The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-05

This is one of a series of stories
under the general title THE Peo-
pies Park" one of which, de
fender Of the Faith" appeared on
this page on Monday, Aug. 2Sth.
yUHEN / was thirteen had friend
W called John Klein. 1t was his
name which gave us the whole idea
L said, "You be Little John and I'll
be Robin Hood" Then he went to
Central Park and by the following
week we had all our equipment.
Sherwood Forest lay west of the
old reservoir. 1t consisted of twenty
four trees, we counted them, some
bushes and a meadow. Sometimes
we claimed the reservoir which be-
longed to the fief of the Sheriff OF
Nottingham. His yeomen patrolled
it.
The Sheriff himself lived in a
fortified castle on the north side.
When he went to feed his falcons
or to the chase we let the drawbridge
down and walked across the moat
and shot arrows of warning into
the open windows. We attached slips
of paper to the arrows and shot
them in all directions. They bore
three inscriptions, Beware Of the
Black Hand" Beware of the A. F.
of L." and beware of the I. L. D."
These initials were often mentioned
in Johnny's home. There was no
telling what they meant. After a
time we got to be pretty good at
archery. The bows were made of
Sherwood Forest lumber and the
arrows were weighted with rubber
bands. At night we buried them in a
long box which we covered with
earth and leaves and grass.
Johnny and I were having bout
at quarterstaves. We had killed each
other several times. He stepped on a
rock and sprained his ankle. We
sat around trying to make the swell
ing go down when the baby came
up the meadow. I knew that baby.
She played over by the drinking
fountain with the old nurse and the
rich kid who came around with a
new toy each time.
The baby was alone. She was very
small and white. She came over to us
and sat on my cap and pointed to
Johnny. Boy. /. boy" she said.
mo kidding" I said, Get off my
cap" The baby smiled and handed
me the cap.
I said. 1--WE ought to keep her here
for Maid Marian"
TOO small" Johnny said.
The nurse ran into the meadow, all
excited, hollering, 'Evangeline, Evan
geline."
Johnny hollered, Here she is,
here" he said; "Wow, what name
We began laughing. The nurse
came up and took the baby and asked
what was funny but we just laughed
and laughed.
The rich kid also ran UP. "Why
don't you stay put" he said to the
baby.
His name is Reginald" Johnny
whispered.
"It's Percival," I said. We kept
laughing.
The kid saw our armory on the
ground and bent down to examine
a bow.
Hey" Johnny said, "lay off that
stuff"
The kid dropped 1t and walked
away with the nurse.
Next day the old lady came around
with the kid and couple Of bars
of chocolate. She said, Boys, will
you play with this other little boy?
His name is Patrick. What's yours?"
We told her our names and said,
sure, we will play with him. So she
left him there with us.
He had BIB gun. PUT that down, 7"
I said, "this is ancient times. I'm
Robin Hood and he's Little John.
This is Sherwood Forest. You take
this quarterstaff and come from that
direction that's Nottinghamshire You
get wise and start calling me names
so we fight and you get killed. You're
the Guy Of Gisbourne."
robin Hood and the Guy Of CHS
bourne didn't fight with quarter
staves," Johnny said, 'they used
swords"
"That's right" 1 said, heres
sword, Guy"
1t was shorter than mine and I
had the reach on him too. He took
it and said, How do you know when
you are killed."
when the point touches you you're
dead"
Suppose my point touches your"
mo" said. You're the Guy of
Gisbourne."
That's not fair. Why don't you
fence fair and see who wins?"
go ahead" Johnny said, "fence
him."
We squared off and he didn't
know a thing, my first pass got him.
"See," Johnny said. now go away
and come back and get wise and
start fighting
The kid did that. He came at me
and almost broke the sword and
when I touched him he continued.
Fall down." Johnny said, fan
down, you dumbbell7