Year: 1879

Squire and ask for his daughter for
him.


If be asks by what trade get my
living, you can say 1 am Master
Thief"


I" / think you've lost your Wits" said
the man, " for you can't be In your right |
mind when you think of such non-
sense"


No; he had not lost his wits; his |
father must and should go to the Squire
and ask for his daughter.


Nay, but tell you, daren't go to
the Squire and be your spokesman he
is so rich, and has so much money!"
said the man.


C Yes, there was no help for it, said
the Master Thief he should go whether
he would or no; and if he did not go by
fair means, he would make him go by
foul. But the man was still 10th to go ;
SO he stepped after him and rubbed him
down with cudgel, and kept on till the
man came crying and sobbing inside the
'Squire's door.


How now my mani What ails
you T SAID tne squire.


So he told him the whole story how
he had three sons who set off one day,
and how he gave them leave to go whith-
ersoever they would, and to follow
whatever calling they chose.
And here now is the youngest come
home, and has beaten me until he has
made me come to you and ask you for
| your daughter for him to wife; and he
bids me say, besides, that he is Master
Thief" And SO he fell to crying and
sobbing again.


"Never mind, my man." said the
Squire, laughing, "just go back and
tell him for me, that he must prove his
skill first If he can steal the roast
from the spit in the kitchen on Sunday,
while all the household are looking af-
ter it, he shall have my daughter. just
go and tell him that"


So he went back and told the youth,
who thought it would be an easy job.
So he set about and caught three hares
alive, and put them into bag, and
dressed himself in some rags, until he
looked SO poor and filthy that it made
ones heart bleed to see and then he
sneaked into the passage at the back door
of the 'Squire's house on the Sunday
afternoon, with his bag, just like any
other beggar boy. But the Squire him
self and all his household were in the
kitchen watching the roast. just as
they were doing this, the youth let one
hare go, and it set off and ran round and
round the yard In front of the house.


ooh, just look at that hare" said the
folks in the kitchen, and were all for run
ming out to catch it,


Yes the Squire saw 1t running too
"Oh, let 1t rum" said he; there's no
use in thinking to catch a hare by run
ming after it,"


A little while after, the youth let the
second hare go, and they saw it in the
kitchen, and thought it was the same
they had seen before, and still wanted
to run out and catch 1t; but the Squire
said again 1t was no use. 1t was not
long before the youth let the third hare
go, and 1t set off and ran round and
round the yard as the others before it.


Now they saw 1t from the kitchen,
and still thought it was the same hare
that kept on running about, and were
: all eager to be out after it.


"Well, 1t is fine hare" said the
Squire; "come and see If we can't lay
our hands on it,"


So he ran, and the rest with him =
away they all went, the hare before,
and they after so that all was rare fun
to see. But meantime the youth took
the roast and ran off with it; and where
the Squire got roast for his dinner
that day don't know; but one thing l
know, and that is, that he had no roast
hare, though he ran after 1t till he was
both warm and weary.


Now it chanced that the Priest came
to dinner that day and when the Squire
told him what trick the Master Thief had
played him, he made such game of him
that there was no end to it.


" For my part" said the Priest, "
don't think how 1t could ever happen to
me to be made such a fool of by fellow
like that"


every weil-only keep sharp look
out, said the Squire; maybe he'll come
to see you before you know word Of
it.' But the Priest stuck to his text
that he did, and made game Of the