The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-05-23

w tue uaNS VI Tue CruSa0eS All Ing
land was in turmoil Ming Richard
called the Lion hearted. had gone q
help regain the Holy Land. Thos,
whom he left 10 govern England
were not Of the same honest STANG
a. their king. and they used the OPP
portumty only for their own adj
vantage. As a result Of this course
much injustice was done. laws were
not enforced. and finally respect for
law was lost. In such state OF
affairs. the wicked and selfish men
naturally oppressed those over
whom they had power, and. indeed
the ruling classes winkcd at these
things and even openly encouraged
them.
One Of the many victims Of
lax government was Robert. son
Of the Earl Of Huntington. A,
the death Of the Earl. the
administration Of the earidom
fell into the hands Of the Sheriff OF
Nottingham. whose duty IL was b
confer the title upon Robert. The
sheriff. a vain, scheming offlciai,
large in body but small in courage,
decided 10 take advantage Of Rob
ert's youth. Accordingly. by fraud
ulcnt means. he made IL appear that
another ward Of his. sir Guy ~ Gis-
borne. was the legal Earl Of Hunting
ton Seeing the hopeTcssness Of Sc
curing justice for the time. Robert
with a few followers withdrew b.
the forests Of Lincolnshire. There
under the name Of Robin Hood. he
led free life. hunting and rowing
the woodlands. BY his acts he soon
became known as the enemy of OPP
pressors and the friend Of the poor
and weak.
A few other gentlemen. like Rob
ert Of Huntington and many honest
men Of lower rank. rather than op-
press their neighbors or themselves
endure oppression. left their homes
and withdrew % the forests. A few
bands openly became robbers. hut nv
far the greater number desired only
10 he free. For the most part these
hands befriended the common peo-
pie and preyed only upon the tyran-
meal mobiles.
Such n band dwelt in Sherwood
near the town Of Nottingham. This
band especially had endeared them
selves to the peasants. and even TO-
The townspeople by their good
and generosity. To
such an extent were they admired
and respected that even the naughty
Sheriff had not yet found a favora-
bic opportunity for laying hands up
IN them. One Of the outlaws. Allan
l-Dale. even dared to love fair An
mabel. the daughter Of Dame burden
who lived almost in the shadow OF
he Sherifr's castle. And when il
VAS rumored that the sheriff in
ended TO force Annabel 10 marry Sir
one Of his henchmen. all
he greater sympathy went out 10
Allan.
I'm Nottingham. in the spring oil
he year, a great fair was held. To
his fair came merchants, pedlars.
tinerant minstrels. wandering jug
;lers and clowns, peasants and out--l
avs. travellers Of all degrees. both
high and low. At this time even
he sheriff deigned 10 mingle with
he crowd and permit the people tol
make obeisance and 10 admire his
manly form. Here came ALBANIA
Dale ami his two friends Will Saar-
ct and Little JOhn.-whO was really
almost big enough for two ordinary
Iohns. From distant lincoln forest
ury. Robin, impressed by the fear
heir hands and 10 win a share of
he hOnors in the sports.
As the gaiety reached it's height,
here came swinging along the mar
,st-place a lad in the jaunty cos
ume Of a cavalier In spite Of his
confident bearing the smooth face
md delicate features marked him as
me not old in years. lie paused 10 |
DIN a group Of merry makers and
Immediately began a quarrel by pre-
TO kiss one OF the maidens.
{ was only by the intervention OF
Robin Hood that the lad escaped in
ury. Robin. Impressed by the fear
ess bearing Of the young stranger.
invited him 30 become one of the
lincoln band. This invitation the
al readily accepted, but said that
10 desired first 10 relate his story,
nd the two Withdrew TO a quiet
lace. There to the forester's great