Page:Original stories from real life 1796.pdf/37

Rh CHAP. III.

The Treatment of Animals.—The Story of crazy Robin.—The Man confined in the Baſtille.

N the afternoon the children bounded over the ſhort graſs of the common, and walked under the ſhadow of the mountain till they came to a craggy part, where the ſtream broke out, and ran down the declivity, ſtruggling with the huge ſtones which impeded its progreſs, and occaſioned a noiſe that did not unpleaſantly interrupt the ſolmen ſilence of the place. The brook was ſoon loſt in a neighbouring wood, and the children turned their eyes to the broken ſide of the mountian, over which ivy grew in great profuſion. Mrs. Maſon pointed out a little cave, and deſired them to ſit down on ſome ſtumps of trees, whilſt ſhe related the promiſed ſtory.

In yonder cave once lived a poor man, who generally went by the name of crazy Robin. In his youth he was very induſtrious, and married my father's dairy-maid; Rh