Year: 1872

! So the Monday after came the Master
Thief like an angel again. and the
Priest fell on his knees and thanked him
before he was put into the sack but
when he had got him well in. the Mas
ter Thief drew and dragged him over
stocks and -stsnes~ssss ssss.--- ss-''s-''''-


"Oow ow = groaned the Priest in
side the sack, "where are we going 7"


"1his is the narrow way which leadetll
unto the kingdom Of heaven" said the
Master Thief, who went on dragging him
along TIL he had nearly broken every
b"ne i'll his body. At last he tumbled
him into goose house that belonged ia
the Squire, and the geese began peckine
and pinching him with their bills. SO that
he was more dead than alive.


snow you are in the flames of pnrga
tory, to be cleaned and purified for life
everlasting" said the Master Thief; and
with that he went his way, and took all
the gold and silver and all the fine things
which the Priest had laid together in his
dining room. The next morning when
the goose girl came to let the geese out,
she heard how the Priest lay in the sack
AID bemoaned himself in the goose
house.


In heavens name, who's there, and
what ails you ?" she cried. -'Oh said
the Priest, "if you are an angel from
heaven. do let me out. and let me return
again to earth. ior it rs wor-e here ti.a,,
in hell The little fiends keep pincbing
me with tongs "


God help u.. am not an angel at
ALL" eaid the girl as she helped the Priest
out of the sack: al only look after the
Squire's geese, and like enough they are
the little fiends that have been piuching
your reverence y


"Oh !" groaned the Priest, "this is all
that Master Thiefs doings. All my
gold and silver. and my fine clothes. =
And he crossed his breast, aud hobbled
home at such a rate that the girl thought
he had lost his wits all at once.


Now, when the Squire came to hear
how ii had gone with the Priest. and how
he had been along the narrow way, and
into purgatory, he laughed till he well
nigh split his sides. But when the Mas,
ter Thief came and asked for his daugh-
ter, as he had promised, the Squire put
him off again, and said:


You must do one masterpiece better
still. that l may see plainly what you
are tit for Now have twelve horses in
my stable, and on them will put twelve
grooms, one on each. IT, you are go good
a thief as to steal the horses from under
them. III see what can do for you"


"Very well, dare say ] can do it, b"
said the Master Thief; but shall really
have your daughter if | can {"


Yes. if you can. ii do my best for
you," said The Squire.


So the Master Thief set off to a shop.
and bought brandy enough to fill two
pock.t flasks. and into one of them h..
put slerpy drink. but into the other
only brandy. After that he hired eleven
meu to lay in wait that night. behind the
Squire stable yard ; and last of all. for
fair words and good bit of money. he
borrowed a ragged gown and cloak from
an old woman ). and SO. with a staff in
hi. hand and bundle on his back. be
limped off. as evening drew on, towards
the Sauire's stable. Just as he got there
they were watering the horres for the
night, and had their hands full Of work.
What the deuce do you want 2" said
one of the grooms to the old woman.


"Oh. oh it is so bitter cold,' said she,
and rhivered, and shook, and made wry
faces. "Hutetu! it lie so cold. q poor
wretch may easily freeze to death = and
with that che fell to sbivering and shaking
again.


"Oh for the love Of heaven. can l ge,



leave to stay here awhile, and sit inside
the stable door 7"


"To the deuce with your leave" said
one. Pack yourself off this minute
for if the Squire sets his eyes on you
he'll lead us to pretty dance


"Oh the poor old bag of bones" said
another. who seemed to take pity on her
'the old bag may sit inside and welcome
such a one as she can do no harm"


And the reet said, come she should stay
and some she shouldn't but while they