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iTALES OF ROBIN HOOD. Continued from 2d. pace. before, and the perfect , . - A . down withont being instantly era atoms. There must be some other means of es- j cape, ami he was determined to find it. I he • former fear of his companions would beknew, keep them from a close investigation, ana so to , the questioning of the trapper as to whether or do be was satisfied, he simply answered: •Wait a few moments and I will show von. and creeping cautiously along the bunk, he dis- (From the “Eoys and twirls” of the South.) Told by John March moot. KOBIN HOOD AM) THE STRANGER ‘ Ih it want of money that troubles thee so sorely?’ asked the outlaw kindly. ‘Tell me what is thy grief ?’ • I have no money it is true, but five shillings and a ring I have kept seven years for my wed ding; but this is not my great trouble, for I have ; all, a house, farm and gear, but last night, I was | thong! ‘What dost thon ask for all you have?’ en- come to sup with us, Scarlet, and I want a good quired the outlaw, ‘i would like to buy meat, supper. He is able to pay handsomely. Come, mare and all. I have a fancy to try the butch- Little John,. help our guest to dismount.’ er’s trade myself to-day.’ . Tne Sheriff declared that he had dii ined so _ creeping covered at a little distance an opening in an ap parently solid,rock, though covered,as the mouth of the cave had formerly been, with bn.mcs. It was time of triumph now, and tearing th< branches away, he called his companions to ‘Ernotber den of Iter wolf-devil • exclaimed the trapper, starting back- ’and by the hear ings, here’s marks of blood ergin. But you are not going in T ‘Certainly. came lor that purpose. •And be berwitched or torn all ter pieces? I wouldn’t venlnr in thar fer ail the beaver anc. otter skins that was ever trapped, to say nothin erbout ther mink and martin. •Then wait here,’ and Lowed swung himself lightly dow n—instantly, however, returmn demanding weapons. .. , , •So vou ha- - hunted the devil to her den, have you ? Hut don’t go in-for heaven’s sake, don’t!’ , . , •Pshaw! there is nothing there to fear more than you see every day and make light of.’ V large owl, apparently disturbed from its slumbers, whirred past their heads at that mo ment with a dismal hoot. •Ther goes one of ther imps, it not tber old she one herself ! exclaimed Fisher, and he was about to fire at it, when Lowell snatched away his rifle, and telling the Indian to piocure him a club, prepared to descend again. ■Tell ns what yer did see,’ demanded the trapper, more than ever aiasrmed for Lowell. •Nothing but what you will soon see lying dead at your feet. Buffalo-Hoof, are you afraid to go with me?’ The Indian replied by jumping down into the ’ ’ " ’ his CHAPTER IV. One summer morning the outlaws had eaten their breakfast, and were waiting around for their chief to give orders for the day. ‘What time is it?’ asked Robin Hood rising to his lest. ‘It is getting on in the day,’ replied little John. ‘Bee the sun is almost to the tops of the trees.’ ‘Then,’continued Robin Hood, ‘it is time for us to scatter through the woods after game, or we will have no meat for dinner.’ Each outlaw started out in the course his own judgement suggested. As Ho bin Hood walked j alone through tne forest, about midday, he es pied under the trees, as gay and handsome a young man as he had had the luck to see in i many a day. His dress was as handsome as his gaud : face; his doublet was scarlet silk, his stockings j and mantle were the same bright color, anil a j long white plume fell from his cap. Over his shoulder v>as slung a handsome bow, and a ! quiver full of arrows gave him quite the air of a sportsman. He did not see the outlaw, for his : attention was fixed on a herd of deer browsing ! on the grass about forty feet from where he | stood. j ‘Now !’said the stranger, talking to himself. ! ‘Now, the best buck ot y ou all shall be meat lor I my dinner.’ j So saying, he bent Lis bow, and although the I deer was quite a long shot from him, it fell dead | on the spot. ‘Well shot ! Well shot !’ called out Robin ; Hood. ‘If you will come with me young man, | ye shall be one of my bowmen.’ •Go to ! thou saucy varlet,’ answered the stran ger with haughtiness. ‘I am my own man 1 thank you ! I have half a mind to give you a buffet on the ear to teach vou manners.’ opening; and the trapper, urged both by overpowering curiosity and the fear of being I ‘Hush young man !’ said the outlaw good-hu- aione, followed, and, to an instant the daylight moredly. ‘Although I stand here alone, I have was almost blocked out by the forms ot three only to wind three notes on my horn, to bring men. For a moment all was silence. Then the three-score men to do my lighting, if I am not cavern resounded with hisses and howls. able to do it myself. Suakes and wolves, by tber Lord !’ burst i ‘Thou hadst best not blow thy horn,’ said the from the lips of Fisher: but before he could say | stranger fearlessly. ‘For I have a good broad more, the rifle of Lowell had been fired, and his sword, and could cut thy blast off short, it thou club had fallen. i didst.’ ‘Yes, and dead ones,’ he replied; and he; The outlaw took his bow and beDt it, pretend- tossed a half-grown cub and the still squirming 1 ing be w as about to shoot. The stranger quick- body of a serpent backwards, and so as to strike | ly bent his. the trapper, who retreated to the upper air and j ‘Hold thy hand !’ said Robin Hood. ‘A\ hat is light with the utmost speed. Nothing would j the use of shooting, we would only kill each lave induced him to touch them. To him they | other outright, and what good would come ot it? w ere at least the children of Satan, and he need- i But if we would find out which is the best man, ed no further proof to convince him of the evil i let us get under the shade ot yonder tree, and nature of the wolf-woman. take our broad-swords, and see which one can Even the Indian had shrank quickly back at first, as it was natural he should do, under the circumstances; but when Lowell, with firm bear ing. continued his investigations, he recovered his manliness sufficiently to take the hated car casses, carry them to the reck above, and throw them into the yawning depths below. Relieved of these ioolish horrors, the cavern presented about the same appearance as the one they had formerly explored. There was wood for the tire, a rude bed, the remnants ot a re el ntly-cooked meal, a few skins, and snares for the catching of small game; a torn mocassin or two-in fact the usual contents of an Indian’s give tLe best play.’ •Agreed with all my heart!’ replied the stran ger. So presently they took their swords in hand, ami iougbt an if for freedom. Robin Hood soon gave the stranger a lick that almost took away his senses, but the stranger steadied his hand and gave the outlaw a blow over the head that made the blood trickle down on Robin Hood’s face. ‘That was a master-stroke,’ said the outlaw. •You have learned to handle the sword before to-dav. What is fhy name, and whence comest tnoo?’ ' •I come from the town of Maxwell. My name wigwam. But these things were all near the entrance; and the rocky vault was evidently of j is gamewell. I killed a man in a tray- and had some depth and area. ‘ ; to flee, and have come to .Sheerwood to seek my ‘Hist!’ whispered the Indian, laying his hand i uncle, the outlaw, Robin Hood.’ npon the arm of his companion—‘ hist! there is T " something rnovin to have wed my own true love, .vad basted to her home, but a rich old knight had come court- j ing her, and her father and mother bade me be- ( gone. To-night they will force her to be his bride, j and so two faithful hearts will be broken.’ ‘ Be of good courage, perhaps we can help j true lovers to a better end;’ said the outlaw, j cheeringly. ‘If thou can'st,’ said AlIen-a-Dale, ‘I’ve no | ready, gold or fee, but I will swear on a book, i thy true servant forever to be.’ The outlaws talked together, and soon Robin Hood in the dress of a harper, with a harp on liis shoulder, trudged away alone. When be got to the church where the wedding w as to be, lie was quite early and lie went up quite near to the altar. After a while the wedding couple arrived. The bride was young and beautiful, but alas'! her face was wet with tears, and her cheeks pale with grief; the groom was old and lame and hobbled along, hardly able to keep by her side, and every one said, ‘ what a shame! but her father and mother walked proudly be hind, not caring for their daughter’s misery, | but exulting dii her iutnre rank and w ealth. When tit* bishop who was marrying them asked if any one forbade the marriage to proceed a loud voice quite near at hand said, boldly: •I do.’ Ai! looked to see who spoke. ‘Who art thou?’ said the bishop, ‘and why dost thou forbid this marriage?’ ‘This is not a fit match,’ said the harper, rising; • the bride shall choose her own groom;' ; | and he took the old knight by the shoulders, j ! and gave him a twirl that scat him spinning • down the ai de, and then quicky drew his horn from under his mantel and blew a quick loud j note. In an instant twenty-four bowmen walked rap- ( idly into the church, Allen-a-Dale himself, the ! headman. The bride, with a smile, holdout her : hand to him. ; ‘This is the true love,’ said Robin Hood, who ! now had thrown off'his disguise and stood forth in Lincoln-green; ‘and I will see the right man ; gt-ts tier, for 1 will give away the bride.’ ‘This cannot be,’ said the bishop, ‘ they must j he three times asked in church; it is the law of : i our land.’ ‘By my faith,’ said L’ttle-John, ‘I can play i j clerk.’ Ho he went into the choir, and lest three times j ' was not enough, asked seven times. Meanwhile Robin Hood had slipped a heavy | purse in the bishop’s hand, and when Little- | John finished the asking, the bishop went on with the marriage service without more ado, and | the father and mother having gone off with the | old knight, Robin Hood gave the bride away. | After the wedding the bold outlaws left Allen- 1 a-Dale and his happy young bride, and went | quietly back to the forest. About two weeks after the wedding of Allen-a- ! Dale Will Stately went to sleep under a tree ■ uear a bridle path; and some of the sheriff’s j men coming by, they took him prisoner and I carried him back to Nottingham. Ailen-a-Dale ! saw him brought into town, tied, and learned he was one of Robin Hood’s men. He went up to the castle to see if he couid do aught to help the 1 prisoner and heard with dismay that he was to be hung at noon next day. Then he made haste i to the for'' jL£md told the outlaws the sad news. Robin ’ fee thanked him warmly, then he 1 and his m-t* made a vow to save Will Stately, I or else there would be bloody work to prevent ‘I'll give you a good bargain if thou wilt buy heartily he did not need supper—did not want l, so Imayest get back home earlier than I I anything to eat. He only wanted to go home, ought to do, when I left it,’ said the butch- . But the chief outlaw said: ° . ’ . _ 1 .4 ‘It vnn t I 1 no* • V er eagerly. ‘You may have mare and meat lor four marks.’ . ‘Agreed !’ replied Robin Hood, ‘if thou wilt j throw in thine butcher’s frock? To this the man was willing, and the outlaw paid the man his price, slipped on the greasy j garment, and went on gaily into the town ot | Nottingham, singing in a loud clear voice. ‘Hey, down derry ! Lets be merry! Jolly butchers ail Here's joint and rib, I’ll tell no fib. Come give my trade a call.’ When he arrived at the town-market, he went to the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for license to | sell his meat. The greasy dress and skull cap ! of the butcher changed the outlaw s appearance so entirely that the Sheriff little dreamed here j was the man he was continually hunting for. I So Robin got leave to sell his m r :at withont any 1 trouble. I j It was a new business to Robin Hood, and as | he did not know the proper price to ask lor ins meat, he soon got all the custom, tor he would ; sell for one penny as big a piece ot beet as the other butchers would ask three pence lor. Of course he soon sold out all he had, and the oth er butchers who had watched him jealously, said, ‘lie must be some wild blade, and has stolen this meat which he sells so cheap.’ Another said, ‘Perhaps his lather gave gold into his trust, and thus he wastes it. While they talked together thus about him, Robin Hood came up to them in a pleasant, friendly way and said, ‘Don’t be glum, my brothers! I ve had the luck to sell out first, won't yon all come to the inn and dine with me?’ This made them all feel very friendly. They said they would go with him with pleasure, and then spoke again concerning him among thern- , -m ■ • . An put and ‘Give him back twenty-five pounds,’ chiot outlaw; die would not do as nine II you will not buy my living horned beasts you must pay a good sum for one that is cooked.’ I iie Sheriff was heartily sick of his joke about ‘•horned beasts,” and much against his will got down from his horse. When supper was berved, with a bad grace he swallowed a few mouthfuls ot the smoking venison. After they had eaten, kiltie John and Much, the miller’s son, got his portmanteau from oh his horse and counted out the three hundred pounds his wife had in for him to buy the ‘spendthrift butcher” and cattle. said the as much for ns but two and seventy pound# pay us lull well for bis supper.’ Little-John put the amount of money his mas ter bade him back into the portmanteau, and fastened it to the Sheriff s saddle. They let him mount his horse, and two of the outlaws led his horse thiough the dark paths ont of the forest, lor it was about twilight when they let him go. ‘Oar respects to your wire,’ quoth one, ‘Oom- mtua me to her favor,’ said the other, and they let go his bridle, and the sheriff’ put his dapple grey horse into a canter and scarce felt safe un til he reached his home. (TO BE CONTINUED.) DOLI.Y IS THE PAitSOVtUE Among the books in the Garret.—The cid Cellar and its Apples.—Cautious Puss and the rats. (Extract from Mrs. Stowe’s new serial Our Folks at Pogramme.) One corner of the garret was reserved safe from the rummaging ot the children, and there hung in order the dried herbs, which formed the pharmacope ia of those early days. There were catnip, and boneset, and elderblow, and hardback, and rosemary, and tansy, and penny royal, all gathered at the right time of the moon, dried and sorted and tied in bundles, hanging from the different nail- -those canonized floral saints, which when living, Ailed the air with selves, saying: ‘This is a generous fellow ?’ As I they were on their way to the iuu, they met the odors of health and sweetness, and whose very sheriff. Robin Hood cried out to him in hearty mortal remains and dry bones were supposed | tones, to have healing virtues. Some of Dolly’s hap- ' ‘Come, Sheriff’! Come to the inn, and dine piest hours were those long sunny, ioyous Sat- with us. I’m going to pay the piper, and am qrday afternoons in which many ot these stores bound to have a jolly meal! The Sheriff went very willingly. And when the dinner was served, all steaming hot from the kitchen, they sat down to the table. “Pray God bless us all, said Robin Rood, And our meat within this place. A enp of sack so good, will nourish our blood, And so do! end my grace.” Then they fell to eating and drinking ale and wine, and when they had consumed the wine : blackberry bushes which had disputed the way that was on the table, the outlaw called for with her. This corner of the garret always more, saying to the landlord, filled Dolly’s head with visions and longings for ‘Let’s be merry while w’e stay, for I don’t care the late slow-coming spring, which seemed far if wine and good cheer are ever so dear, let’s : 0 ff as the dream of Heaven, have enough, and for it 111 pay.’ Then those barrels of sermons and old pam- •Thisis a very gay fellow,’ whispered one of phlets ! Dolly had turned and turned them, up- the butchers in the Sheriff s ear. j setting them on the floor and pawing helplessly Yes,’said the Sheriff, ‘he is some prodigal, with her little pink hands and reading their were gathered, when she rushed through the lush, long grass, along the borders of mossy old stone fences, and pulled down starry constella tions of elder blossoms, and gathered pink spires of hardback, till her little arms could scarcely clasp around the bundle. Then she would rush home panting and energetic, with torn dress, her sun-bonnet off on her shoulder, and curls all tangled from the wrestles with I ween, who has inherited his father’s land and cattle, and thus spends the gold he sells his meat for, in a mad frolic.’ Then the idea struck the Sheriff that he could perhaps buy some of the merry butcher’s land for one third its value, as he seemed to have so little care for money, and so poor a notion of the value o' what he arid. For the Sheriff’ of Nottingham, although he was a wealthy man, was a very covetous one, and was always on the lookout for a sharp trade. The first pause in the ‘ Most likely another cub. It is always part of those who play fanatics or medicines to have plenty of such things around them.’ ‘ Hhall I fire?’ ‘No, for heaven’s sake, don’t! It might be either the child or the woman. I have great [ hopes of finding one or both of them here.’ •OanDot my pale brother see its eyes?’ ‘I can see something; but not distinctly. 1 1 wish we had the means of lighting a fire.’ If thou art a nephew of Robin Hood,’ replied the outlaw, ‘we will end this play of broad swords forthwith.’ ‘lam indeed, his sister’s son, although I have never seen him since 1 was a small child.’ ‘Thou sees’t him now,’ said the outlaw, and he threw his arms around the young man’s neck and kissed him heartily. I am the uncle thou seekest, and am happy to find in so gal lant a youth my kinsman.’ The stranger was too glad of the meeting, and in his turn kissed his uncle affectionately. Y’ou may be sure Robin Hood had much to ask about it. He clothed himself in red, his men wore , talk he tumed to Robin Hood, and as if half in 1 their nsuaRfc|en, and it was a gallant sight to j • t j see them stags’, each one with every man a good j J good butcher, hast thou any horned I broad sword and a good yew bow. >\hen they ; leasts left on hand that thou wouldst sell? for I came near the castle, just outside on the green, j wcu jq ra tffer buy live stock than meat; and if •The red man never knows where either hunger or night will find him,’ was the still cau- I his sister and other triends, and they talked 1 ionsly-whispered answer; and the Indian ga- pleasantly as they wended their way to the trys- thered the wood and dry branches and leaves I tog tree, where they found Ltttie John all alone, j into a circle, and drawing flint and steel from | ‘Well master ! where hast thou tarried so his pouch, soon had a fire lighted that iilr.min- j long? I almost feared harm had befallen thee, j ed the cave as perfectly as it it bad been thrown j J met this stranger,’ quoth Robin Hood, ‘and j open to the noonday sun. j he brought the blood on my lace, in a bout with j ‘Now I can see the eyes,’ said Lowell. ! broad-swords; I find since, however, that he is ! * They are those ot a wolf! my sister’s son, he has come with the purpose ; * Yonr own deceive you. The eyes of a wolf j of being one of our number. Thon art my best ! have an oblique position. These are those cfa | man, Will Stuteiy the next, and my nephew brother human being.’ ‘Look, the skin is shaggy ! my pah is mistaken.’ ‘Am I? We will soon test that question,’ and Lowell started forward, when the hand of the indian grasped him and lieid hiru back. • Hee ! are the eyes of the pule face sharp now?’ and he pointed to a gulf that yawned in his path. • Great heaven !’ replied Lovell, starting back. •Another step and I should have fallen in— gone, who can tell where?’ shall be the third. Ho Robin Hood, Little-John and the two Wills, will be names to make the deer and bishops quail.’ ‘Is this young man too named Will ?’ asked Little-John. ‘He is so gay, we will call him Scarlet, to distinguish him from Will Stuteiy. Welcome to life under the greenwood tree,’ continued Little John, grasping the hand of the young man w armly. Robin iiood sounded his horn, and very soon three-score bowmen came toward him from among the trees. Will Scarlet, in alarm, bent To the spirit-land, answered Buffalo-Hoof, j his bow. | wilt imv for this day’s Come uncle, he saia, ‘come Little-John, ai- 1 - ! ■ ■ > Far too wide for them to jump, and without j a bridge to cross it, they were again at a stand- j still. On the other side they could still see the i eyes flashing upon them. Then even as they ; stood undecided, they saw theskins struggling— j heard a little cry, and the child they were in ] search of tottered to the brink anu stood calling j to Buffalo-Hoof, whom she recogn.zed, tor as- j sistance. •Yes, we come,’ he replied. ‘But tell me j how to get there. Which way did you go?’ Tne little one pointed to one side of the wall- j rock—the Indian and Lowell dashed thither, j itud found a narrow walk, one that would easily j escape detection, and hastened across. • Where is the woman that brought you here?’ asked Lowell, as he took the child in his arms. ‘There,’ and she pointed to the same pile of skins from which she Lad just crawled, and tnt u went on in her artless manner to tell how the woman had made her keep still, and tried to hold her, although she wanted to come to them — wanted to go back to her lather and mother. * is she wounded ?’ again questioned Lowell. He was satisfied that the well-woman was now completely in their power, and was planning some way to capture her without danger either party to though we.be but three men, let us quit our selves bravely, and sell our lives dearly to this army.’ ‘These are thine comrades, Scarlet,’ replied Robin Hood, ‘how like ye tne looks of my yeo men ?’ ‘Master,’ said Will Stuteiy, ‘when ye blew so loud and shrill, w r e nastened, lest some danger was near.’ ‘No,’replied the outlaw. ‘I wanted ye here to make good cheer, and a welcome for my neph ew, Will Scarlet.’ They welcomed the young man gladly. Rob in Hood sent them for the fine buck Scai iet had killed when he first met him, and the rest of the day was spent in feasting, trying IVats of strength and skill in wrestling, jumping, run ning, and shooting at a target with their long bows. When they grew tired of these sports they told riddles, sang songs, and were merry- one with another, until the sinking sun sent them to rest, CHAPTER V. ROBIN HOOD AND ALLEN-A-DALE. About mid-day a bright summer morning Robin Hood, and Little -John were wandering thi m they saw a fine-looking young man. He was singing a gay roundelay to hims6lf, skip- next morning however they again espied the young man, but how changed his mien. lhe I’es, one arm and one limb had been broken, j through the woods, when a few y ards before and she bad bled very much.’ ■ You stay here, little one,’ said Lowell, ‘ for a moment—mind you don’t go uear the biiuk. Ci me, Buffalo-Hoof, we will take the woman,’ mid both darted lorward and flung themselves upon the pile of skins. Rut it was a pile of skins only. If there had been a woman there at all, she had escaped, and while they were looking bewildered around for the means of egress, they beard the voice ol the u trapper shouting from wilhout: : a song bursting from his lips, they now gave • Thar goes the devil now ! Thar she goes, j vent to dismal sighs. The outlaws’ kind hearts down the mountings, but she ain’t got no child, j were touched by his evident grief; and Little 1 reckon sLe’s eat her up.’ : JoLn went lorward to his side. (concluded in next issue.) j ‘Stand back,’ be cried fiercely. ‘I am a -* ; wretched man and none must molest me.’ President in Political Economy Class—‘You j ‘ We will do you no harm,’ replied the out- J neiv, Mr. S., that there was a fall in tLe price law soothingly, come with me to my master, he of whisky a year cr sc» ego.’ Mr. S. (anxious to | sits by yonder tree.’ they saw the gallows whereon Allen-a-Dale told them Will Stuteiy was to be hung. ‘Here we must lie in ambush until some one goes forth to see what he can hear,’ said Robin Hood. One of the outlaws went quietly to wnere a pilgrim in a palmer’s dress stood near the castle, but outside of its walls. The outlaw asked this man it it was the truth that one ol Robin Hood’s men was to die that day on the gallows. ‘Alas, yes!’ answered the good mat, ‘Will Stuteiy- must be hung to-day; if his master had only known, he would some succor send, I’m sure. A few of Robin Hood’s boid yeomen would soon fetch him hence. They are so greedy for his death they have not waited to collect much of a guard.’ The outlaw hastened back to his master with the palmer’s words. About this time the gates opened, and Will Stuteiy was brought out, guarded on every side, and his arms pinioned behind his back. When he saw the gallows and no help nigh, he spoke to the sheriff. ‘Now, seeing I needs must die, grant me one boon,’ said he, ‘for my master has never yet had a man banged; untie my hands and give me a sword, and iet me tight with thee and thy men til! I’m killed outright.” _ ^ ‘Thou art n impudent varlet surely, replied j bvllL .yj er>s good-bye.’ the sheriff. ‘Indeed thou shalt be hanged, and j TJie sheriff mac so I vow, shall the thief thy master swing from a gallows some day ere long.’ •You are a dastard coward,’ said Stuteiy staunchly. ‘If ever my master meets thee thou work. ’ •Just as they were about to put tne noose on I liis neck, a man, (it was Little-John), stepped | up to the doomed man. ‘Before you die dear Will, take a farewell of a '■ dear friend.’ And he threw his arms around Stately, as if ! in a farewell embrace, but with a sharp knife he | quickly cut the cord that tied, the prisoner’s ! harids. i >Ys 1 live;’ cried out the Sheriff, ‘that varlet is | one of Robin Hood’s rebel crew. Seize him at ; once !’ i But Stately’s hands were free, and Little John | snatched a sword from one of the Sheriff’s men. s ‘Here Will !’ he cried, ‘Take this, put your back to mine, we will fight and defend ourselves for a little, for ai 1 is near at hand.” I The Sheriff with his men were about to rush upon them, when an arrow whistled through tue Sheriff’s ear. He knew then, that Robin i Hood was near at hand, turning to look he saw ! the villiaus jump irom their ambush, j ‘Make haste !’ be called out as he ran, ‘Make : haste, it is no boot to stay,’ and as their master j set them the example, the Sheriff’s men with all ■ tlieir might ran away. •Oh stay, oh stay!’ Will Stuteiy said: ‘Take * leave ere you depart, ye ne’er will catch bold ! Robin Hood, unless you dare to meet him.’ ‘Hush Stuteiy !’ said his master, ‘let us be thankful this is the end ot what threatened to thon hast more land than thou carest to keep, perhaps we might strike a trade for that. Thou art too good a companion to be bound down to tilling land.’ ‘You are right; my proper trade is not a farmer, and I have between one or two fine droves of as fine animals as ever yon saw,’ an swered the outlaw quite readily. For Robin Hood saw through the Sheriff’s designs, and thought he too would ‘set a trap to catch med dlers.’ ‘And besides,’he continued, ‘I have a hundred acres or more of good free land I am willing to sell.’ ‘(’anst thou make good titles to the land?’ asked the Sheriff, eagerly. ‘As good as my father made to me,’said Robin Hood, gaily 7 . ‘I’ll go with you this very day,’said the Sheriff, : titles with amazed eyes. It seemed io her that there were some thousands of the most unin telligible things. But oh, joy and triumph, one rainy day she found at the bottom of an old ! barrel a volume of the “Arabian nights,” and henceforth her fortune was made. Dolly had no j idea of reading like that of our modern days— to read and to dismiss a book. No; to read was with her a passion, and a book onct read was ; read daily; always becoming dearer and dearer, • as an old friend. The “Arabian Nights” trans- | ported her to foreign lands, gave her a new life : of her own; aDd when things went astray with i her, when the boys went to play higher than she ! dared to climb in the barn, or started on fishing 1 excursions, where they considered her an eu- : eumbiance, then she found a snug corner, j where, curled up in a little, quiet lair, she | could at once sail forth on her bit of enchanted I carpet into fairy land. But who shall describe the large-eyed, breath- j less wonder with which she read stories of j witchcraft, with its weird marvels of mysterious ’ voices heard in lonely places, of awful visitations ! that had overtaken sinners, and immediate de- : liverances that had come to answer God’s saints? Then, too, the stories of Indian wars and cap- ; tivities, when the war-whoop had sounded at : midnight, and little children like her had awakened to find the house beset with legions o: I devils, who set fire to the dwellings and carried i the people through dreary snow and ice to Can ada. No Jewish maiden ever grew up with a more earnest faith that she belonged to a eonse- ‘toseeyour land and cattle, my fine fellow. I’ve | crated race, a people especially called and some money of a friend he wishes to be imme- j chosen of God for some great work on earth, diately invested. , : Her laith in every word of the marvels related ‘Now is your chance, said the outlaw. He i n this book was full as great as the dear old knew the sheriff was not speaking truly about ] credulous Dr. Cotton Mather could have desired, it being the money of a triend he was so anxious > But the mysterious areas of the parsonage was to trade with, and he felt as eager to ride as the qci confined to the garret. Under the whole Sheriff’. He arose from the table, saying, •Our feast is done, so go and get your horse while I pay mine host, and tell my brother house in all its divisions spread a great cavern ous cellar, where were musk} 7 rooms and dark passages explored oniy by the light of candles. There were rows of bins, in which w 7 ere stored made haste home and told his i t d e apples of every name and race, harvested in wile to fill his portmanteau with gold pieces, j autumn from the family orchard. There, too, while he saw to his horse being saddled, for W as a long row of cider barrels, from whence, in fear the wild blade of a butcher would not wait, the hour of their eariv sweetness. Doily had “For.” said he, “if he knows no more the worth delighted to suck the cider through straws, for of land than he does of meat and money, X i tpat purpose carefully selected and provided, will buy an he has lp r ^ song, and make a very | Not without a certain awe was her descent handsome profit by it. j into this shadowy Avernus, generally under the Our friendly butcher slipped up to Robin j protecting wing ot Nabby or one of the older Hood and said: boys. Sometimes, with the perverse spirit “The Sheriff is a sharp trader; do not be too which moves the male nature to tyrannize over anxious to sell.” “Thank thee, kindly. I will remember thy words, and I hope may keep even with the Sheriff. ” Soon after the outlaw and the Sheriff set forth. “Is this the way ?” asked the Sheriff when he the weaker members, they would agonize her by running beyond her into the darker cham bers of the cellar and sending thence Indian war-whoops and yells which struck terror to her soul, and even mingled their horrors with her dreams. But there was one class of tenants whose in- found they were turning off the highway into • fluenoe and presence in the house must not be Sheerwood; “I had rather not ride through the ; omitted—and that was the rats, forest.” ] They had taken formal possession of the par- ‘lf thou wouldst see my flocks and lands,thon J sonage, grown, bred and multiplied, and be- mnst go this route,’ replied Robin Hood, care- I come ancient there, in spite of traps or cats or lessly. : a nything that could be devised against them. The Sheriff, after reigning his horse up one | The family cat in Dolly’s day having taker moment, in a hesitatsng way, then let him go on, but said very fervently: ‘God bless ns this day from a man named Robin Flood,’ and then looked around fear fully. taken a dispassionate survey of the situation, had given up the matter in despair, and set herself quietly to attending to her own family concerns, as a sensible cat should. She selected the Doctor’s pamphlet closet as her special domestic retreat. ping gaily along, and was dressed in real holi- j be , y W(Srk for yon .’ uav attire. He soon w-ent out ot sight, out ( ‘I little thought,’said Stately more soberly, both of the outlaws spoke several times alter- ! . when L eame t0 this place, to have met LitLe- wards of his happy appeareance. ! John or seen my master's face.’ The outlaws then quickly retired to Sheerwood , ue ! and there, kept very quiet for some weeks, for eyes were reci with weeping, ifie gay ■ Sheriff had large bodies of men out trying laugbin^ clothing was put on carelessly, and in siead o to find and take them. HOW KOBIN HOOD TURNED BUTCHER. One day it chanced as Robin Hood strolled by himself through Sheerwood, in one of the paths leading through the forest, he met a jolly buieuer, riding a line mare. ‘ Good-morrow ! my good fellow ! ’ quoth Rob in Hood. Which way dost thou travel to-day ?' ‘ I am going to Nottingham, ’ replied the ‘1 thought,’ said his companion, ‘that he and | Hereshe made her lair in a heap of old sermons, his men Maid in the greenwood of Barnesdale. j whence, from time to time, she led forth con- ‘So he doth at times. St. Alary grant he be voysof well-educated, theological kittens, who, there now,’answered the Sheriff, turning quite like their mother, gazed on the rats with re pale. { spectful curiosity, and ran no imprudent risks. They had not gone a very great way into the j Consequently, the rats had a glorious time in forest when they came in sight of a herd of deer, J the old parsonage. Dolly, going np the kitchen about a hundred in all, under the trees at a lit- j stairs into the back garret, as she did on her way tie distance from them. j bedward, would see them sitting easy and dt- ‘Stop !’ whispered Robin Hood. ‘Here are ! gages on the corners of boxes and “ bins, en- mv horned beasts; are they not beauties? | gaged in making meals on the corn or oats. •Look here, fellow,’ said the Sheriff, ‘I like not | They romped all night on the floor of the high- thy company.’ i est garret over her sleeping room, apparently ‘That were a pity,’ quoth Robin Hood;‘yon j busy in hopping with ears of corn across the invited yourself to come with me. Now you | garret, and then rolling them down between the shall stay till I say you can go.’ j beams to their nests below. Sometimes Dolly Then Robin Hood pulled out from under his | heard them gnawing and sawing behind the butcher’s frock his silver bugle and blew three i very waiusoot of her bed, as if they had set up load blasts. Very soon all his men came around ! a carpencer’s shop there, and she shrunk appro- ami the Sheriff knew now he was in the hands of j hensively for fear they were coming into her Robin Hood and his band. •What will you have, good master?’ said 8chr- let, ua they came to where the outlaw and Sher- e snsnicioii) ‘Obi no, Mr. President! Ii The young man suffered himself to be led in butcher pleasantly, ‘to sell my meat in the |’ff sat. on their horses. Rknow anything about ih’ j a listless way to Robin Hood. j market there. This is market day.’ j ‘Your friend, the Sheriff of Nottingham, bed. Then there were battles and skirmishes and qualiings and fightings, and at times it would appear as if the whole detachment of rats rolled in an avalanche down the walls with oorn they hail been stealing. i il