not there. Sheep and
donkey both were stolen from him.
Sad and perplexed he sat down to re-
feet and to grieve over his losses. but
soon he heard the wailing of some one
in distress.
What is this?' he said. Can any
one be more miserable than Il"
But the cry of anguish became louder
and still louder. He FASTENED to the
place whence it proceeded and there
beheld man weeping as though there
was no comfort for him.
What is this, my friend?" said he.
How are you affiicted?
Alas" said the man, Pm ruined
foreverr'
Ruined said he. How are you
ruined?"
II came to this well for draft of
water" he replied, land while drank
let drop Il costly gem, and it lies be-
meath the water
rs that alp said he.
"Ah," exclaimed the other, sit is of
great worth
"but have lost my sheep and donkey.
which | was unwillingly about to sell
at the next market town that | might
pay off some pressing debts, yet do
not bewail my loss
whats that loss, replied the other,
compared to my loss of gem worth
thousands of ducats and without which
it would only cost my life to return to
the king my master. who sent me with
it as gift of a royal friend beyond the
seas?"
why do you not go down in the wa
ter and recover it 2" asked the man,
Alas" said the other Il cannot
swim, and should only DROWN
Then / will go down for you,' said
the good. honest man.
"Will your" exclaimed the other. do
SO, and here are four golden pieces for
your pains. more than the sum of all
your losses"
The honest man received the pieces
of gold and placed them in his pocket
and then took off his clothes and de-
scended into the water. But after a
long and careful search he came out of
the well to ask the stranger on which
side the gem had fallen. when, 10, he
was gone. And the poor country man
was without sheep or donkey or cloth
ing. there all alone by the brink of
deep well. and the robbers were all far
away with the trophies of their artful
roguery. -Translated From the Italian
For New York Press.