Robin Hood's Barn 



ure whose plumpness took the place of pin- 

 cushion. There was even nothing to remark 

 when the whole explanation of the matter was so 

 simple. 



Yet not so simple seem those folk who hold a 

 different attitude of mind; and it is in conflict 

 with them that I could wish my people in addi- 

 tion to their other vows, had sealed their lips 

 with vow of silence. If my Franciscans you 

 would see at their Gothic hest, be with them when 

 they chance upon some victim of man's tyranny 

 or ignorance. Brute cruelty, they call it. A hen 

 too tightly cooped and pecking through the wires 

 for a near blade of grass will send them out to 

 proselyte at once and with no pleasant mincing 

 of their charges. A flock of geese left quacking- 

 dry upon a sultry day will drive them forth to 

 preach the gospel of assuagement and benefi- 

 cence. A horse, yanked and beaten on the road 

 will transform them to Knights Templars. In 

 a second they are up in arms ; the cudgel, not the 

 gospel their stern method with such heathen. 

 And no matter what the provocation for it, let 

 them come upon a biting steel-edged trap, and 



[274] 



