How Little John Lived at the Sheriff’s

           ThusLittleJohnenteredintotheSheriff’sserviceandfoundthelifeheledthereeasyenough,fortheSheriffmadehimhisright-handmanandheldhimingreatfavor.HesatnightheSheriffatmeat,andheranbesidehishorsewhenhewenta-hunting;sothat,whatwithhuntingandhawkingalittle,andeatingrichdishesanddrinkinggoodsack,andsleepinguntillatehoursinthemorning,hegrewasfatasastall-fedox.Thusthingsfloatedeasilyalongwiththetide,untilonedaywhentheSheriffwenta-hunting,therehappenedthatwhichbrokethesmoothsurfaceofthings.

           ThismorningtheSheriffandmanyofhismensetforthtomeetcertainlords,togoa-hunting.Helookedallabouthimforhisgoodman,ReynoldGreenleaf,but,notfindinghim,wasvexed,forhewishedtoshowLittleJohn’sskilltohisnoblefriends.AsforLittleJohn,helayabed,snoringlustily,tillthesunwashighintheheavens.Atlastheopenedhiseyesandlookedabouthimbutdidnotmovetoarise.Brightlyshonethesuninatthewindow,andalltheairwassweetwiththescentofwoodbinethathunginspraysaboutthewallwithout,forthecoldwinterwaspastandspringwascomeagain,andLittleJohnlaystill,thinkinghowsweetwaseverythingonthisfairmorn.Justthenheheard,faintandfaraway,adistantbuglenotesoundingthinandclear.Thesoundwassmall,but,likealittlepebbledroppedintoaglassyfountain,itbrokeallthesmoothsurfaceofhisthoughts,untilhiswholesoulwasfilledwithdisturbance.