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How Little John Lived at the Sheriff’s
Hisspiritseemedtoawakenfromitssluggishness,andhismemorybroughtbacktohimallthemerrygreenwoodlife—howthebirdsweresingingblithelytherethisbrightmorning,andhowhislovedcompanionsandfriendswerefeastingandmakingmerry,orperhapstalkingofhimwithsoberspeech;forwhenhefirstenteredtheSheriff’sservicehedidsoinjest;butthehearthstonewaswarmduringthewinter,andthefarewasfull,andsohehadabided,puttingofffromdaytodayhisgoingbacktoSherwood,untilsixlongmonthshadpassed.ButnowhethoughtofhisgoodmasterandofWillStutely,whomhelovedbetterthananyoneinalltheworld,andofyoungDavidofDoncaster,whomhehadtrainedsowellinallmanlysports,tilltherecameoverhisheartagreatandbitterlongingforthemall,sothathiseyesfilledwithtears.Thenhesaidaloud,"HereIgrowfatlikeastall-fedoxandallmymanlinessdepartethfrommewhileIbecomeasluggardanddolt.ButIwillarousemeandgobacktomineowndearfriendsoncemore,andneverwillIleavethemagaintilllifedothleavemylips."Sosaying,heleapedfrombed,forhehatedhissluggishnessnow.
WhenhecamedownstairshesawtheStewardstandingnearthepantrydoor—agreat,fatman,withahugebundleofkeyshangingtohisgirdle.ThenLittleJohnsaid,"Ho,MasterSteward,ahungrymanamI,fornoughthaveIhadforallthisblessedmorn.Therefore,givemetoeat."
