1777 11T
that there was a stranger Irom no one knew where, and whom nobody knew, staving the peasants cottage. The King ordered
that he should be brought before him. The httde grev man set out boldlv: hut the
peasant and his wife began to feel conscience- stricken as they thought of the thieves and their accomplices who were hung on the same gibbet,
When the hittle grev man appeared at Court, the King asked him il by chanee, he had heard that five hine sheep had stolen from the Royal flock.
“Yeso vour Majesty,” answered the litle man 1 ook them myvselrl”
“ by what right 27 said the Kine,
“Your Majestv,” rephed the hiod man, T took them for an old man and his wite, who were dving of hunger. whilse vou had plenty and to spare. You cannot even spend the tenth part of your revenue, and T thought 1t (f)l'l]_\' rivht that these people should hve on what vou had no need of, rather than die of starvation.”
The wits thundoerstruek at such audacity o he eved the itde man with o lool: that boded nothiez cood. Tt s evident.” he satd, that vour greatest talent is stealing.”
The Tittle man howed with an air of scli conscious maodesty.,
“AWelll vou deserve to be hanged.” s the KNing, “hut I par- don vou on condition
heen
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that to- morrow at this time you shall have taken from my
herdsmen
my black '“i“;'.\' bull, which 15 cuarded i with the
greatest care. “Your Majestv,” answered the little grey oman, “your con- ditton 15 1m-
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1/ /1Ry 7 — W/ / g ‘- 75
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possible. THow do you think T can clude such vigilanee 27 “ Unless you do i, replied the King,
“vou shall be hanged.”
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CGOOD-BYE, OLD Cciap”
Ny AN, 533
Andowith o wave of his hand he dismissed our thiefo who heard, as he passed out, derisive wiispers of o o Nou will he hanged ! You will he hanged 17
The hitde grey man returned to the cottage ol the peasant, where he was wannly wel- comed by the old man and his wife.
But he said nothing to them, exceept that he was i need ol a rope, and that he was omg away the next morning at davbreak. They gave him the old halter of the cow, and then he went to bed and slept peacefully.,
At dawn, with the carliest beams of the vising sun, the ittle grev man went out, taking s cord with him. e strode into the Toreste by the path usually used by the Nmg's herdsmen, and sclecting a big oak in full view. he hung himself by the neck to the lrgest branch. But he was very carcful not to make a shp-knot.
Verysoon alterwards two herdsmen passed by leadimg the black Dull,
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“Halloa ! said one of
T . I ' :
AW them, *here s our rascal, who has got what he de-
served. Good-bye, old chap: yvou won't steal the King's bull now.”
As soon as the herdsmen were out of sight, the lictle grey man came down ~from the tree, and taking a short cut hung himsclf onee more to o great oak closc by the
road. Imagine the surprise ot the herdsmen, when
they caught sight of him again !
decerving me?
[8
“Who as that 27 said one. Are myv CVeS Here 15 the little man we aw hanging over vonder 7